Quote:
Originally Posted by Atlriser
Considering I would be a customer for this new development as it would be less than a mile away from my home, I would like to see it built. Therefore, don't assume the residents of downtown don't want to see this built. Parking whatever I don't care. I've just tried to base my thoughts off facts and not emotions. The area is already a government node. Buses are BS for people trying to get to this area from Palmetto or Milton. Whether you like it or not these people MUST come to this 4 block area everyday for our government to function on all levels. Fulton County alone brings in over 1000 jurors every Monday from an area that's over 50 miles away North and South. That's just jurors for Fulton not counting all the other government functions. That's the reality of what occurs in those decks just on Monday mornings every week. Now what you do with parking I don't care. If I can't park to go buy my $175 of groceries every week I will go elsewhere and have to drive farther to Edgewood. That's the simple reality that most family's live period. When I need $20 worth of non frozen items I'll walk. It's simple logic. Can the retail survive with that family mentality....NO! The majority isn't always right but in this case logic and money dictate the need for further parking. Is 3500 to much. Considering I work in construction financing and for a commercial builder (not retail) I'd say it's a little high but standard and those numbers are the only way the project will work and the tenants will sign leases period. That's from proven numbers from developments that work in urban environments. I wish Atlanta had a subway stop every two blocks and I live where I do so I can walk, bike and use transit for most of my needs. I've tried to strike a balance between idealism and reality that will move Atlanta toward a goal of not needing a car as my own family has gone from 2 cars to 1 over the last 5 years. Lose the emotion and extreme idealism if you don't, nothing will happen but stagnation. Compromise to make progress. Lord it's so all or nothing for some people and that's what happens when you have 2 sides that bicker and neither is completely right.
Sounds like Washington and Atlanta is so much better than that!
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I have no idea how you came to the conclusion that my position is "all or nothing". I have not suggested a development with zero parking. For the record I am more anti this proposal than I am anti-parking. Atlanta is so heavily car-oriented that I believe that driving will have to become substantially more challenging for the culture to begin to change and therefore parking is of course necessary.
The reasons that I oppose this development are 1)we absolutely cannot say that this is the highest and best possible redevelopment for Underground because there was no open process to select a developer 2) I am opposed to a completely car oriented development transplanted into the historic heart of the city. My position is based on a desire for the best long term health of downtown. There is nothing emotional about this position and I certainly do not think its more based on emotion than "I would be a customer so I would like to see it built". The kind of development I would like to see downtown is neither extreme nor idealism but is in fact the norm around the world.
The parking for the courts and government offices is really a separate issue that I don't have the answer for. My point about visitors is only that downtown's urban fabric has been destroyed for decades with wide, fast roads and an abundance of parking so that people can drive in, out and through the city with ease and that we can no longer afford to build the city for visitors
first.