Atlanta Community Discussion Thread

[RATBOYKEV]

I wanted to highlight a couple new pedestrian-only mid block crossings in Midtown which help deal with the over-sized blocks in this city.

11th & 12th st Dickson Pl cut-thru









13th & 14th St Arts Walk

[Neighbor]

Good post. These should be mandatory for future large developments. There should also be a conscious effort to make these more aesthetically appealing to pedestrians.

A lot is said about making the city more pedestrian friendly, but no matter how much the streets are improved, at times it still makes for arduous walking when you need to go all the way around the giga-blocks. Cut throughs can help in a practical sense and also lead for opportunities to create identity to areas with art, a-la-beltline.

[Street Advocate]

Originally Posted by RATBOYKEV

I wanted to highlight a couple new pedestrian-only mid block crossings in Midtown which help deal with the over-sized blocks in this city.

REALLY nice contribution, thank you! Which building is the last photo with the greg mike mural? And I nearly forgot about Cafe Lucia coming to Piedmont House!

Lennar Midtown is looking great. Saw it from 10th st yesterday and was really pleased with how it's coming out.

[Robin22]

These cross-throughs can be good for pedestrians - however, they are also safety concerns. The cross-through between Spire and Gordon Biersch (at the time - soon to be City Tap) became a hangout for the homeless and a safety threat to residents, so a fence was installed, and it no longer is a cross-through. The cross-through between Viewpoint and 7th Midtown also became a hangout for the homeless and a safety threat - but recently increased patrols have cut down on that.

[Street Advocate]

Originally Posted by Robin22

These cross-throughs can be good for pedestrians - however, they are also safety concerns. The cross-through between Spire and Gordon Biersch (at the time - soon to be City Tap) became a hangout for the homeless and a safety threat to residents, so a fence was installed, and it no longer is a cross-through. The cross-through between Viewpoint and 7th Midtown also became a hangout for the homeless and a safety threat - but recently increased patrols have cut down on that.

People need to use general city streetsmarts, though, too. Not well lit and/or narrow and hard to see what's going on at night? Avoid it. Similar to alleyways in older cities.

[RATBOYKEV]

Originally Posted by Street Advocate

Which building is the last photo with the greg mike mural? .

The new dual-flagged hotel on 13th/14th is a Moxy hotel on the backside and its lobby-bar area is glassed along that cut-thru. Should be good for a cocktail and people watching every once in a while.

[Ric 0_0]

I wasn't sure where to put this, but two of Atlanta's companies have made or are looking to make some big purchases.

Coca-cola recently bought Costa Coffee.
https://www.beveragedaily.com/Articl...ee-acquisition

Delta is looking to buy quite a few share in Alitalia. This is a little riskier though since Alitalia is not doing so hot right now.
https://simpleflying.com/delta-alitalia-merger/

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by Robin22

These cross-throughs can be good for pedestrians - however, they are also safety concerns. The cross-through between Spire and Gordon Biersch (at the time - soon to be City Tap) became a hangout for the homeless and a safety threat to residents, so a fence was installed, and it no longer is a cross-through. The cross-through between Viewpoint and 7th Midtown also became a hangout for the homeless and a safety threat - but recently increased patrols have cut down on that.

wouldn't it be a nicer solution to light up the area, put a few benches for people to sit, some planters? if people are gathering there just make it safe instead of cutting off access. what's an empty alleyway good for anyway?

[Robin22]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

wouldn't it be a nicer solution to light up the area, put a few benches for people to sit, some planters? if people are gathering there just make it safe instead of cutting off access. what's an empty alleyway good for anyway?

The alleyway between 7th Midtown and Viewpoint has doors to enter various establishments and buildings, along with lighting (not totally empty or useless). Before patrols, the homeless regularly used this alleyway to sleep. There is no room in this alleyway for seating - nor would you want it. Based on experience, the homeless in the area use any seating available - and it is avoided by pedestrians.

It was somewhat unsafe on the block (between 6th and 7th on Peachtree) when seating was available - which included benches, along with outdoor seating at the food establishments on the block (including several restaurants and QT). This led to some crime in the area - including a homeless to homeless killing on the next block.

Since the benches have been removed, an entrance to QT closed on Peachtree, and private patrols implemented, safety on the block is much better.

Even though it is "nice" to have seating on city blocks - until the city handles its homeless issues, it will be problematic to put seating in the alleyways.

Note: The passthrough between the old Gordon Biersch and Spire never did have lighting, and likely also was too small for seating before it was fenced in. It had no other real use. It was there in 2005-6, well before Midtown became as built up as now. It connected Peachtree St with Cypress St., a seedier part of town at that time. The alleyway was being used for illicit activities, such as drug use and prostitution, along with being a hangout for some homeless.

[smArTaLlone]

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/..._news_headline

The city of Atlanta issued $5.6 billion in construction permits last year, a record that reflects its historic period of job and population growth.

Historically, it was the largest one-year total valuation for permits issued in recent memory, according to the city. Based on fiscal year comparisons the city provided, Atlanta saw construction-permit values soar from about $930 million in 2011 to over $4.6 billion by the end of 2017.

The city of Atlanta alone added 10,100 residents over the past year, the largest annual increase since the Great Recession ended. The city's population now stands at 459,600, up from 420,003 in 2010, when the region's economy was struggling with the lingering effects from the steepest national economic slowdown since the Great Depression.

Population growth was a major driver in the record permit valuation, said Chuck Taylor, chair of the city's Technical Advisory Committee.

Taylor also credited Keane with revamping and streamlining the permitting process, which helped expedite new projects and played a major role in the record valuation. Today, most new construction permits are approved after just two rounds of revisions, also known as cycles, from the city.

[Libertarian]

Guys, please take this constructively. Street surfaces in Midtown and West Midtown...something urgently needs be done.

[trainiac]

Originally Posted by RATBOYKEV

I wanted to highlight a couple new pedestrian-only mid block crossings in Midtown which help deal with the over-sized blocks in this city.

Been meaning to take a picture, but there's also one connecting Peachtree & Crescent between the Procscenium building and Opera. It's lined with Chinese elms to a small courtyard with tables connecting to the Korean cafe (they make great cupbap on Thursdays) then a long staircase down to Crescent. Pleasant even in the summer.

[MARTAisSmarta]

Originally Posted by Libertarian

Guys, please take this constructively. Street surfaces in Midtown and West Midtown...something urgently needs be done.

I am very aware. The city doesn't seem to care though, as plates have been sitting in the same spot for months, and in some places, years.

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by Libertarian

Guys, please take this constructively. Street surfaces in Midtown and West Midtown...something urgently needs be done.

What do you suggest be done about them (realistically)?

[jpk1292000]

Originally Posted by skyscraperpage17

What do you suggest be done about them (realistically)?

Resurface them.

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by jpk1292000

Resurface them.

Ah, got it.

[atlwarrior]

Are people at least reporting street that need repair to 311 number for the City of Atlanta.

[smArTaLlone]

Now, assuming the Mayor doesn't veto them (which I doubt she will), there is no parking requirement for any building built before 1965 (except alcohol parking requirements still apply); loading requirments are reduced citywide; ADUs are legal again in half the city; industrial mixed-use zoning now exists; missing middle is legal again; and we now have progressive parking requirements (no mins and new caps) within 1/2 mile of MARTA rail, streetcar stops, and any transit lines that are built.

[Street Advocate]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

Nice sensible improvements for the city

[Ant131531]

Pretty much means you can theoretically build a highrise tower in Midtown with little to no parking if you wanted to.