ATLANTA | Development Thread VI

[Street Advocate]

Mill Creek along peachteee has its crane up in buckhead.

Hampton inn by disco Kroger is above ground.

Hanover buckhead has made some progress:

[sbrptree]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

They did say they would try to break ground this summer so we'll see. Wonder if they found a couple of potential tenants already.

Haven't checked to see if they even have a land disturbance permit yet...but. I need to take soil borings to do the geotechnical foundation design work. Likely still a while out. Not to burst bubbles, but remember Eviva took lots of soil samples and that project probably won't happen.

[Ant131531]

Originally Posted by sbrptree

Haven't checked to see if they even have a land disturbance permit yet...but. I need to take soil borings to do the geotechnical foundation design work. Likely still a while out. Not to burst bubbles, but remember Eviva took lots of soil samples and that project probably won't happen.

True but Eviva is one project out of many have broken ground so I wouldn't use that as an example.

[bigstick]

Originally Posted by Tuckerman

They are putting up the tower crane at CODA now 8 a.m.

I must have gotten some bad info, but looks like just one crane instead of 3-4 like I said earlier? Strange, a building that is about a block square, only has one crane???

[Street Advocate]

Originally Posted by bigstick

I must gave gotten some bad info, but looks like just one crane instead of 3-4 like I said earlier? Strange, a building that is about a block square, only has one crane???

Maybe they still will? 3-4 cranes sounds like what they did for ncr though. Maybe they confused the developments?

[SAV]

Am I the only one who thinks that PCM is an overrated mini mall with expensive parking??? It's cool. But I think people like it because it's in an old historic building and belt line access.

With that being said, a smaller Apple Store going there is cool. however, I don't think our flagship, only Intown Apple Store Should be in PCM. I think it should go in a more central location à la colony Square or maybe even somewhere downtown when underground gets redeveloped. Personally I'd rather wait on either of .those two then settle for PCM

Areas like PCM and West Midtown are cool but I'd rather see Flagship retail in Midtown or Downtown on or close to Peachtree close to train stations, workers, hotels, visitors, students and residents. They're gonna have to just build a parking deck somewhere.

[sbrptree]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

True but Eviva is one project out of many have broken ground so I wouldn't use that as an example.

Agree. But we are past the peak of this development cycle, so with the softening of the apartment market and unknowns about the office market....it's a bit crazy to thing soil boring absolutely means a project will break ground. It took Hanover Midtown (7th Street) almost a year to break ground after soil borings were collected at that site...and a lot can happen in a year. So that's my point.

[Vaden]

Originally Posted by SAV

Am I the only one who thinks that PCM is an overrated mini mall with expensive parking??? It's cool. But I think people like it because it's in an old historic building and belt line access.

I don't know of too many malls that have apartment units, corporate business offices, and educational classrooms. PCM is not in the urban core of the city. It's nowhere near central Midtown or Five Points. It is surrounded by a strip mall with a parking lot, drive-thru restaurants, single family homes, a smattering of converted buildings, and Old Fourth Ward area. It's rather isolated from the central "core" so I feel it's amazing success is the best possible outcome for this huge building. Seriously, what else can cities do with old historic buildings? One comes to the conclusion that the only hope for their survival is to become cool and desirable. I do think they should make room for fresh food stalls somewhere on the site. That's my only quibble.

[scania]

Originally Posted by SAV

Am I the only one who thinks that PCM is an overrated mini mall with expensive parking??? It's cool. But I think people like it because it's in an old historic building and belt line access.

With that being said, a smaller Apple Store going there is cool. however, I don't think our flagship, only Intown Apple Store Should be in PCM. I think it should go in a more central location à la colony Square or maybe even somewhere downtown when underground gets redeveloped. Personally I'd rather wait on either of .those two then settle for PCM

Areas like PCM and West Midtown are cool but I'd rather see Flagship retail in Midtown or Downtown on or close to Peachtree close to train stations, workers, hotels, visitors, students and residents. They're gonna have to just build a parking deck somewhere.

Agreed. But I do think that IF its a flagship store, it should be in the shopping/retail mecca for the city.

[SAV]

Originally Posted by Vaden

I don't know of too many malls that have apartment units, corporate business offices, and educational classrooms. PCM is not in the urban core of the city. It's nowhere near central Midtown or Five Points. It is surrounded by a strip mall with a parking lot, drive-thru restaurants, single family homes, a smattering of converted buildings, and Old Fourth Ward area. It's rather isolated from the central "core" so I feel it's amazing success is the best possible outcome for this huge building. Seriously, what else can cities do with old historic buildings? One comes to the conclusion that the only hope for their survival is to become cool and desirable. I do think they should make room for fresh food stalls somewhere on the site. That's my only quibble.

I kinda agree. PCM is cool. Still overrated to me but whatever. It's A good re-use project. And yes,with it being more so east of Midtown and not prime Midtown, I don't want it to become the go to place for intown shopping.

[Martinman]

Originally Posted by Vaden

I don't know of too many malls that have apartment units, corporate business offices, and educational classrooms. PCM is not in the urban core of the city. It's nowhere near central Midtown or Five Points. It is surrounded by a strip mall with a parking lot, drive-thru restaurants, single family homes, a smattering of converted buildings, and Old Fourth Ward area. It's rather isolated from the central "core" so I feel it's amazing success is the best possible outcome for this huge building. Seriously, what else can cities do with old historic buildings? One comes to the conclusion that the only hope for their survival is to become cool and desirable. I do think they should make room for fresh food stalls somewhere on the site. That's my only quibble.

You just described why and Apple Store on the parking lot on Glen Iris seems really odd to me. If for whatever reason they do not to pull the trigger at PCM, there is still the opportunity for Colony Square to demonstrate it's viability as a retail destination as it will be a phased development with the location of a potential Apple store being a part of the last phase.


BTW that did not appear to me to be soil boring at the 1105 WP site. That looks like something water/sewer related.

[shivtim]

Originally Posted by Vaden

PCM is not in the urban core of the city. It's nowhere near central Midtown or Five Points. It is surrounded by a strip mall with a parking lot, drive-thru restaurants, single family homes, a smattering of converted buildings, and Old Fourth Ward area. It's rather isolated from the central "core" so I feel it's amazing success is the best possible outcome for this huge building.

I'm not sure I agree with this. I get the idea that PCM isn't right next to a MARTA train station, and it isn't right in the heart of Midtown or Downtown. But it's still very much in the central city. It's only 1.2 miles from the North Ave MARTA station, and is served by MARTA buses every 15 minutes (the 2/102). It's directly on the Beltline, and on the Ponce bike lanes. The area is rapidly changing, and I don't think it will be long before this part of town is just considered part of the core. That proposed office building on North Ave would have been great, too bad that fell through.

[Street Advocate]

As much as I'd prefer the EST have more local stores than Apple or others already moved in, there are similar instances of Apple locating in trendy neighborhoods throughout the country that jive well. The EST has exponentially more foot-traffic than Midtown, at least on weekends, and is essentially Atlanta's most desirable neighborhood to visit. The difference is palpable between living off 14th compared with living just east of west of the BeltLine.
I'd prefer to keep outside of the two story section of PCM to keep it from feeling like a mall/preferably place it by J.Crew or somewhere in the outside shops.

If Apple makes a store at PCM, I hope it isn't on a parking lot on Glen Iris. I'd rather we put in another mixed use development at that location (directly west of PCM). The more mixed use and office developments between North Ave station and the EST, the more successful Atlanta will be in the future by expanding a cohesive urban footprint.

[montydawg]

Originally Posted by Street Advocate

there are similar instances of Apple locating in trendy neighborhoods throughout the country that jive well.

A good example of this is the Apple store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. A little off the beat and path to most of New York, and generally not visited by tourists, but a popular place with locals, and among the most 'trendy' (read: hipster) scenes in New York. They just built a ground up apple store across the street from the new Whole Foods. This is their first Brooklyn store, although other areas of Brooklyn (e.g. downtown) have much more foot traffic. I think Apple is more after demographic and prestige of area than anything to maintain it's brand image. This is what I would envison Apple doing for PCM:

[Atlanta3000]

Solís Hotel Two Porsche Drive – Atlanta, Georgia

Webcam
https://app.oxblue.com/open/winterco...ion/solishotel

Video Link

[DNR]

I understand the financial incentives involved, but I would have loved to have seen the Porsche Headquarters and the Solis Hotel in more suitable surroundings given their architectural uniqueness – somewhere less industrial and maybe more like a Road Atlanta setting with trees and hills. If I am about to drop serious money on a Porsche, I would like to hear the unique sounds that only a Porsche makes without the sounds of jets flying overhead and interstate traffic. Maybe it’s me but a JCB equipment dealer seems more suitable for that site. Sorry, a little off topic.

[arctk2014]

Originally Posted by DNR

I understand the financial incentives involved, but I would have loved to have seen the Porsche Headquarters and the Solis Hotel in more suitable surroundings given their architectural uniqueness – somewhere less industrial and maybe more like a Road Atlanta setting with trees and hills. If I am about to drop serious money on a Porsche, I would like to hear the unique sounds that only a Porsche makes without the sounds of jets flying overhead and interstate traffic. Maybe it’s me but a JCB equipment dealer seems more suitable for that site. Sorry, a little off topic.

You don't go to the Porsche Driving Experience Center to buy a Porsche. It's an event space more than anything else.

[DNR]

Originally Posted by arctk2014

You don't go to the Porsche Driving Experience Center to buy a Porsche. It's an event space more than anything else.

Yes, it is understand that the Porsche Headquarters and the adjoining track facility are not involved in sales directly ( only indirectly ).
However, the projected goal of the “Porsche Driving Experience Center” is to give the individual the ultimate driving experience, which in all likelihood, will increase the probability of future sales and retain the existing owner base . However, these facilities are squeezed between an airport runway, rail road tracks and across the street from a McDonalds & Wendy’s – not the most desirable location for making the best impression.
The setting in which these facilities are located is certainly less than ideal aesthetically speaking - but apparently more than ideal financially speaking for Porsche and Solis (through incentives). My point was that these structures seem out-of-place in this location and would seem to be better suited in a less industrial or heavy commercial setting.

[One ATLien]

Originally Posted by DNR

Yes, it is understand that the Porsche Headquarters and the adjoining track facility are not involved in sales directly ( only indirectly ).
However, the projected goal of the “Porsche Driving Experience Center” is to give the individual the ultimate driving experience, which in all likelihood, will increase the probability of future sales and retain the existing owner base . However, these facilities are squeezed between an airport runway, rail road tracks and across the street from a McDonalds & Wendy’s – not the most desirable location for making the best impression.
The setting in which these facilities are located is certainly less than ideal aesthetically speaking - but apparently more than ideal financially speaking for Porsche and Solis (through incentives). My point was that these structures seem out-of-place in this location and would seem to be better suited in a less industrial or heavy commercial setting.

I think its actually in a pretty cool and interesting location. Driving while you see planes landing and taking off is a great feel in my opinion, kind of unique, reminds me of some video games. The fact that its right next to the airport makes it a great and convenient location for people flying in.. And now that the hotel is almost open the location is even getting more desirable. On the contrary building it somewhere far away and in the middle of nowhere like road Atlanta is, is not very unique to Metro Atlanta. Road Atlanta and Atlanta Motor Speedway are both far from the city center, Porsche is not. The hotel and Porsche HQ are both just one part of the Aerotropolis vision, there is still more to come in the surrounding area in the near future, the location is only getting more attractive, and unique.

[sbrptree]

Originally Posted by One ATLien

I think its actually in a pretty cool and interesting location. Driving while you see planes landing and taking off is a great feel in my opinion, kind of unique, reminds me of some video games. The fact that its right next to the airport makes it a great and convenient location for people flying in.. And now that the hotel is almost open the location is even getting more desirable. On the contrary building it somewhere far away and in the middle of nowhere like road Atlanta is, is not very unique to Metro Atlanta. Road Atlanta and Atlanta Motor Speedway are both far from the city center, Porsche is not. The hotel and Porsche HQ are both just one part of the Aerotropolis vision, there is still more to come in the surrounding area in the near future, the location is only getting more attractive, and unique.

It's also about advertising... Porsche N. America executives have spoken about the "free" advertising they receive from flight traffic to/from HJAIA as well as being right next to I-75. Clients can also fly in and quickly be at their location. MARTA is also studying an extension adjacent to the site, so as far as accessibility and visibility - they hit it out of the park.