There is some definite legitimacy to this argument and the frustration is valid.
If there were EVER a time in Atlanta’s history where there has been explosive growth – especially in our urban areas – it’s now!
Actually, that time has been here for years already.
Yet, we still have absolutely no tall towers to speak of in Midtown, Downtown or anywhere else. Let’s be clear, when I say tall, I mean at least 40+ because that’s what it’s going to take to break through our ever increasing monotonous skyline.
We had three golden opportunities to build signature towers and ALL three were squandered. You can take a guess at what happened…
ALL three times - the Tenant/Developer opted to split their plan into two separate buildings…two little buildings that fit snugly and blend right into flat skyline.
Those are Norfolk Southern, NCR and to a different degree Anthem.
Maybe the ones who are legitimately frustrated, to a higher degree, are those who had the good fortune to live through some Golden Years of signature towers in Atlanta 1987-1992
There were only a handful of buildings built in Downtown and Midtown at the time, but they were predominantly signature towers. Just take a minute to absorb…
60 Sun Trust Plaza 1992
55 Bank of America tower 1992
53 GLG Grand Four Seasons Hotel 1992
52 Marriott Marquis
50 One Atlantic Center 1987
40 Promenade 1989
That being said, Residential development has been our primary savior in the last 10 years and it’s been CRAZY!
I think we can all sit back in AWE of what has been and what is to come.