Downtown Atlanta District Developments

[Lady Celeste]

By the way LC, that rendering is of the existing Hilton Garden Inn next to the aquarium.  The new project, Homewood Suites, will "bookend" the parking structure that is attached to the HGI.

 

 

Thank you for this rendering Martinman. I like this one even better. It appears to be a 15 story building. I wonder which part fronts Marietta Sreet? Considering that this is right across the street from the College Football Hall of Fame...which is currently under construction...I hope that the more pedestrian friendly part faces Marietta St. 

[Lady Celeste]

And for kicks and giggles:

 

 

A picture from the Atlanta Ferris Wheel over Centennial Olympic Park.

[krazeeboi]

Thank you for this rendering Martinman. I like this one even better. It appears to be a 15 story building. I wonder which part fronts Marietta Sreet? Considering that this is right across the street from the College Football Hall of Fame...which is currently under construction...I hope that the more pedestrian friendly part faces Marietta St. 

 

The broad side of the building faces Marietta, while the narrow side faces Baker. Looking at the lot in Google maps should help you get a feel for the orientation of the new hotel: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=downtown+atlanta&ll=33.761916,-84.395943&spn=0.001593,0.002411&hnear=Downtown,+Atlanta,+Fulton,+Georgia&gl=us&t=h&z=19

[Lady Celeste]

Krazeeboi...you've got to be kidding me. Well I know you're not.

 

So they could not find another location for that access and egress than Marietta? Nevermind, I just pulled up the Google link you provided and there apparently is an access and egress point already present. It's right across the street from the soon to be complete Hall of Fame. At least is does take up a parking lot on Marietta so I can't complain too much.

 

Thanks for the Google map Kraze. It put it into perspective.     

[Martinman]

No the new Homewood suites will be on the same block as the Hilton Garden Inn.  

 

In the Google image Krazeeboi linked, you can see the parking deck behind the Hilton and that sliver of land fronting Marietta St.  The new hotel will be built on that sliver of land and cover up the parking deck on that side of the block.   Think of it as phase 2 of the Hilton Garden Inn which it is actually.  I believe when "Park Pavilion" was initially announced, they were thinking condos for the Marietta frontage.

 

The parking lot directly across from the College Football Hall is where the 285 Marietta building (TImes Square South)  will be (hopefully).

[Lady Celeste]

Thank you Martinman for that clarification. I mistook which lot he was referring to. Now I am more excited and hopeful about the building of 285 Marietta. The Luckie-Fairlie District is really turning into something special.

 

One the other side of the park, we have a construction picture of the new Civil and Human Rights Museum next to the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca~Cola.

 

Photo courtesy of Sketching from Skyscraperpage. 

[krazeeboi]

I'd eventually like to see active uses lining Marietta from the CFHOF/Hilton/Homewood area up to Ivan Allen. The potential is definitely there.

[Lady Celeste]

A beautiful and striking water sculpture will grace the grounds of the Civil and Human Rights Museum.

 

 

 

 

The simplicity of the sculpture is simply brilliant! What a great public art piece. The sculpture will consist of two sweeping glass panels - rising 30 feet high. It will rise at the corner Ivan Allen Blvd and Centennial Olympic Drive. This will definitely make an impact. It will also go well with the bold design of the museum...which is currently under construction.

 

See more pictures here: http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2013/09/20/water-sculpture-to-grace-civil-rights.html?s=image_gallery

[Lady Celeste]

So it seems like it will be the south site for the new Atlanta Falcons retractable roof stadium. I must say that I like the south site. It is accessible by two MARTA stations. This will enable to facility to host major events with relative ease of transport for the tens of 1,000s of participants to whatever event is hosted. As someone said on another site, you can land at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, take a MARTA train, change trains ONCE and walk right up to the new stadium. Mayor Reed has leverage some serious political capital. Perhaps Mr Blank, as a token of appreciation, can fund parts of the transit component of the Atlanta Beltline.  

[Immovable_Media]

 

National Center for Civil & Human Rights:

The Center has topped out at 3 floors. Take a look and judge for yourself but IMO this building is really too small. Compared to the World of Coke (94,000 sqft) and the GA Aquarium (600,000+ sq ft) right next door, the Center is by far the smallest (42,000 sq ft). Truly sad because the work of Atlanta's Civil Rights pioneers is by far the greatest gift any Atlantan has given the world. Sorry John Pemberton but Martin Luther King wins in my book. Too bad Asa Candler isn't around to market the Center. I digress...

 

College Football Hall Of Fame:

Construction has ramped up with the addition of a 2nd crane. Crews are up to the 3rd floor. I bet this place will be very popular once complete with lots of pedestrians in the area.

 

Aloft Hotel:

Hotel ATL is no more. You can see how crews have completely gutted the lobby. The entire lot is fenced off and the landscaping has been removed. Scaffolding is in place as crews replace windows and repaint the entire facade. Looks like a full renovation.

 

GSU College of Law Building:

The entire lot ha been fenced off and say goodbye to 75% of the trees on John Wesley Dobbs Ave. X marked for death. I suppose the parking deck containing the Dry Cleaners and Subway will soon be cleared. Does anyone have any info regarding the deck's demo?

 

Hyatt House:

Diagonally across the street from the GA Aquarium is the site of a proposed 150-room Hyatt House. 

 

One12Courtland:

Crews are working on the 6th floor of the student housing tower. The former Ramada Inn looks great and is open to students.

 

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[Martinman]

The Falcons have releaseg new renderings of the new stadium.

http://newstadium.atlantafalcons.com/design/design-concepts-9-26-13/

 

[Lady Celeste]

Is another hotel in the works for the Downtown Tourist District?

 

On the heels of the two recently announced hotel proposals in the area as well as the selection of the south site as the new Falcons stadium, there is yet another announcement for a potential mega hotel.

 

 

The proposed hotel is aiming high. The hotel would reportedly offer between 800 and 1,200 rooms. For reference purposes, the Marriott Marquis...Atlanta's largest hotel in terms of rooms...is a 1663 room facility. The Westin Peachtree Plaza is 1068 rooms. As reported in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the Georgia World Congress Center is assessing whether it'd be prudent or not to build a large hotel on the current site of its Gold Deck, tucked away near the Georgia Dome and Phillips Arena. So, it is still early but it's great to see that more development is potentially on the way to Atlanta's burgeoning tourist district downtown.

 

If the GWCC moves forward, the hotel could open as soon as 2018, the year after the schedule debut of the new Falcons stadium. Leaders are hoping for a yes-or-no decision by the middle of next year. The hotel would join two other proposals recently announced just down the street. Fingers are crossed....

 

 

Read more here: http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2013/10/02/georgia-world-congress-center-hotel-eyed.html

[Immovable_Media]

Capital Parking Deck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQyDYY0QtK8
Crews are finishing up the final touches on this brand new deck down the street from the Capital. Notice the rooftop accent, a nice touch that looks great with the facade. Too bad state legislators built themselves this fancy deck while local legislators let Novare build these. However this deck is still my personal favorite.

Auburn Pointe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOHSgQJ0qHQ
Work continues on the next phase of 4-floor apartment rentals. The master plan for this multi-phase, multi-income community includes 300 multi-family rental units, 48 affordable and market priced for-sale homes, 324 independent and assisted-living senior residences.

Homewood Suites: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7YftRmb7oE
Atlanta-based Legacy Property Group LLC is planning to build a 129-key Homewood Suites by Hilton. The all-suites hotel would sit along Marietta Street near Centennial Olympic Park in the Luckie-Marietta District. 

301 Memorial Drive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpSWhVj351s
Developers are hoping to bring a five-story project — comprised of apartments, retail, a restaurant and office space — to the lot at 301 Memorial Drive, located between Harden St and Hill St. 94 apartments (studios, 1, and 2 bedrooms), as well as 3,500 square feet of retail, 2,500 square feet for a restaurant and a small amount of office space. 

Corey Tower: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DWUp0Pyeok
It looks like some sort of mountings for the 80x40 ft billboard has been installed. I'm dying to see what Corey has in store for this smokestack. It's not as iconic as the owners thinks. Even with"Corey" branded across the side, I doubt the average Atlantian driving the connector even noticed this white tower. Lets see what the proposed billboard will do. Hopefully not create too many more distracted driver, we have enough!

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[Martinman]

New Stadium to Break ground in March 2014

 

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/morning_call/2013/10/blank-falcons-stadium-groundbreaking.html

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank says a groundbreaking is likely the week of March 31 for the new $1 billion Falcons stadium and that his foundation is conducting a national search for someone to head its west side community development initiatives.

 

 

[Martinman]

• GSU is planning to demolish Kell Hall and create a central campus lawn.  This will add much needed greenspace to the campus.

 

• The Atlanta Falcons have released new renderings of the stadium design

 

 

 

More : http://newstadium.atlantafalcons.com/"]http://newstadium.atlantafalcons.com/

Edited October 27, 2013 by Martinman

[FrankNash]

Atlanta does so many things right but, I think moving the Braves to Cobb is a bad idea. When we come down to see y'all we want to be in the city not the corner of 75 and 285. Come on guys if your going to build a new park make sure it's at least near the belt line. We look to y'all for leadership in the south but, it looks like the suburbs may win this fight. 

[Lady Celeste]

FarnkNash...I understand your concerns. I hate to see the Braves leave for Cobb County. Even if it is but 12 miles north of the current Turner Field. That being said, the Braves wanted the city to pony up $425 million dollars. This on top of recently giving the Falcons $200 million. At some point the city has to draw the line. I think now the city should look for ways to redevelop this vast swath of real estate just south of Downtown. This is a prime opportunity to do something RIGHT for the actual citizens of the city. The excuses given by the Braves organization don't really hold up so at the end of the day, I don't think there was much the city could do short of financing the whole deal. 

 

As a native metro Atlantan who still follows development in the area, it is a sad day. But instead of moaning and groaning, I hope city officials take this as a prime opportunity. This could be a great live-work-play community with a newly established grid. People are moving back intown so now is the time to think BIG. New York City didn't falter when the stadium moved to New Jersey...neither did Dallas when the Cowboys moved to Arlington. 

 

Hopefully the City of Atlanta takes these lemons and make a big pitcher of lemonade. The Braves wanted to be closer to where ticket sales take place. Point, blank, period. This is no real reflection on Atlanta but rather a smart business move by the Braves. Only time will tell if the infrastructure in the Cumberland area can handle this attraction. At least they didn't leave to another state altogether.   

[modernurbanity]

I came across this picture of Atlanta accidentally. It is from the early 1970's when the Westin hotel was under construction. Just thought I'd share a look back at old Atlanta. It's interesting to see the building going up and you can also notice Atlanta's San Franciscoish hilly terrain! There is a Manhattanish building canyon forming also. People think San Francisco is the hilliest city in the U.S. but Atlanta can offer it a run for it's money.

 

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/6986986?tag=Architecture

Edited November 19, 2013 by modernurbanity

[Lady Celeste]

Building agency green lights Georgia Capitol complex overhaul

 

It appears that the grounds of the state's capitol complex will be a makeover. 

 

 

Here is a rendering of what will be called "Liberty Plaza".

 

Stevens and Wilkinson

 

 

From the article:

 

 

 

Stevens & Wilkinson will be in charge of an estimated $3.3 million plan to tear down an aging parking deck east of the Capitol building and turn it into a plaza large enough to accommodate up to 4,500. Liberty Plaza will become the major focal point for the large groups that hold rallies to call attention to various issues, both during and between legislative sessions.

 

 

 

Read more and view slideshow here: http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2013/11/19/building-agency-green-lights-georgia.html

[Martinman]

Construction Progress

 

 

One12 Courtland

 

 

Civil Rights Museum

 

College Football HOF

[Martinman]

There was a report in the Atlanta Business Chronicle that the Hyatt House is moving forward.  The developer has filed for permits to demolish the site and start construction.

 

 

 

And progress on the former Days Inn that is being converted to an Aloft hotel. 

 

[krazeeboi]

Where's the Hyatt House? And are there two Alofts coming to downtown? I'm only familiar with the one just south of the American Cancer Association HQ building.

[UrbanConquistador]

First time poster, long time reader of the forum. It looks like Downtown is on the verge of a true renaissance.

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/real_talk/2013/12/the-upside-of-atlantas-downtown.html?page=all

http://www.wsbtv.com/videos/news/downtown-atlanta-leaders-say-577m-investment/vCChNT/

I for one will be voting with my dollars, as I hope to close on a condo down there before the end of the year. I currently live in Midtown and love it, but Downtown just seems so exciting these days and offers more of a big city feel, imho. I hope this Downtown thread has many updates in the near future :-)

[Martinman]

Where's the Hyatt House? And are there two Alofts coming to downtown? I'm only familiar with the one just south of the American Cancer Association HQ building.

The Hyatt House wil be built on Marietta St on the block diagonally across from the aquarium.

 

There is only one Aloft downtown and it is located one block east of the American Cancer Society bldg.   You may confusing the Aloft with Home2Suites.  The 87 Walton St building below will be converted from apartments to a Home2Suites hotel.

 

[krazeeboi]

The Hyatt House wil be built on Marietta St on the block diagonally across from the aquarium.

 

There is only one Aloft downtown and it is located one block east of the American Cancer Society bldg.   You may confusing the Aloft with Home2Suites.  The 87 Walton St building below will be converted from apartments to a Home2Suites hotel.

 

 

No, I've got the right Aloft. I just know that it's about a block or so from the ACS building. Thanks for the info!