Downtown Atlanta District Developments

[j.midtown]

And the winner is.... the interlocking terra cotta arms from Freelon / HOK.

IMHO, probably the best choice from those options.

[GaTechGuy]

And the winner is.... the interlocking terra cotta arms from Freelon / HOK.

IMHO, probably the best choice from those options.

http://cchrpartnership.org/Default.aspx?ta...amp;EntryID=132

[Martinman]

Finally, construction has started on Decatur Street to transform it into GSU's "main street. The street will be reduced to two lanes through the GSU campus with wider sidewalks and landscaping. Here is a pdf with the construction schedule. Decatur St

Edited April 13, 2009 by Martinman

[Martinman]

In exciting news for pizza purists, Concentrics Restaurants is building Max's a NY style pizzeria next to Stats on Marietta Street. The restaurant will have the only coal fired oven in the state.

one of my favorite recent developments in the city, Renaissance Walk.

Edited May 8, 2009 by Martinman

[krazeeboi]

I like the setback of the higher stories in the second shot.

[Martinman]

Its set back where they incorporated some existing one-story structures into the project.

Edited May 11, 2009 by Martinman

[krazeeboi]

Yeah, I could tell. Sometimes that's a good idea even with a structure that's totally brand-new, as it provides some height and density without feeling too overwhelming to the pedestrian at the ground level.

[UrbanAtl]

222 Mitchell Street: Good to see another old building converted to residential lofts in Downtown. It's not a big development but that corner can really use some new life.

[caribou9]

I hope one day Downtown or eh maybe Midtown gets all the flashing lights, marquees, huge advertisements, jumbotrons, etc. like times square has.

Our urban outfitters our in the malls and shopping strips. I hope we can get Atlanta to get the street level retail and it not be just little overpriced boutiques and your occasional mall store but actual streets where you can go shop to shop to shop. Like for example, the Diesel in lenox square would look great on a corner in midtown rather than inside a stupid mall.

Hopefully Downtown can become more connected with Midtown and Buckhead, so they city can become one as a whole.

Downtown could have potential for more retail for tourists and residents. The peachtree center mall could be more than just a food court and a bunch of random shops. It could become more of a destination for something people would go to rather than a lunch spot for 5-9ers and hotel guests. Also, it would be nice for CNN to get a huge jumbo tron tv thing with all the times square jazz around the CNN center area outside.

Sorry that is so random and may not make sense. I am new to all this.

[Martinman]

At long last, the work on replacing the windows at the Westin Hotel has begun. It is expected to take 15 months and cost $22 million to replace all 6,350 windows on the building. Work will begin at the top of the building and it'll take a little over a week to complete each floor.

ABC article

[krazeeboi]

About time. Looks like a hillbilly with a bunch of teeth missing at present.

[Martinman]

According to "sources" the College Football Hall of Fame will be moving to Atlanta with the official announcement to be made this Thursday. There had been buzz in real estate circles that the lot bordering the park next the American Cancer Society building was being sought by officials as a possible site for the College HOF.

ABC article

[Martinman]

At long last, the city has begun installing the new vending kiosk program downtown. In a public-private partnership General Growth Properties, the plan will install 20 of the new kiosks in phase one and eventually have up to 100 around the city. Great to finally see this happening but its also a little irritating reminder that it has taken the city so long to improve the situation.

Edited October 12, 2009 by Martinman

[Jim856796]

I could be opposed to a casino in Atlanta, especially if it is placed in Underground Atlanta. Casinos outside of Las vegas, Atlantic City, Tunica, and Biloxi are always white elephants and in the inner cities, thy are a waste of space. And I am also opposed to that new 29-storey hotel tower. I'm glad that the project was shelved.

[Martinman]

^^ There is such little chance of the state approving gambling that its probably a moot point anyway.

The AJC reports that Legoland is scouting Atlanta for one of its "Discovery Centers" which are about 30,000 - 40,000 square feet and include children's play areas and of course a retail store. They are considering four locations - near Northpoint Mall in Alpharetta, near Lenox in Buckhead, Atlantic Station, and the Centennial Park area.

article

[Jim856796]

The Capitol Gateway Park is a proposed linear park to be placed on a strip of land stretching from the Georgia State Capitol to Oakland Cemetery. It would provide a front lawn and event space. It is bounded by Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Memorial Drive, Capitol Avenue, and Oakland Avenue.

[caribou9]

AJC article on foreclosure of Allen Plaza

:cry::cry:

[xivinrah]

AJC article on foreclosure of Allen Plaza

:cry::cry:

No wonder I haven't seen that massive tower being built yet... Besides, I always wondered where such a demand for office space was coming from seeing as though the economy is still shrinking. I just can't believe the magnitude of these foreclosures... the article doesn't just mention Allen Plaza, but also Greenbriar Mall, Mansion on Peachtree, and I wouldn't be surprised to know if whether or not parts of the Streets of Buckhead development will enter foreclosure as well.

Edited January 16, 2010 by xikartu

[krazeeboi]

GSU recenlty broke ground on their football practice facility at 188 MLK Drive.

Heres some more projects planned for the downtown area. I like most of them so hopefully they'll get built someday.

Mason Mitchell

Railside in Castleberry Hill

Butler Street MUD

222 Mitchell (adaptive reuse of old Norfolk Southern buildings)

301 Memorial

What's the status on these projects?

[Martinman]

Suddenly there are a number of positive developments downtown that could further position the area as a tourist/convention destination as well as improve the potential of the office and residential markets when the economy finally recovers.

• 
  
  
• Streetscape - Construction is underway on the Marietta Street - Centennial Olympic Park Drive streetscape improvements.
  
• Streetcar - The downtown streetcar loop has funding and is expected to be up and running in two years.
  
• Multi-modal station - The DOT is proceeding with plans for a public/private partnership to build a multi-modal station with a surrounding urban village. A developer is expected to be chosen next spring.
  
• Attractions - Reportedly Ripley's and Merlin Entertainment (Madame Tussaud's, Legoland) have shown interest in locating a new museum downtown.
  
• Edgewood Ave retail - The street has emerged as a destination for cool neighborhood hang outs and great local restaurants.
  
• Sweet Auburn Curb Market - the market founded in 1918 and also on Edgewood Ave, has re-emerged and is now home to an eclectic mix of retail that reflects the changing demographics in the area.
  
• GSU, GSU, GSU - The school continues to buy up buildings and land and covert them to either dorms or classroom buildings and are helping to turn Piedmont into a pedestrian corridor.
  
  

[Martinman]

Yet more good news for downtown

Cox is donation the AJC building to the city. The building contains 475,000-square-foot of office space and sits on six acres. The city will consolidate some city employees into the building and the site has the potential to be a part of the multi-modal station plans down the road.

AJC building given to city

Merlin Entertainment is considering an "Atlanta Eye" for downtown, provided there is enough private interest ($$$$) and an appropriate site can be found. Bernie Marcus hosted a meeting on the proposal today.

Sightseeing Ferris wheel for Atlanta?

Edited November 10, 2010 by Martinman

[xivinrah]

Yet more good news for downtown

Cox is donation the AJC building to the city. The building contains 475,000-square-foot of office space and sits on six acres. The city will consolidate some city employees into the building and the site has the potential to be a part of the multi-modal station plans down the road.

AJC building given to city

Merlin Entertainment is considering an "Atlanta Eye" for downtown, provided there is enough private interest ($$) and an appropriate site can be found. Bernie Marcus hosted a meeting on the proposal today.

Sightseeing Ferris wheel for Atlanta?

I just read both articles... Cool beans to the donation of the AJC building. I think it would be pretty romantic having that Sightseeing Ferris wheel downtown... and yet at the same time, I do have mixed feelings about it. I just hope that the cost of operation doesn't become something residents have to cover in the immediate future.

[krazeeboi]

I don't think I'd want an observation wheel downtown. It may be better suited in a spot where one can get a glimpse of the entire skyline.

[xivinrah]

I don't think I'd want an observation wheel downtown. It may be better suited in a spot where one can get a glimpse of the entire skyline.

You have a point... might be better to situate it in Lindbergh (for that very reason alone). From there, you would be able to see Buckhead, Midtown, and Downtown skylines... Cobb Galleria/Cumberland too, if your lucky.

But from an economic standpoint, downtown needs the attraction... placing it further north would only perpetuate the current patterns of growth - northward. I'm sure that in time, Downtown skyline will mature enough to suffice as a beautiful spectacle in itself.

Edited November 12, 2010 by xikartu

[Martinman]

I don't love the idea just because I think there are much more necessary (and effective) ways to channel resources and energy in the downtown area. I also initially thought something like this works best in cities where there is a waterfront. However I was just recently visited a friend on the 59th floor of the Westin and it is always a spectacular view from that high.