[cybele]

Atlantic Station Offers Renters Incentives (http://www.globest.com/news/1381_1381/atlanta/177871-1.html)

“This just sweetens the pot a little more,” says Linda Kersey, Lane’s senior regional manager. Offers include twice-a-month sessions with a personal trainer, 50% discounts on pet grooming and car detailing, and free access to special events with gourmet appetizers and drink specials.

Amenities already in place to Atlantic Station apartment dwellers include free shuttle service to nearby stores and restaurants, access to “zip” cars, swimming pools, private green spaces and business centers. Flexible leasing plans are available and annual rent breaks are also being offered to some new tenants.

[PedestriAnne]

The NYT did a little piece on Cook's arch...thing in AS.

An Elaborate Arch, an Opaque Significance (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/us/30arch.html?_r=3&hp)

“It’s wondrous and strange and fanciful,” said Alan Balfour, the dean of the school of architecture at Georgia Tech. “I don’t think anyone even knows why it’s there. It arrived from another planet, I think.”

[Harry Cane]

Well, the Atlantic crown was lit up this morning, at least on the north side. From a distance, the lighting is very underwhelming. The lights don't light up all the way up the crown, so it basically looks like a line of bulbs, similar to what's on top of the Peachtree Plaza. As you get closer, you see more of the crown.

Of course, it was a little foggy, so maybe that didn't help. But here's to hoping it's a trial run and they'll adjust.

[plorenc]

I saw it last night as well. The fog actually highlighted the lighting in Midtown and made it look quite gothamy, but the Atlantic was still very underwhelming.

At least they did something. :rolleyes:

[jurban8]

Yeah the proportions on the Atlantic are out of whack as is the detailing. This is one of those cases where the renderings were better than the finished product for sure

[joecool]

Maybe they are not just testing things. They just finished the building. I am sure it will be better than that. I use to complain a lot about the buildings in atlanta but you know cities like charlotte, knoxville, birmingham and even bigger cities like denver and new orleans would KILL for half of our buildings so I am happy with whatever we get (: We are lucky to have what we got in the last 2 years. We have had more buildings go up in just the last two years than birmingham and knoxville have period! Not to mention all that is proposed..... if they ever get out of the ground :rolleyes:

[jurban8]

As exciting as new buildings and fewer empty lots are, there is certainly an element of restraint that has been missing in the last couple of years. We are seeing that now with unsold condos and an oversupply of office space. There's only so much you can grow grow grow without outpacing demand.

[atlgal]

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2009/06/10/atlantic_station_robbery.html

[atlgal]

Home Park is having a neighborhood festival this weekend -- WestFest: http://www.homepark.org/westfest

[smArTaLlone]

By Dan Chapman
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://www.ajc.com/business/chinese-business-incubator-to-221177.html)

A Chinese business incubator/marketing center is set to open December 14th in Atlantic Station.

Two years after its ballyhooed announcement, Chinamex will cut the ribbon on a scaled-back U.S. headquarters at 201 17th Street.

Chinamex, a Beijing-based, government-sanctioned, business development company will help Chinese companies expand in Georgia, the United States and Latin America. It runs similar operations in Dubai and Amsterdam.

Three dozen small and medium-sized Chinese companies – diamond cutters, silk producers, precision drill makers, canned food exporters – will have representatives at the Midtown complex.

The China Hubei Enterprises Marketing Center will also set up shop alongside Chinamex.

Chinamex first announced its U.S. headquarters in late 2007. At the time, thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Chinese direct investment were one day anticipated.

[Afanti]

Anyone know what is going on with The Atlantic Condos? I remember they talked about price reduction mid last year and becoming very quiet now. Are they selling?

[cybele]

Well there is a thing in the newspaper that says they are going on the market in July for 60% of what they were asking before.

[cybele]

Well you don't hear much about the Atlantic Station thing anymore but it looks like it is for sale, at least part of it.

For sale: Atlantic Station's retail complex (http://www.ajc.com/business/for-sale-atlantic-station-440747.html?cxntlid=sldr_hm)

[(four 0 four)]

The Business Chrolicle is reporting that Cirque du Soleil will be dragging their blue & yellow tents back to Atlantic Station!!!
The show is Ovo and will run (at least initially) from early November to early December.
www.cirquedusoleil.com/ovo

[cybele]

Well, here is a thing that says part of Atlantic Station is getting sold

Changes are coming to Atlantic Station, potentially including some of its big name shops and restaurants.

Beleaguered American International Group Inc. (AIG) is selling off pieces of the landmark Midtown development, including Town Center at Atlantic Station, a 586,000-square-foot shopping district that includes Publix, the Regal 16 Cinemas, LA Fitness, trendy clothing retailer H&M and restaurants such as Rosa Mexicana and Dolce Entocea e Ristorante.

A new buyer for Town Center could emerge this month, sources said.

The whole article Change coming to Atlantic Station (http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2010/08/09/story1.html?b=1281326400^3758261)

[Pessimistic Observer]

Well, here is a thing that says part of Atlantic Station is getting sold

not all of AS just the main retail part the part refferred to as Town Center
I'm not to shocked about this when i heard AS was partly owned by AIG my first thought was AS might go bankrupt so hearing its being sold might be a good thing

[SteveD]

not all of AS just the main retail part the part refferred to as Town Center
I'm not to shocked about this when i heard AS was partly owned by AIG my first thought was AS might go bankrupt so hearing its being sold might be a good thing

That would be a sweet job for me; I hope some of my clients are pursuing that.

[atllocal74]

Twelve Atlantic Station is now once again approved for FHA lending. Prices in Twelve were demolished 9 months ago due to Fannie Mae incorrecty classifying Twelve as a Condotel, which it is not, which made buying at Twelve cash only. Now that residents have the ability to refinance and buyers can obtain loan, at current prices buying at Twelve has to be one of the best deals in the city.

[RobMidtowner]

What's going on at the Atlantic? With all the lights on now, it looks like a candlebox.

[L.ARCH]

:previous: Units are officially for sale now.

[SLVR914]

Does anyone know how sales are going??:uhh:

[smArTaLlone]

What's going on at the Atlantic? With all the lights on now, it looks like a candlebox.

It was reported a couple of weeks ago that they had their first closings.

[RobMidtowner]

That's a good sign, and I saw an ad on AJC saying Viewpoint is 95% sold. Sounds like the midtown condo market is finally turning around! :tup:

[ATLaffinity]

That's a good sign, and I saw an ad on AJC saying Viewpoint is 95% sold. Sounds like the midtown condo market is finally turning around! :tup:

Really? That seems hard to believe. I hope it's true.

[RobMidtowner]

See for yourself:
http://www.viewpointmidtown.com/

[pawelra]

Maybe they going to start to build another tower soon.

[(four 0 four)]

See for yourself:
http://www.viewpointmidtown.com/

If they advertise 95% sold with 30 units left, doesn't that equate to a 600 unit building!? The original plan included 378 units.

[RobMidtowner]

Interesting....maybe it's a marketing gimmick. Still, it's a good sign that they're almost sold out. I wonder how the rest of the new midtown condo towers are doing?

[jobe]

Does anyone know how sales are going??:uhh:

Poorly. Started off well but folks aren't closing (14 to-date, out of 400+ units) and traffic/sales have slowed significantly.

[jobe]

If they advertise 95% sold with 30 units left, doesn't that equate to a 600 unit building!? The original plan included 378 units.

378 units but it is 95% "sold" if you include those units under reservation.

[SLVR914]

Poorly. Started off well but folks aren't closing (14 to-date, out of 400+ units) and traffic/sales have slowed significantly.

Probably doesn't help that condos are selling across the street in Twelve Atlantic Station for $100,000 for 1 bedrooms and $180,000 for 2 bedrooms...

[ATLaffinity]

^ It's astounding to me that AS had all that land, wanted to have residents, and planned no greenspace. None. I don't count that fenced pond or whatever the hell it is.

AS is the biggest dropped-ball since the Olympics.

Too bad somebody like Jamestown wasn't in charge.

[TarHeelJ]

^ It's astounding to me that AS had all that land, wanted to have residents, and planned no greenspace. None. I don't count that fenced pond or whatever the hell it is.

AS is the biggest dropped-ball since the Olympics.

Too bad somebody like Jamestown wasn't in charge.

Isn't one of Atlanta's best parks just a few blocks away in Midtown? I don't think it's much of a stretch to assume people living in AS would use Piedmont Park...not to mention that the beautiful Georgia Tech campus is right next door. Just a thought.

[ATLaffinity]

Isn't one of Atlanta's best parks just a few blocks away in Midtown? I don't think it's much of a stretch to assume people living in AS would use Piedmont Park...not to mention that the beautiful Georgia Tech campus is right next door. Just a thought.

I'm sure people at AS go to Piedmont Park. But that's a car ride for most people, urban bikers excluded. I'm not seeing the "play" part of their LIVE WORK PLAY. A basketball court? tennis court? playground? anything?

[reet]

Isn't one of Atlanta's best parks just a few blocks away in Midtown? I don't think it's much of a stretch to assume people living in AS would use Piedmont Park...not to mention that the beautiful Georgia Tech campus is right next door. Just a thought.

Piedmont Park is not an easily walkable distance from AS. You could drive there quickly, but it would be so much nicer to have a nice, complete city park in easy walking distance from the residential buildings of AS.

Maybe put one on the west side of AS near IKEA so that people in West Midtown (who really do have absolutely no green space) can use it too.

[cwkimbro]

Isn't one of Atlanta's best parks just a few blocks away in Midtown? I don't think it's much of a stretch to assume people living in AS would use Piedmont Park...not to mention that the beautiful Georgia Tech campus is right next door. Just a thought.

I agree with the ATLAffinity.

I like denser developments like AS, but the catch is since you don't have the yard there should be a little bit of public space where people can read outside, play frisbee, etc.. in relatively close distance.

It doesn't need to be anywhere near as big as Piedmont Park, but rather small public spaces in the middle of denser development nodes. A small public square, like those in Savannah with some shady areas and benches right beside a small open grassy area would go a long ways. It is probably the biggest reason I will never consider moving into AS. The development strategy of residential spaces of the beltline is much better.

Think of the difference being a neighborhood park vs a larger city park, like Piedmont. AS needs that 'neighborhood park' that is smaller, but is right there and would primarily be positioned directly for use of AS residents (and probably Home Park residents as well). It would also be a means of increasing desirability to live there.

As a city grows denser small neighborhood parks become more important, however usually easier to pay for through increase property tax collections.

But to go a step further...I am also concerned with the lack of a 'neighborhood retail' node with a small cobble stone 'plaza.' The assumption seemed to be everyone should just walk to Atlantic Station, which is designed to be a regional draw (similar to a shopping mall).

I would removed just a few residential units at street level and added street front retail for residential services (coffee shop, dry cleaning, local pizza shop etc..) I would have also done it at an intersection and had the buildings not cover a small semi-circle area at the intersection. This leaves a small room for outdoor space. A couple of tables...perhaps a small tree and a planter bench for more seating. Being at an intersection it would make that small itty bitty space feel more spacious. I would have done this at the intersection of 17th st and McCaslin St. Also, I don't mean for there to be retail at street level everywhere, but just at one central usable point where essential neighborhood vendors could operate without residents driving out of the neighborhood.

What is interesting to me is if you look at an aerial photograph of the dense residential area of AS around the 17th street retention pond it actually looks similar to a European City, but there is a notable lack of -usable- public space and residential retail services at street level. There is, however, good -visual- public space around Atlantic Station.

But, I also don't live there for those reasons. Maybe some residents on here have a few tricks up there sleeves I don't know about (?)

[TarHeelJ]

Piedmont Park is not an easily walkable distance from AS. You could drive there quickly, but it would be so much nicer to have a nice, complete city park in easy walking distance from the residential buildings of AS.

Maybe put one on the west side of AS near IKEA so that people in West Midtown (who really do have absolutely no green space) can use it too.

How about Ansley Park then? It's actually much closer than Piedmont and consists of several small parks within the neighborhood as well as a golf course...it seems like these beautiful parks are often overlooked. And don't forget about Georgia Tech's campus right next door to Atlantic station. There is a good bit of recreation to be had there.

I think Atlantic Station still has some growing to do...and could use a convenient greenspace and some rec areas, but it's not on an island. There are some pretty nice spaces located nearby that serve the area.

[cwkimbro]

How about Ansley Park then? It's actually much closer than Piedmont and consists of several small parks within the neighborhood as well as a golf course...it seems like these beautiful parks are often overlooked. And don't forget about Georgia Tech's campus right next door to Atlantic station. There is a good bit of recreation to be had there.

I think Atlantic Station still has some growing to do...and could use a convenient greenspace and some rec areas, but it's not on an island. There are some pretty nice spaces located nearby that serve the area.

You are still talking about a 1.5-2 mile walk from the AS residential area. Winn Park isn't too much closer than Piedmont. Winn and Piedmont are fairly close to each other. The Golf Course is slightly further away than Piedmont.

GT is a college campus a neighborhood away, but with that said, it is not a public park. It is a campus for research, higher education, and it's students. I'm not saying some people don't use it as a park, but there are limitations to the general public being able to use a College as a public park.

Early on it use to be many of the the first organized neighborhood developments would be built with a small park in the center...

A few examples ... Perkerson Park in Capitol view, Pittman Park in Pittsburgh, Adair Park in .. well Adair Park, West End Park in the West End, Cabbagetown park in Cabbagetown, Ansley Park in Ansley Park, etc....

While Atlanta is severely lacking in the total acres of Park land (compared with many other major cities), many of the intown neighborhoods that were created in older developments have direct access to the small usable neighborhood parks. However, many of the new brownfield developments have to make them. AS just never made that true local usable -neighborhood- park, however they did create a place with great visual appeal.

I think if you are going to have really dense development people should be able to walk within .25-.5 mile to a small local, usable park via a neighborhood street where you can play frisbee, play with the kids, lay out, read, etc... You shouldn't have to leave the neighborhood to get to a neighborhood park.

I think too many of us have gotten use to the modern suburban developments. I am guilty of this, but I also have to acknowledge everyone's backyard is kind of like their own park in the suburbs. Many neighborhoods also have swim/tennis communities and small playgrounds, so there are park-like areas. But with high density, there is greater importance for those smaller nooks.

I think at this point the best potential for usable space is to transform the area around the reservoir to park land, but it is slightly further away than I would like (but much closer than Piedmont).

[L41A]

^ It's astounding to me that AS had all that land, wanted to have residents, and planned no greenspace. None. I don't count that fenced pond or whatever the hell it is.

AS is the biggest dropped-ball since the Olympics.

Too bad somebody like Jamestown wasn't in charge.

I'm not sure what you expected as greenspace for AS - Piedmont Park type recreation maybe. I think maybe the "Play" part of the LIVE WORK PLAY motto was more geared toward entertainment aspect more so than recreation - illustrated by the restaurants, theatre, bars, etc compared to the greenspace with the pond that you mentioned.

Also, I don't think Atlanta dropped the ball on the Olympics. Sure, it was not perfect. Some journalist were not catered as much as they expected, the IOC didn't profit as much as they would like, etc. But for the fans, the athletes, the city and its citizens - the Olympics was a success. The city gained much from hosting it - certainly more than it may have lost.

[micropundit]

^ It's astounding to me that AS had all that land, wanted to have residents, and planned no greenspace. None. I don't count that fenced pond or whatever the hell it is.

AS is the biggest dropped-ball since the Olympics.

Too bad somebody like Jamestown wasn't in charge.

Just because you don't count it doesn't mean that it a) doesn't exist and b) isn't functional. Further, there is greenspace at the corner of 17th and State where the artifacts from the steel yard were moved;and the "Town Center" space where the Holiday exhibits et al are placed.
Perhaps your view of AS is obscured by your seat in front of your monitor, however others have a different and perhaps more rational perspective.

[ATLaffinity]

Just because you don't count it doesn't mean that it a) doesn't exist and b) isn't functional. Further, there is greenspace at the corner of 17th and State where the artifacts from the steel yard were moved;and the "Town Center" space where the Holiday exhibits et al are placed.
Perhaps your view of AS is obscured by your seat in front of your monitor, however others have a different and perhaps more rational perspective.

That pond functions as what? A place to curb your dog? Ok. I'm saying it's not greenspace. I go there on my way to Target. It's not like I've only read about it.

cwkimbro has a much better explanation of what's wrong with AS. I just think they could have made it more inviting for residents. Hopefully it will evolve.

As for the Olympics, it's considered the worst in modern memory. I'm sure a lot of good and talented people did great things in hosting the event. That's not going to change that perception. I visited as an out-of-towner and it was a really off-putting experience. Did it put Atlanta "on the map" to some degree? Yes. I agree with that.

[smArTaLlone]

I agree with the ATLAffinity.

I like denser developments like AS, but the catch is since you don't have the yard there should be a little bit of public space where people can read outside, play frisbee, etc.. in relatively close distance.

It doesn't need to be anywhere near as big as Piedmont Park, but rather small public spaces in the middle of denser development nodes. A small public square, like those in Savannah with some shady areas and benches right beside a small open grassy area would go a long ways. It is probably the biggest reason I will never consider moving into AS. The development strategy of residential spaces of the beltline is much better.

Think of the difference being a neighborhood park vs a larger city park, like Piedmont. AS needs that 'neighborhood park' that is smaller, but is right there and would primarily be positioned directly for use of AS residents (and probably Home Park residents as well). It would also be a means of increasing desirability to live there.

As a city grows denser small neighborhood parks become more important, however usually easier to pay for through increase property tax collections.

But to go a step further...I am also concerned with the lack of a 'neighborhood retail' node with a small cobble stone 'plaza.' The assumption seemed to be everyone should just walk to Atlantic Station, which is designed to be a regional draw (similar to a shopping mall).

I would removed just a few residential units at street level and added street front retail for residential services (coffee shop, dry cleaning, local pizza shop etc..) I would have also done it at an intersection and had the buildings not cover a small semi-circle area at the intersection. This leaves a small room for outdoor space. A couple of tables...perhaps a small tree and a planter bench for more seating. Being at an intersection it would make that small itty bitty space feel more spacious. I would have done this at the intersection of 17th st and McCaslin St. Also, I don't mean for there to be retail at street level everywhere, but just at one central usable point where essential neighborhood vendors could operate without residents driving out of the neighborhood.

What is interesting to me is if you look at an aerial photograph of the dense residential area of AS around the 17th street retention pond it actually looks similar to a European City, but there is a notable lack of -usable- public space and residential retail services at street level. There is, however, good -visual- public space around Atlantic Station.

But, I also don't live there for those reasons. Maybe some residents on here have a few tricks up there sleeves I don't know about (?)

Now I'm a little confused because as far as I can tell AS has exactly everything in your wish list. Is the rule now that greenspace doesn't count as greenspace unless frisbee-toss can be played there?


Now it is understandable for someone that has those activities as a priority that AS might not be for them. But I also think it is quite unrealistic to expect a frisbee-throw-park around every corner in the core of the city.

[jew4life4948]

Now it is understandable for someone that has those activities as a priority that AS might not be for them. But I also think it is quite unrealistic to expect a frisbee-throw-park around every corner in the core of the city.

It can definitely be said that there is zoning fragmentation within the development. On a hot summer day, it would be pretty unbearable to comfortably walk from the lofts across from IKEA to the Publix.

Outside of "The District", it would be nice to see more mixed-use street level retail spread out amongst the development. Hopefully the GT Golf Course/Sembler development will provide a southern anchor.

In terms of greenspace expansion, look forward to the Loring Heights pedestrian bridge behind Target and the Beltline trail spur. It'd be nice if AS kicked in some money to make sure the trail portion is top-notch.

Also, there are tentative plans, though I can't seem to find them, for a HOV/Pedestrian Bridge at 15th Street. Also, the Northside/Hemphill/14th Intersection is slated to be converted to a round-a-bout.

[jew4life4948]

That pond functions as what? A place to curb your dog? Ok. I'm saying it's not greenspace. I go there on my way to Target. It's not like I've only read about it.

The pond actually serves as a drainage-basin for storm runoff. However seeing as the site used to be a steel mill, I feel like the ducks currently inhabiting may be radioactive.

[cwkimbro]

Now I'm a little confused because as far as I can tell AS has exactly everything in your wish list. Is the rule now that greenspace doesn't count as greenspace unless frisbee-toss can be played there?


Now it is understandable for someone that has those activities as a priority that AS might not be for them. But I also think it is quite unrealistic to expect a frisbee-throw-park around every corner in the core of the city.

Well... I tried to be careful about this, but I stick with my original arguments. AS does not have everything on my wish list.
It does not have residential-retail node, the public plaza for that node and residents, or a usable neighborhood park.

It does have greenspace, but it is all 'visual'. There isn't much 'usable' space. I used frisbee as an example, but there are many other uses for a usable park that you can't do in AS and I think it is an important distinction between -usable- park space and -visual- greenspace.

It should be telling that someone earlier in the thread was making the argument people should walk 1.5-2 miles to go to Piedmont Park

The design of 17th street with the center retention pond is an excellent example. There is visual open space. It looks impressive and I won't take that away from them. The design also takes 1/2 of the traffic from being in front of any one residential building, however the design also makes the green space around the lake small immediately bordering the lake or the road within a short distance. It is good for visual appeal, but it can't function like a neighborhood park.

[PedestriAnne]

What was that muddy, half fenced-in, empty lot on the east side of Icon (at 17th and State) originally supposed to be? It seems too small for another residential building to fit on.

That seems as good a place as any for a park, especially since there's some public space right next to it. Might as well put it to some use instead of letting people use it as free parking, which is what I almost always see when I walk by there.

[cwkimbro]

What was that muddy, half fenced-in, empty lot on the east side of Icon (at 17th and State) originally supposed to be? It seems too small for another residential building to fit on.

That seems as good a place as any for a park, especially since there's some public space right next to it. Might as well put it to some use instead of letting people use it as free parking, which is what I almost always see when I walk by there.

The original plans (and most likely current...but recession-stalled plans) were to make a residential building. Most likely one that is a transition between the high rises and the low-rises. It is also why they never landscaped the land.

http://www.atlanticstation.com/images/SitePlan_large.jpg

Now with that said... You will notice that there are some changes from the original plan to what Atlantic Station is today. As market demand changes its used might be changed to what the developers can sell. I don't think it will be anything other than residential, mixed-use, or a hotel though. It would be tough to zone that as commercial/office given its location.

[smArTaLlone]

It can definitely be said that there is zoning fragmentation within the development. On a hot summer day, it would be pretty unbearable to comfortably walk from the lofts across from IKEA to the Publix.

Outside of "The District", it would be nice to see more mixed-use street level retail spread out amongst the development. Hopefully the GT Golf Course/Sembler development will provide a southern anchor.

In terms of greenspace expansion, look forward to the Loring Heights pedestrian bridge behind Target and the Beltline trail spur. It'd be nice if AS kicked in some money to make sure the trail portion is top-notch.

Also, there are tentative plans, though I can't seem to find them, for a HOV/Pedestrian Bridge at 15th Street. Also, the Northside/Hemphill/14th Intersection is slated to be converted to a round-a-bout.

I don't disagree that it perhaps would've been ideal to have the retail concentrated on the main corridor. But again that is an impossible standard. From those apartments to Publix is what... maybe five blocks? How many cities can support a retail district within five blocks of every resident. If they can't walk that distance then they basically can't walk anywhere, regardless of the season.

[Terminus]

I don't disagree that it perhaps would've been ideal to have the retail concentrated on the main corridor. But again that is an impossible standard. From those apartments to Publix is what... maybe five blocks? How many cities can support a retail district within five blocks of every resident. If they can't walk that distance then they basically can't walk anywhere, regardless of the season.

Agreed. I walked from IKEA to the retail core last night in under five minutes. I couldn't help but think of this post and how utterly lazy most Atlantans are when it comes to walking.

Nothing is going to change in the region until the mentality changes, and it's a hell of a lot more difficult to change culture than it is to change the urban form.

There was a study done several year by Bermick & Cervero that identified the different conception of what is a "short walk" in different cities. Among the findings was that, in New York City, the distance "most people" will walk for services and transit is greater than in any other US city. Part of this has to do with a more walker-friendly urban form, but I suspect that even more is cultural.

As a case in point, I will never forget when I hosted a public meeting in the Beaver Ruin area of Gwinnett county and asked recent immigrants what they liked the most of the area. Person after person talked about how they liked that they could walk to different places. We probed a bit more and found that many considered it nothing to walk two or three miles to stores and businesses, even in the abysmal conditions that exist out there. It was a real eye opener.

[cwkimbro]

I don't disagree that it perhaps would've been ideal to have the retail concentrated on the main corridor. But again that is an impossible standard. From those apartments to Publix is what... maybe five blocks? How many cities can support a retail district within five blocks of every resident. If they can't walk that distance then they basically can't walk anywhere, regardless of the season.


Ya'll make excellent points. I also realize your comments aren't said directly at mine, but I wanted to tie them into the points I was trying to make real quick.

In the residential area of Atlantic station it is easy to walk to Ikea or the major shopping retail area. However, for me, those are regional shopping magnets where people from all over come.

However, I want to see small nodes that are directly for the residents. The major retail area will attract businesses dictated by people who travel there from outside the neighborhood. I think the neighborhood needs a small area that is residential services in nature that alot of people from outside the area wouldn't necessarily travel to. In many cities this usually amounts to a laundromat, a dry cleaner, one or two food shops (pizza, coffee), and perhaps a local watering hole where neighbors can meet at the end of the work day. I travel alot in Europe and I have a good friend that lives in Chicago and these seem to be common things that are found in the denser residential neighborhoods.

For me it isn't just about walking distance, but it is about encouraging different types of businesses, who uses them, and how they are used. I also thinks it helps build a neighborhood culture/community as well.
It is also one of several reasons I think there should be a small neighborhood park vs. walking almost two miles to Piedmont Park anytime you want access to a park.

[cwkimbro]

Agreed. I walked from IKEA to the retail core last night in under five minutes. I couldn't help but think of this post and how utterly lazy most Atlantans are when it comes to walking.

Nothing is going to change in the region until the mentality changes, and it's a hell of a lot more difficult to change culture than it is to change the urban form.

There was a study done several year by Bermick & Cervero that identified the different conception of what is a "short walk" in different cities. Among the findings was that, in New York City, the distance "most people" will walk for services and transit is greater than in any other US city. Part of this has to do with a more walker-friendly urban form, but I suspect that even more is cultural.

As a case in point, I will never forget when I hosted a public meeting in the Beaver Ruin area of Gwinnett county and asked recent immigrants what they liked the most of the area. Person after person talked about how they liked that they could walk to different places. We probed a bit more and found that many considered it nothing to walk two or three miles to stores and businesses, even in the abysmal conditions that exist out there. It was a real eye opener.

I think it is also because in most areas of Atlanta there are certain types of stores most can't walk to. There are a few neighborhoods, like Atlantic Station, but for the most park Grocery Stores and Hardware stores are out of range for even a longer walking distance.

The areas along Beaver Ruin have many stores that are targeting immigrants and one of the things I have noticed are small super markets, usually built in old gas station/convenience stores and sometimes in smaller strip malls. While these are still a long walk to many, it spreads out the distance to get to a store. New York is like this in many respects. You see smaller grocery stores, but there are more of them more spread out. I think this encourages people to walk more moderate distances.

In comparison, we tend to have large supermarkets that a few can walk to, but most need transit or a car to get to. In other words when they plan the size of the store they build it for a larger market area knowing that people can drive. When fewer people drive it is a smaller store, but a smaller market area and more stores.

[BlindFatSnake]

Agreed. I walked from IKEA to the retail core last night in under five minutes. I couldn't help but think of this post and how utterly lazy most Atlantans are when it comes to walking.
Nothing is going to change in the region until the mentality changes, and it's a hell of a lot more difficult to change culture than it is to change the urban form.

I couldn't agree more. I was without my personal car for 53 days and had to use MARTA (both bus and rail) to do everything. I took it in stride, and use the experience to understand how MARTA works and what are the pitfalls and headaches... I came away from that 53 day experience appreciating MARTA a helluva lot more than when I started the journey.

Some days I rode the bus to the MARTA rail station in the West End and exited at the Buckhead station, and walked 7 minutes to work. Other days, I transferred to a MARTA bus at the Lindbergh station and rode the bus to my destination.

Other times, I would take MARTA rail to Lindbergh station and walk to Home Depot for paint... than catch the train south to the Midtown station and walk to the Publix and shop for food... then walk to Max's liquor store for my weekend bottle, and reboard the southbound train. Then, stop by Five-Points (Underground) to buy a pair of shades and a knock-off watch and people watch on Peachtree Street before heading south to the West End and a transfer to a bus that would drop me off a mere half block from my home...

Some days I would catch a bus (or walk) to the West End station, get off at the Arts Center station and catch the FREE shuttle (because the MARTA bus would wait 20 minutes before departing) OR I would simply walk the short distance to LA Fitness at AS. I would often not wait for the bus...

People in Atlanta are way to lazy to even consider the benefits of transit... I currently purchase a weekly pass and ride MARTA to and from work most weeks. I'm a convert to MARTA, and wish like hell that MARTA rail was extended into Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton counties.

:cheers: Here's to counting on MARTA to extend rail into Clayton county SOON.

[PedestriAnne]

Agreed. I walked from IKEA to the retail core last night in under five minutes. I couldn't help but think of this post and how utterly lazy most Atlantans are when it comes to walking.

Nothing is going to change in the region until the mentality changes, and it's a hell of a lot more difficult to change culture than it is to change the urban form.

I think I'd call it cultural influence more than laziness. A lot of people operate under the unexamined belief that you have to get everywhere as fast as possible, even if where you're going isn't time-sensitive at all. Spending 30 minutes walking somewhere rather than three minutes driving just doesn't register as a choice. People think of the walking and waiting involved in using transit as a waste of time. Time spent sitting in traffic often isn't thought of the same way, for whatever reason.

Also, this is a city in which the vast majority of middle-class adults don't really walk anywhere. (Exceptions include exercising and going to get lunch during the workday.) I think people here are afraid to be seen walking or standing at a bus stop because, well...that's for poor people, old people, crazy people, little kids and maybe foreign students. If no one you know does it, if probably feels like it's not something for "normal" people.

[Chris Creech]

I think some of the pedestrian mentality though is set by the environments themselves. It's one thing to walk along a sidewalk with shops, cafes, other people walking around. You look around, you're engaged, it's interesting, time flies.

But when you're the only person walking down an empty sidewalk, and the only thing to engage you is curtained up condo windows, and bare faux front entrances a five minute walk can feel like a lifetime. You just don't feel welcome. Walking through the district it can feel like the sidewalks are there more as a decorative touch than as anything to actually use.

[jew4life4948]

The Georgia Court of Appeals has revived a suit brought by residents of an upscale Atlantic Station condominium claiming that the developer marketed their units' "spectacular city views" while knowing those vistas would soon be obscured by another high-rise the developer had planned.

A Fulton County Superior Court judge dismissed the suit last year. But the Court of Appeals said the judge should not have relied on language in the sales contracts in which the buyers disclaimed any verbal or other guarantees about the condos that could have been made by sales agents.

"We're very encouraged," said

Weinstock & Scavo associate James R. Fletcher II, who worked on the appeal. "In this case, the Court of Appeals opinion reaffirms the principle that these defendants are not entitled to conceal their plans to block the view from the building with another building, and then try to hide behind the details of a contract."

"This is not a case about buyer's remorse," added Fletcher. "It's about seller's deceit."

Queries to the defense team, Troutman Sanders partners William M. Withrow Jr. and Thomas E. Reilly and associate Brian P. Watt, were forwarded to Novare, which provided an e-mailed statement.

"The Court of Appeals' ruling is based purely on the allegations of plaintiffs' complaint and not on any evidence, and is not a decision on the merits of Plaintiffs' surviving claims," the e-mail said. "Novare fully expects to prevail on the merits of this case, The very thing about which the plaintiffs complain in this case was expressly addressed with disclosures in Plaintiffs' purchase agreements and condominium documents that the views from their condominiums could change due to future development. As a result, the company intends to seek further judicial review of the decision and intends to continue to vigorously defend itself."

The suit was filed Dec. 31, 2008, by eight plaintiffs who purchased units on the southern side of the 26-story Twelve Atlantic Station Hotel and Residences "in or about early 2006," and named as defendants developer Novare Group and its affiliates, two corporate officers and Atlantic Station LLC. The suit accused the developers and their agents of emphasizing the downtown panorama from the units on that side of the building and promising that no other building would obscure that view.

The buyers said they were assured that any new construction "would be a low to mid rise office building" that "would not be built for at least five years."

The suit said Novare and Atlantic Station had in fact already signed a letter of intent in 2005 agreeing to develop another high-rise, the 47-story Atlantic, across 17th Street and just south of the Twelve.

When the suit was filed, the plaintiffs' attorney Michael Weinstock—whose son is one of the plaintiffs—told the Daily Report that southern-side units were more expensive.

The complaint included allegations of fraud and negligence, later adding violations of Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act. It asked the court to rescind the sales contracts and award damages and attorneys' fees.

The defense countered that the contracts clearly stated that that no oral or written statements by anyone outside of the written language of the contract itself was binding upon the parties, and that—since there was no guarantee of any particular view in those agreements—the unhappy buyers had no claim.

Further, they noted, there was even language included in the contracts that the views from the units "may change over time due to, among circumstances, additional development … ."

On Oct. 8, 2009, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Alford J. Dempsey Jr. granted a defense motion for judgment on the pleadings, ruling that the multiple disclaimers in the contract relating to guarantees from sales brokers and the possibility of changing views or lighting had put the buyers on notice that their views might change.

The judge concluded that the buyers had waited too long to seek rescission of the contracts; there had been public disclosure of the planned construction of the 47-story Atlantic condominium tower between March and May of 2006, said his order.

"Despite such notice, plaintiffs waited until Dec. 31, 2008, over two-and-a-half years later, to take any action to tender rescission of their purchase agreements," said his order. "Accordingly, this court holds as a matter of law that plaintiffs failed to timely demand or tender rescission of purchase agreements and have affirmed [them.]"

But the appeals court ruled that Dempsey had erred in dismissing the case. While it upheld portions of his order, including dismissal of negligence counts against two Novare officers, it reversed his dismissal of claims of fraud in the inducement by actual concealment, negligent misrepresentation, negligent supervision and violations of the Georgia Fair Business

Practices Act.

The opinion, written by Chief Judge M. Yvette Miller with the concurrence of presiding Judges Herbert E. Phipps and Edward H. Johnson, noted that for the purpose of the appeal of a motion on the pleadings, the facts laid out by the appellants, in this case the purchasers, are presumed to be true.

Given that presumption, the purchasers had "sufficiently set forth a claim of active fraud via active concealment" by asserting that the developers intentionally concealed their plans to build a high-rise taller than the Twelve directly across from it.

The appeals court also ruled that, contrary to the lower court's order, the purchasers had not affirmed their contracts, including the important disclaimer language. Although the original complaint did not contain a separate claim seeking to rescind the contracts, Miller wrote, the plaintiffs had sought that relief, and the fact that they did not sue for breach of contract indicated that they did not consider themselves to have accepted all of the contract terms.

As to the allegations of violations of the Fair Business act, Miller wrote that the lower court should not have ruled that the act's two-year statute of limitations barred any claims. While the original complaint mentioned a March 2006 news story reporting on the possibility of a building in that area, it was not until September 2008 "when it became apparent that construction of The Atlantic blocked their views and that value of their properties would be substantially diminished," wrote Miller.

Since the statute of limitations did not apply, the plaintiffs' claims that they had relied on false information when they purchased their units could also be heard under the Fair Business act, she wrote, because "justifiable reliance [is] an essential element of the FBPA … ."

Fletcher and fellow Weinstock associate W. Hennen Ehrenclou said the order gave them renewed hope that their clients would have their day in court.

"The Georgia Legislature has recognized in the Fair Business Practices Act that businesses can't use small-print disclosures to circumvent the act," said Ehrenclou. "These [clauses] were inserted by the sellers knowing they were going to need them later."

The Appeals Court case is Sarif v. Novare Group, No. A10A0972.

[PedestriAnne]

:previous:

That must be from the Daily Report. A sentence like "...it reversed his dismissal of claims of fraud in the inducement by actual concealment, negligent misrepresentation, negligent supervision and violations of the Georgia Fair Business" would get snatched out by an editor at a general interest paper so fast.:haha:

[smArTaLlone]

Regal Atlantic Station will add an IMAX Theatre by December.



More IMAX for Atlanta (http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2010/11/19/more-imax-for-atlanta.html?ed=2010-11-19&s=article_du&ana=e_du_pap)

[TarHeelJ]

That pond functions as what? A place to curb your dog? Ok. I'm saying it's not greenspace. I go there on my way to Target. It's not like I've only read about it.

cwkimbro has a much better explanation of what's wrong with AS. I just think they could have made it more inviting for residents. Hopefully it will evolve.

As for the Olympics, it's considered the worst in modern memory. I'm sure a lot of good and talented people did great things in hosting the event. That's not going to change that perception. I visited as an out-of-towner and it was a really off-putting experience. Did it put Atlanta "on the map" to some degree? Yes. I agree with that.

I went to several Olympic events in Atlanta and had the time of my life. I'm not sure what the "problems" (perceived or otherwise) actually were, but they didn't touch 99% of the participants or the tv audience. There are some whiny Europeans that wanted their way and didn't get it - that's where the "worst in modern memory" originated. I'm not sure what happened to you, but I had a great time as did everyone else I have talked to about it.

The Olympics definitely put Atlanta on the international map...not just to some degree!

[Chris Creech]

Regal Atlantic Station will add an IMAX Theatre by December.



More IMAX for Atlanta (http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2010/11/19/more-imax-for-atlanta.html?ed=2010-11-19&s=article_du&ana=e_du_pap)


I wonder if this is an expansion or if they're maybe just taking a couple of the existing theaters and remodeling?

This is actually one of my fav. theaters, it's one of the better places to catch a double or triple feature on a single ticket, and they even put the 3D glass recycling bins where no one can see you fish one out if you need it.

[smArTaLlone]

I wonder if this is an expansion or if they're maybe just taking a couple of the existing theaters and remodeling?

This is actually one of my fav. theaters, it's one of the better places to catch a double or triple feature on a single ticket, and they even put the 3D glass recycling bins where no one can see you fish one out if you need it.

My understanding is that they're just taking one theater and making it IMAX.

[smArTaLlone]

Los Angeles-based CB Richard Ellis Investors, a firm with deep financial resources, will determine the future of a 14-acre undeveloped parcel. There are no current plans for new towers but the company plans to "invest significantly" in the retail center.



New Owners (http://www.ajc.com/business/atlantic-station-has-new-798155.html) AJC

[Chris Creech]

I saw that article as well and was surprised that one of the big first projects they talk about is a relayout of the parking decks so they're not so confusing. Really? I've never found them all that confusing, suburubanites need to realize it's not typical mall parking.

But to spend major bucks on redoing the parking deck? It seems there would be dozens of other improvments on the to-do list in front of that.

[Pessimistic Observer]

I saw that article as well and was surprised that one of the big first projects they talk about is a relayout of the parking decks so they're not so confusing. Really? I've never found them all that confusing, suburubanites need to realize it's not typical mall parking.

But to spend major bucks on redoing the parking deck? It seems there would be dozens of other improvments on the to-do list in front of that.

repainting signs in the parking deck is probably the least expensive thing they can do i wouldnt call it major bucks.

[mike1986]

I can't read the article because I'm not a premium member. Can someone with access to the full article explain what they plan on doing? New stores, buildings, etc?

[smArTaLlone]

I can't read the article because I'm not a premium member. Can someone with access to the full article explain what they plan on doing? New stores, buildings, etc?

Nothing too specific. Only that they will make the parking deck less confusing and seek retailers that will appeal more to the intown demographic.

[jurban8]

Nothing too specific. Only that they will make the parking deck less confusing and seek retailers that will appeal more to the intown demographic.

Intown demographic ghetto or yuppie?

[Fiorenza]

buppie and guppie!

[BlindFatSnake]

buppie and guppie!

So much for the flawed concept inappropriately termed "The Great Melting Pot", which in Georgia is more like an Oil and Water-based potluck dinner not fit for anyone except for backwoods racists who feel the need to sprew hatred in the blogspheres....

Get out much??? :whip:

[Fiorenza]

Get out much???

To Atlantic Station, not so much.

[270Atlantic]

As you probably know ST stands for Starwood ownership of the new building on the 17th street, the Atlantic. I am one of the owners in the building. The property and ammenities is very nice. Unfortunately ST is not. They do not have any respect for the rights of the owners. They are turning the ammenities, the clubroom and the terrace into a night club through private rental to outside entities. Noise is unbearable. We complained and nobody listened. New or prospective owners..... Watch out......

[atllocal74]

It turns out that the new owners have no intent to improve Atlantic Station. It was recently announced there will be NO FREE PARKING FOR ANY VISITORS Atlantic Station unless you purchase something at a store. The new owners are taking away the 2hrs free parking to visit Atlantic Station. All visitors will be charged to visit Atlantic Staion. In addition all residents who live in Atlantic Station will have there parking badge disabled if they enter the parking garage and don't get to their designated parking area within 30 minutes. Just when you think this place couldn't be any more of a failure they go and make it worse.

[Mark in mid-town]

It turns out that the new owners have no intent to improve Atlantic Station. It was recently announced there will be NO FREE PARKING FOR ANY VISITORS Atlantic Station unless you purchase something at a store. The new owners are taking away the 2hrs free parking to visit Atlantic Station. All visitors will be charged to visit Atlantic Staion. In addition all residents who live in Atlantic Station will have there parking badge disabled if they enter the parking garage and don't get to their designated parking area within 30 minutes. Just when you think this place couldn't be any more of a failure they go and make it worse.

Unfortunately, this move will be an inconvenience for some. Nonetheless, I support it 100%. The new owners are attempting to limit the amount of loitering by potential trouble makers that goes on in Atlantic Station. That has been a problem since the complex opened up. It has served to scare good people away and has contributed to much of Atlantic Station's negative vibe that had cascaded throughout too much of the Atlanta area.

The new owners have accurately diagnosed what one of the problems has been and have taken corrective action to deal with it. I have been very much impressed with the new owners in the 1/2 year since they've taken over Atlantic Station.

Obviously, much more needs to be done, but failure doesn't seem to be in the vocabulary of the new ownership. They have given every indication that they will do what it takes for Atlantic Station to achieve its great potential. That's in the best interest of those who have invested money to live in Atlantic Station and it's in the best interests of the city of Atlanta as its future vitality rests in its ability to attract more people to invest and move within the city limits.

[Terminus]

It turns out that the new owners have no intent to improve Atlantic Station. It was recently announced there will be NO FREE PARKING FOR ANY VISITORS Atlantic Station unless you purchase something at a store. The new owners are taking away the 2hrs free parking to visit Atlantic Station. All visitors will be charged to visit Atlantic Staion. In addition all residents who live in Atlantic Station will have there parking badge disabled if they enter the parking garage and don't get to their designated parking area within 30 minutes. Just when you think this place couldn't be any more of a failure they go and make it worse.

Sounds like a good idea to me. I usually take transit there most of the time anyway, and strongly believe we should never subsidize the car with free parking. I wish more places charged.

[Pessimistic Observer]

Sounds like a good idea to me. I usually take transit there most of the time anyway, and strongly believe we should never subsidize the car with free parking. I wish more places charged.

and heres my vote for no free parking:whip:

[Behind_Phipps_2]

Then forget the suburbanites from patronizing Midtown and Downtown establishments.

[GTdan]

Then forget the suburbanites from patronizing Midtown and Downtown establishments.

Those people could just as easily take MARTA into Downtown and Midtown and not have to worry about paying for parking.

[Behind_Phipps_2]

Those people could just as easily take MARTA into Downtown and Midtown and not have to worry about paying for parking.

I was responding to Terminus' comment that he prefers that parking never be subsidized. As for suburbanites taking MARTA to come shop and watch a movie - that will not happen in my lifetime.

[simms3_redux]

Well, suburbanites coming in.

Here's what I have to say about it.

Suburbanites come to Spring on the Green and look what happens.

Locals and local college students go to Flicks on Fifth and look what doesn't happen.

The suburbanites we want to have come into the city only come to eat out occasionally or go to the Fox, but they don't come to hang out and shop. The suburbanites we don't want to come into the city come in droves and too often bring their baggage with them.

I was in AS this weekend and saw the "flash mob" that was fun (hardly a surprise though) and saw that damn choo choo kiddie train going around. Get that f*****g piece of crap out of there. The last thing I want to deal with in the city is a bunch of babies and their whole sightseeing families clogging up the streets with plasticky choo choos that belong in some suburban mall. That really bothered me.

[atllocal74]

Unfortunately, this move will be an inconvenience for some. Nonetheless, I support it 100%. The new owners are attempting to limit the amount of loitering by potential trouble makers that goes on in Atlantic Station. That has been a problem since the complex opened up. It has served to scare good people away and has contributed to much of Atlantic Station's negative vibe that had cascaded throughout too much of the Atlanta area.

The new owners have accurately diagnosed what one of the problems has been and have taken corrective action to deal with it. I have been very much impressed with the new owners in the 1/2 year since they've taken over Atlantic Station.

Obviously, much more needs to be done, but failure doesn't seem to be in the vocabulary of the new ownership. They have given every indication that they will do what it takes for Atlantic Station to achieve its great potential. That's in the best interest of those who have invested money to live in Atlantic Station and it's in the best interests of the city of Atlanta as its future vitality rests in its ability to attract more people to invest and move within the city limits.

I couldn't disagree with you more. So you think trouble makers are coming to Atlantic Station for free parking. These loitering trouble makers who come because of the free parking are scaring away the good people away, haaha what a joke. I have a feeling the good people will be much more scared off by the fact they will be charged 2 dollars to return a shirt to Old Navy. But I'm sure they will spend an hour of their day and 2.50 5o ride Marta and a free shuttle to make the city less congested. More likely they'll just stay away from Atlantic Station alltogether.

Inconvenience for some, yes how about for the hundreds of people living in Twelve, 17th lofts and the Atlantic who along with their visitors patronize the businesses but have no visitor parking and now can't have a guest stop by for 15 minutes without being charged. Or for those of us who live here and pay hundreds of dollars a month in condo fees, yet are constantly hassled when we just want to leave our parking garage. Atlantic Station constantly disables our badges incorrectly because they want to ensure we somehow don't steal free parking from them. This was a constant issue for residents that was resolved after years and the new owners have reintroduced this and still can't get their gates to work.

This may seem like a minor inconvenience to some, but I can assure you it is a daily headache that will encourage people not to live here and not to visit.

The new owners have inaccurately diagnosed a problem and caused a bigger one. Don't screw over the people who visit on frequent basis or live here on a daily basis. This is a BIG failure in my opinion.

[PedestriAnne]

Well, suburbanites coming in.

Here's what I have to say about it.

Suburbanites come to Spring on the Green and look what happens.

Locals and local college students go to Flicks on Fifth and look what doesn't happen.

The suburbanites we want to have come into the city only come to eat out occasionally or go to the Fox, but they don't come to hang out and shop. The suburbanites we don't want to come into the city come in droves and too often bring their baggage with them.

I was in AS this weekend and saw the "flash mob" that was fun (hardly a surprise though) and saw that damn choo choo kiddie train going around. Get that f*****g piece of crap out of there. The last thing I want to deal with in the city is a bunch of babies and their whole sightseeing families clogging up the streets with plasticky choo choos that belong in some suburban mall. That really bothered me.

I don't feel one way or the other about it, but for some reason it's cracking me up that that little train makes you so mad :D.

I generally only go to AS to go to Target, so on the few occasions that I venture into the main portion of it, I've forgotten about the train and I'm always surprised to see that it's still there. I can't believe some kid hasn't managed to fall off or out of it or have some other kind of freak accident that would make them decide that it's a liability risk. What a job it must be to drive that thing all day.

[micropundit]

The state’s tollway authority is negotiating the planned reolocation of Amtrak’s train station from Buckhead to Atlantic Station.In 2002, SRTA spent $10.4 million in tollway collections to buy 6.8 acres on the west side of Atlantic Station. At the time, the land was intended to be a landing pad for a proposed transit line from Cobb County.


The proposed site is adjacent to the IKEA building and the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks.Travelers could reach the proposed station by private vehicle, MARTA or the Atlantic Station shuttle. Any of the methods would be a measurable improvement over the access to the existing Amtrak station, located at the corner of Peachtree and Deering roads.

Private vehicles would exit into Atlantic Station from the Downtown Connector or from Northside Drive. MARTA has multiple routes in the area. The Atlantic Station shuttle connects with MARTA’s Arts Center Station



http://saportareport.com/blog/2011/06/update-state-tollway-authority-helping-to-relocate-amtrak-station-to-atlantic-station-gdot-commissioner-says/

[STrek777]

Omg I hope this happens! How amazing would it be if they built a replica of the grand atlanta train terminal that they destroyed to make way for a parking deck in Downtown

[GTdan]

Omg I hope this happens! How amazing would it be if they built a replica of the grand atlanta train terminal that they destroyed to make way for a parking deck in Downtown

That would be amazing. Atlanta wasn't the only city to destroy a beautiful train station. Check out this site and see 11 other train stations that were demolished and what they were replaced with. Two of them were in Atlanta and another in Savannah. http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/06/22/11-beautiful-train-stations-that-fell-to-the-wrecking-ball/

Atlanta Terminal Station
http://www.infrastructurist.com/wp-content/uploads/terminal-station-atlanta1.jpg

[smArTaLlone]

I heard a rumor that a Neiman Marcus "outlet" store will open in Atlantic Station.

other new additions to the retail mix...

Drew Lewis
Yard House (http://www.yardhouse.com/default.aspx)
Fabrik
Yogli Mogli (will replace Cold Stone Creamery)
Pinkheart
Sole Shoes
Meehan's Public House
Teknion
Paris Bistro

[smArTaLlone]

I noticed that the original (I guess) plan for Atlantic station included what looks like an enclosed mall and a mini office park to the west. What was built isn't perfect but a huge improvement over this plan.

http://tvs-design.com/media/2974/Atlantic-Station.001.jpg

[Terminus]

I noticed that the original (I guess) plan for Atlantic station included what looks like an enclosed mall and a mini office park to the west. What was built isn't perfect but a huge improvement over this plan.



You can thank the City of Atlanta then Commissioner of Planning Mike Dobbins for that. The City only agreed to support the 17th Street bridge if the plan was developed into something better than a glorified suburban "planned unit development."

Despite the architectural design of most individual buildings being poor at Atlantic Station, the plan is much, much stronger than the original vision for the site.

[bryantm3]

You can thank the City of Atlanta then Commissioner of Planning Mike Dobbins for that. The City only agreed to support the 17th Street bridge if the plan was developed into something better than a glorified suburban "planned unit development."

Despite the architectural design of most individual buildings being poor at Atlantic Station, the plan is much, much stronger than the original vision for the site.

do you know if there are plans to fill the remaining footprints for skyscrapers anytime soon?

http://goo.gl/maps/edjXz

[smArTaLlone]

Odyssey Sports Atlanta would develop the “sportsplex” on land between 450 and 464 Bishop Street. The industrial site is next to the 138-acre Atlantic Station mixed-use development at the Connector and 17th Street.


The new recreational facility would include an Olympic-sized pool; 10 basketball courts; 11 tennis courts; two lacrosse and soccer fields; and a hockey rink.

The project, called Odyssey Sportsplex, will be geared to training elite athletes, said Harold Buckley, an attorney representing the development group.
“These will be blue-chippers that are looking to play professionally,” Buckley said.


http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/real_talk/2012/10/sportsplex-planned-next-to-atlantic.html