Atherton Mill Redevelopment

[InSouthPark]

22 minutes ago, atlrvr said:

Lululemon is coming to Atherton Mill. 

I hope they have a warehouse nearby! lol

[Cadi40]

Fantastic news. South End  just needs a few more retailers for me to consider it a stroll district. 

[davidclt]

On 8/21/2019 at 4:23 PM, Scribe said:

Hopefully backlit?!

I'm not convinced backlighting improves it. 

[Jasons0013]

13 hours ago, davidclt said:

I'm not convinced backlighting improves it. 

That sign ain't hitting on much, that's for sure!

[JacksonH]

Does anyone have any specifics on when the retail portion of this redevelopment will open?  The website only says "opening in 2019."  No specifics.  Ricky Davis Fan 21 had said it would be in September.  Now we're more than halfway through September.  And how about that Rail Trail segment?  It would be nice for that to open up soon to give pedestrians connectivity to Publix from the Rail Trail.

http://athertonmillandmarket.com/development/

[Madison Parkitect]

Agenda says "as early as mid-October."

[Miesian Corners]

10 minutes ago, JacksonH said:

Does anyone have any specifics on when the retail portion of this redevelopment will open?  The website only says "opening in 2019."  No specifics.  Ricky Davis Fan 21 had said it would be in September.  Now we're more than halfway through September.  And how about that Rail Trail segment?  It would be nice for that to open up soon to give pedestrians connectivity to Publix from the Rail Trail.

http://athertonmillandmarket.com/development/

I don't care when the retail portion opens. I just want South Blvd sidewalks and a traffic signal at McDonald to be completed. 

[Madison Parkitect]

It'll be really interesting to see how this development ends up working, because it's really the first one that's trying to face both the rail and South Blvd, right? So far it seems like developments have picked one or the other.  I'm interested in the practicality of having retail facing both directions, parking traffic vs walking traffic, etc. I wonder if retail facing the trail will do better than retail facing South, or vice-versa. I'm also hopeful for the day when someone along the rail figures out how to face both directions but hides the parking deck in the middle so it truly is a double-facing site.

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Madison Parkitect said:

It'll be really interesting to see how this development ends up working, because it's really the first one that's trying to face both the rail and South Blvd, right? So far it seems like developments have picked one or the other.  I'm interested in the practicality of having retail facing both directions, parking traffic vs walking traffic, etc. I wonder if retail facing the trail will do better than retail facing South, or vice-versa. I'm also hopeful for the day when someone along the rail figures out how to face both directions but hides the parking deck in the middle so it truly is a double-facing site.

The only items facing the Rail will be Legion, Indaco, Vin Master, Not Just Coffee and Luna's Living Kitchen. 

[go_vertical]

21 hours ago, Miesian Corners said:

I don't care when the retail portion opens. I just want South Blvd sidewalks and a traffic signal at McDonald to be completed. 

Everytime I drive by here I can't help but think of the wasted opportunity they had to greatly improve the pedestrian experience. With all the space available on the rail side of South they should have slightly straightened out the curve of the southbound lanes while leaving inbound lanes in place as they currently are. This would have allowed for a crescent shaped median through the curve at McDonald. Boom, you have a spot to add greenery and a pedestrian island thus making getting to all this retail a little more inviting. 

[KJHburg]

Drive by photos today.   sorry the model for my future taco truck got into the mix. 

[KJHburg]

Walk by photos and up close and personal to Atherton today.  Love all the retail,  dislike the garage, glad the old mill was saved but it is blocked I give this a solid B project overall.  Their pool deck will be fabulous overlooking  the old mill towards the skyline. 

Bonus shot of the old strip center across the street where Owens Bagels was and before that LuLu's.  Sorry no photo of Leather and Lace today LOL. 

On this brisk day I was taking photos quick and fast LOL

[KJHburg]

American Tobacco Campus in downtown Durham is great and the Design Center also could learn a thing or two from them.  

[kermit]

6 hours ago, Seabrooke said:

Thanks KJH, loved it there and couldn't for the life of me remember the name.

Durham photo is actually of Brightleaf square, not ATC.  Its conversion from tobacco manufacturing to retail / office was done in the late 1980s / early 1990s, it may have been the first redevelopment project in central Durham.

The Atherton parking deck is a travesty of a mockery of a sham.

[KJHburg]

5 hours ago, kermit said:

Durham photo is actually of Brightleaf square, not ATC.  Its conversion from tobacco manufacturing to retail / office was done in the late 1980s / early 1990s, it may have been the first redevelopment project in central Durham.

The Atherton parking deck is a travesty of a mockery of a sham.

you are correct and American Tobacco looks like that too with natural areas and extensive landscaping.  and Brightleaf Square did get the ball rolling with redevelopment of the tobacco warehouses in the Bull City. 

[jordan704]

To bad they didn’t cover the entire the garage with this. 

[j-man]

16 hours ago, jordan704 said:

To bad they didn’t cover the entire the garage with this. 

This is horrible!! Looks like an airport parking deck....heck Charlotte Douglas International  looks better. 

[ertley]

3 hours ago, j-man said:

This is horrible!! Looks like an airport parking deck....heck Charlotte Douglas International  looks better. 

It's also a *waste*--they're covering up an already decent-looking facade of grey brick that didn't need to be obscured. SMH.

[videtur quam contuor]

This thread is titled Atherton Mill and I defy anyone unfamiliar with this area to find the Atherton Mill without assistance. I know it is there, somewhere, but will anyone ever know after this? The mills on the north line are celebrated. This one is hidden, embarrassed to be seen. Is that better than demolition?

[KJHburg]

1 hour ago, tarhoosier said:

This thread is titled Atherton Mill and I defy anyone unfamiliar with this area to find the Atherton Mill without assistance. I know it is there, somewhere, but will anyone ever know after this? The mills on the north line are celebrated. This one is hidden, embarrassed to be seen. Is that better than demolition?

you can at least see it from the Rail trail and it is better than demo.   I guess the best example of mill saves in SouthEnd is the Design center and the old Nebel Mill. 

[kermit]

Stop light at McDonald is now up and operating in flasher mode. This will be a BIG mobility improvement for Dilworth residents.

(yes, I was getting dinner from Mr. K's, it was great)

Edited November 6, 2019 by kermit

[Mgelbach]

I didn't realize how big this project was until I had my drone in the air.

[ertley]

I am so thankful to have those shots of Atherton because I've been wondering *every day* how much progress has been made on the Rail Trail connection through there, and finally I have direct evidence of its progress! Thanks Mgelbach!

[t_money]

Why don't more buildings utilize the roof of their building?  Decks, plants, something?

Is it too expensive? Or just not practical? Seems like a lot of good real estate to just have 100 A/C units.

[Madison Parkitect]

28 minutes ago, t_money said:

Why don't more buildings utilize the roof of their building?  Decks, plants, something?

Is it too expensive? Or just not practical? Seems like a lot of good real estate to just have 100 A/C units.

It's cost, no developer is going to put money into something nobody is going to see if they're not required to. Every added weight adds structural cost, and especially for plants there's a lot that goes into roof systems/drainage/etc. Green roofs are pretty heavy.