SkylineViews (http://skylineviews.typepad.com/skyline_views/2011/08/atlanta-aug-8-2011-sundays-atlanta-journal-constitution-featured-an-interesting-article-about-the-large-amount-of-space.html)


August 08, 2011

Another Major Marietta St. Tenant Looks to Leave

http://www.atlantadowntown.com/_files/images/five-points-plaza.jpg

(Updated Aug. 10 with link to the AJC story.)

ATLANTA (Aug. 8, 2011) - Sunday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution featured an interesting article (http://www.ajc.com/business/federal-cuts-could-add-1081843.html) about the large amount of space the federal government occupies in metro Atlanta. All told, federal agencies occupy 8 million square feet in Atlanta. :eek:

"Of that, 4.7 million square feet is leased for $106.9 million in annual rents," AJC commercial real estate reporter Rachel Tobin writes. "Leases on about half that space, totaling $42.3 million in annual rent, expire in the next three years."

One leased building is 40 Marietta St., also known as Five Points Plaza or "The Pagoda Building," after its odd-looking stucco exterior (see for yourself at left). It's currently occupied by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The AJC article says Shyam Reddy, Atlanta region administrator of the General Services Administration, would like to relocated the HUD to the feds' Peachtree Summit building.

"Although the vacancy rate for federal buildings in metro Atlanta is only about 2.5 percent, Reddy said he has some space available that would allow him to cancel some leases," Tobin writes. "For example, he wants to move Housing and Urban Development out of privately-owned 40 Marietta St. into the government-owned Peachtree Summit building on West Peachtree. And he has some room at the recently renovated Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Building downtown."

Dick Bowers, one of Atlanta real estate's most prolific brokers/developers and colorful characters, lost control of Five Points Plaza in 2009, when it was sold at foreclosure.

While moving HUD from leased space to government-owned space sounds good to me as a taxpayer, it won't do much good for Marietta Street. As someone who worked on Marieta Street from 1999-2004 and 2007-2009, I saw the corridor improve. But "after" the recession, Marietta is having a tough time bouncing back from the loss of the AJC.

---

Came across these photos of the failed Intercontinental Hotel project the other day.

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/1400-Peachtree-01.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/1400-Peachtree-02.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/1400-Peachtree-03.jpg

Courtesy of HKS Architects. Dewberry recently closed on the land that was supposed to have this tower, at the corner of 17th and Peachtree next to Pershing Park Plaza. It was to be called 1400 Peachtree.

Atlanta September Construction Update

Photos taken by me Sunday, September 18, 2011.

While Atlanta's unemployment is inching up and the city has lost out on a couple of notable corporate consolidations/expansions, there are still a host of projects just finishing up or just getting going. As the south's most urban city, the tradition of intown high-rise living has not gone away despite the economy. This time around, instead of mid to upper level condos, developers and institutional backers are going for mid-level rentals. Georgia Tech is also wrapping up on a slew of on-campus projects that total a good quarter million dollars.

Some players becoming more active in the market now: Daniel, Selig, Cousins, Gables, American Realty Capital, Northwestern Mutual, Wells Fargo, and Jamestown. On the retail side AEW, AmREIT, NADG, NAP, and others.

Midtown just had two phenominally successful clubs open up, right on Peachtree. Two because local developers and people of influence were trying to avoid a "Vision" debacle and insisted on two "smaller" (yea right...these things are huge) clubs instead of one. These clubs are already giving Atlanta powerhouses Opera, Tongue & Groove, Compound, and others a run for their money (though the owners also own Compound, Velvet Room, etc). BIG money went into these things and I think looking at the lines to get in, you don't have a chance unless you are locally or nationally famous, wearing Prada, or coming with some beautiful women. Definitely more "big city".

http://reignatlanta.com/

Midtown has seen a couple of recent closures, but also a couple recent addition. NVU Boutique has left for Inman Park. Kai Linn Art left for Buckhead. In its place is SimcoLifestyles, an upscale design store with other locations in Miami and the NE. Bobby Berk is going in across the street next to Ligne Roset. It has other locations in LA, New York, and Miami. Arden's Garden opened up, and one the city's most popular Mediterranean restaurants is expanding to another location next door. En Paris, a small boutique, opend in 999 Peachtree, and currently there are two pop-up shops flanking it on either side.

Atlantic Station has seen its fair share of changes. All of Dolce Group's (think Ashton Kutcher and other investors) have closed. Yardhouse is going in. Drew Lewis is going in. The bodega area is nearly complete. They say parking has been changed (ah, no it hasn't). The Atlantic is leasing units (1-bedrooms starting at $2900). Yada yada.

The Atlanta Beltline has made significant progress. Old Fourth Ward Park and Stanton Park are now open and the entire eastern segment is a construction zone. Ponce City Market is a go and Jamestown closed on that property (all 2 million SF). Party on Ponce is the kickoff and will be Oct 1 (I know I'll be there!).

Prospect Park will have 400,000 SF of retail and 2,000+ apartments about 30 years from now. A representative of NAP, which just closed on the stalled project recently claimed at a meeting that it is the best retail real estate opportunity in the south right now (YEA RIGHT...like Alpharetta needs 400,000 SF more retail!).

Finally we get to the more interesting, ongoing projects (not that Ponce City Market/Atlanta Beltline isn't interesting...just not photograph ready right now...well I take that back...I have some recent photos of O4W Park and City Hall East and the Beltline as they are via July).

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction010.jpg

Emory Point
http://www.emory-point.com/

Seriously just visit the website to see what it will look like. This is a project fit perfectly for Dallas, yet here in Atlanta. I say that with respect for our city and no disrespect for Dallas because this is the perfect project for the area here in which it is going (suburban area) and it is desperately needed. These kinds of things are going up IN the core of Dallas, which imo is not where something like this belongs. $250M price tag, so it's a big one.

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction011.jpg

New Crate and Barrel location: Shops Around Lenox
http://www.shopsaroundlenox.com/

Simply moving from Lenox Mall across the street. Simon has a backup, but none of us know what it is. I am not worried at all for Lenox Mall, one of the best assets in SPG's portfolio (and mind you, not for sale, so it doesn't even matter that they are leaving).

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction016.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction012.jpg

235 Pharr Road
no website

375 luxury apartments set to go up across from the Streets of Buckhead. The second picture is a fence rendering a couple blocks away of "Buckhead Village," which is separate, I believe. I do hope the 235 Pharr project looks like the rendering below it. It was recently shot down for $60M in bond financing and $2M in tax incentives by the ADA. I hope that does not stall the project too much.

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction013.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction014.jpg

Streets of Buckhead
no website

Speaking of the SOB called SOB (well I guess "Buckhead Atlanta" now), there is no progress. I heard an off handed conversation between some people that the project will not include any high rises. We'll see. That Hermes store is looking pretty lonely next to Fado's (where you can see I captured that secret 3rd floor roof patio that not too many people care to try out...it's the best seat in the house :)).

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction019.jpg

Cox

Pretty bland if you ask me. This is what is to be expected out there, though. I like the glass curtain, and I like that these buildings are less than a mile apart from each other, but that campus/suburban setting just does not do it for me. They are also shorter than I expected.

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction023.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction024.jpg

Hank McCamish Pavilion
http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/ot/mccamish-pavilion.html

Georgia Tech's redone colisseum. I just had graduation in that old clunker in December and already this is what it looks like! Just falling apart, hehe. Actually it will look really nice when all is said and done. Check out the website above for complete renderings.

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction026.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction027.jpg

North Avenue Apts.

My home from Fall 2007-Spring 2008. They were in rough shape after the Olympians and the Georgia State students gave them a heavy beating for over a decade, and I lived there the first year GT regained control. They look realllyyyy nice now (for student dorms). New dining hall below and better entrance on North Ave.

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction028.jpg\

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction032.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction035.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction036.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction039.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction048.jpg
**Coke's building soon to be reclad and greened up this year**

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction049.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction050.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction051.jpg

Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons (CULC)
http://clough.gatech.edu/

This, my friends, is how GT is building its new buildings :D. My jaw dropped when I entered the door from Skiles. I had already been impressed with what I saw at the Campanile (new fountains, seating, landscaping), but nothing prepared me for the immensity and enormity of this building, and its odd/unique use of materials and light and wood and concrete. I could bathe in this building. It was awesome. Everyone should check it out. Completely jealous that my undergrad labs had to be in some un-renovated 1920s craphole on Cherry St (well and the COC, which is equally bad if not for that really good coffee vendor there). The views from the garden roof are hard to beat.

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction052.jpg

Simco Lifestyle
http://simcolifestyle.com/

Another upscale design showroom with locations in Miami and the NE.

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction054.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction063.jpg

Midtown pop-up shops...Support them now before they must pack up this Fall! Also try En Paris boutique in between those two in 999 Peachtree. I found a really cool wall clock there and The owners' names are Joy and Stevie (like Stevie Nix...any woman named Stevie is cool!).

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction059.jpg

Empire State of the South
http://empirestatesouth.com/

All I have to say about this restaurant is...wow. Atlanta is really a top food spot and all those New Yorkers who skip us over for Miami or Charleston are really missing out. Between this restaurant, Hugh Atcheson's latest creation complete with Bocce Ball courts (a recent Atlanta obsession), and all those other recent new restaurants like Top Flr, Escorpion (on Peachtree and PACKED all the time), 4th and Swift, Quinones, JCT Kitchen, West Egg, The Sound Table, Fritti, Soto Soto, etc...

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction061.jpg

Hudson Grille

New canopy going in (it's now finished).

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction056.jpg

STK and Cucina Asellina
http://www.stkhouse.com/

Ummm, wow, NOT YOUR DADDY'S STEAKHOUSE! That is their promotion and that is what we'll get. With locations in NYC's Meatpacking District, LA, Las Vegas, and Miami, I am sure this will do well here (hopefully). We have all been wondering whether or not this will open, but WhatNowAtlanta (http://whatnowatlanta.com/2011/09/19/stk-steakhouse-owners-to-open-cucina-asellina-next-door/) broke the news that indeed it will open, complete with scrolling marquee above the door and with another restaurant concept next door. Work has resumed for a fall opening.

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction045.jpg

Dewberry's Campanile without the triangular accent at the top. I am insulted by this flat design, personally. I think that Atlanta's skyline is uniquely pointy, so why try to make it less so? Just because those ugly old Colony Square buildings are 70s boxes does not mean that you have to make Campanile match those things! The other surrounding buildings are very pointy, newer, and more modern. Plus, Dewberry, who is a Tech grad, should know that his building shares a name with the Campanile on Tech's campus (shown above). The Campanile is our campus centerpiece and is the pointiest thing in the city. What is everyone else's opinion?

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction064.jpg

Dual Branded Hilton Garden/Homewood Suites
http://midtown.patch.com/articles/dual-branded-hotel-breaks-ground-in-midtown

Alpharetta based North Point Hospitality should receive $1.8M in tax credits for this project. Foundation looks ready to be poured in the next couple months. Below are some pictures of an uglier version that went up in Jacksonville (I believe a few floors shorters, too):

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php?topic=86.0

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/564525451_qBeGU-M.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/564525723_38oSS-M.jpg

.....


http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction065.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction066.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction067.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction068.jpg

77 12th
no website yet

Last but not least is 12th and Midtown's 4th tower to rise. It will be 22 floors, 330 rental units, 1.47 AC, and will involve all the same players as before minus Metlife (which was traded for another big Life company). Both debt and equity are secured and this baby is going up! I have booklet on the project, but I am not sure if that was given to me in good faith that I signed an imaginary confidentiality agreement or not, so I won't disclose the somewhat superficial details in the book. What I will say is that I am extremely excited to watch this one rise.

Contrary to popular belief (at least my popular belief), the tower, which is elongated on one side above a garage and retail, will face north and south. That makes sense, I suppose, but I thought it would orient towards 1010. Also, it will not even touch 11th St across from Ra. The entire thing will sit across from Ri Ra and across from Luxe nightclub and the old Twisted Taco along 12th. An abandoned bank stands there now. Prices will be very reasonable (what you would expext for the market).


...


Some pictures taken in the process:

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction001.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction041.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AtlantaSeptemberConstruction043.jpg

^^

Terrific updates! :cheers:

Do we have a render anywhere for the Coke reclad? (I always hoped they'd build a supertall just to put the exclamation point on the brand!)

That Hermes store is looking pretty lonely next to Fado's (where you can see I captured that secret 3rd floor roof patio that not too many people care to try out...it's the best seat in the house :)).

And you get a great view of. . . . the stalled construction.

Curbed (http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2011/09/29/national-players-are-getting-to-work-on-buckhead-atlanta-aka-streets-of-buckhead-20.php)


National Players Are Getting to Work on Buckhead Atlanta (aka Streets of Buckhead 2.0)

Thursday, September 29, 2011, by Josh Lindenbaum

http://atlanta.curbed.com/uploads/Buckhead%20Atlanta.jpg

[A rendering of Buckhead Atlanta with Peachtree Road at lower left. Image courtesy of Oliver McMillan.]

The end of the saga that was the Streets of Buckhead and is now Buckhead Atlanta will be written by heavy-hitters largely based outside of Atlanta. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. For those that have not followed the recent history of the giant mixed-use project in the heart of Buckhead, after Ben Carter Properties lost the project, San Diego-based developer Oliver McMillan bought it with financial partner The Baupost Group, a Boston-based hedge fund. The new owners then hired Hunter Richardson, a veteran D.C.-based development consultant (and former Turner exec) with a history of working on high-profile projects in Atlanta and elsewhere, including Phillips Arena and the Georgia Aquarium / World of Coke / Pemberton Park triumvirate adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park (check out BuckheadView's great piece on Richardson). As Oliver McMillan prepares to seek approval for its site plan, they've selected noted Chicago landscape architecture firm Hoerr Schaudt and its principal/architect Douglas Hoerr to handle landscape and streetscape design; Hoerr is perhaps best known for his work on Chicago's Michigan Avenue "Miracle Mile."

The initial renderings show various modifications to Ben Carter's original designs, and Hoerr has detailed plans to focus heavily on the pedestrian experience and the liberal use of horticulture (both on the ground and infused with the building's architecture) to create an environment that blends into the neighborhood and takes heed of Atlanta's climate. While many would likely prefer a hometown team finishing this signature project for the city, and the end-result is yet to be seen, it's tough to argue with the talent and resources Oliver McMillan is bringing to bear. Construction is set to resume in April of 2012 with a hopeful completion date in the fall of 2013. :banana:

---



More from AJC: http://www.ajc.com/business/streets-of-buckhead-restart-1191218.html?cxtype=rss_news


Streets of Buckhead ‘restart' delayed to next year

By Rachel Tobin
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The new developer of the Streets of Buckhead, now called Buckhead Atlanta, says construction on the site will be delayed from the end of the year to the end of the first quarter as it takes over the long-delayed project. Developer OliverMcMillan, based in San Diego, said progress is being made, though less with the cranes and more behind the scenes.

At a Thursday briefing near the site – currently two unfinished parking decks and a hole in the ground topped with construction cranes -- the firm said it will apply to the city of Atlanta for its first permits in the next few weeks. The firm has owned the site for about four months. Some delays stem from the process of combining OliverMcMillan's ideas with those of the original developer, Ben Carter, who had conceived of an ultra-luxury retail, residential, hotel and office project.

Paul Buss, president of OliverMcMillan, said luxury aspirations of the project have been scaled down, though not abandoned. New plans call for retailers and restaurants that would cater to a broader range of incomes. Buss and Hunter Richardson, development director for the Atlanta project, had few details about which retailers and other tenants would fill the retail development, now set to open in the fall of 2013. One tenant that has remained committed to the development is luxury chain Hermes, one of the anchors Carter had secured when he ran the project.

OliverMcMillan showed new renderings and laid out details of its landscape design, which is being prepared by the Chicago's Hoerr Schaudt, the firm that helped revitalize the streetscapes along that city’s Magnificent Mile. Doug Hoerr said he wants landscaping to calm traffic and invite people to linger in the project. Creating summer shade also is key, he said, which is why he plans to plant mature trees. Other elements include a variety of benches, pavers, planters and plants to coordinate with retailers, but that aren’t uniform throughout. He said he doesn't want it to feel “preplanned or plastic.”

OliverMcMillan has said it will invest $300 million to complete the project that Carter and other partners had fueled with $400 million for land acquisition and construction. "It needed a restructuring of debt and equity,” Buss said. OliverMcMillan will develop the three components of the site: 370 apartments, 300,000 square feet of retail space and 90,000 square feet of “boutique” office space.

---

Daniel Corp. and Selig Enterprises have secured Northwestern Mutual as a debt and equity partner on the new tower at 12th Street and Crescent Avenue.

Construction on the more than 300-unit apartment building will start in October, said Steve Baile, a senior vice president with Daniel Corp., who leads its operations in Atlanta. The project, 77 12th Street, will take shape on a site across from the Irish pub and restaurant Ri Ra, one of several intown apartment projects developers have in the pipeline.



Business Chronicle (http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/blog/on_the_market/2011/09/northwestern-mutual-finances-apartment.html)


http://media.dtsph.com/sites/11alive.com/files/imagecache/story615/110617034304_77_2012th_20Street_20Front_0.jpg

The crane is roosting in Atlanta again!

Curbed (http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2011/10/07/the-great-atlanta-apartment-boom-is-gaining-steam.php)


Atlanta Apartment Development Approaching Boom Strength; Can It Defeat Sprawl?

Friday, October 7, 2011, by Josh Lindenbaum

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3390/3424365645_38b61eafdb_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/victoriaemeredith/3424365645/)
View from downtown Days Inn, 10th floor, Atlanta GA (http://www.flickr.com/photos/victoriaemeredith/3424365645/) by victoriaemeredith (http://www.flickr.com/people/victoriaemeredith/), on Flickr

As anyone working in real estate knows, new apartment projects are responsible for most of what little new development activity is going on in Atlanta. On the heels of the latest news- that Post is in the early stages of planning a new apartment project on one of the parcels it owns in Allen Plaza downtown- we get word that Atlanta is projected to be among the top 5 markets in the U.S. for apartment development activity, with some 4500 units started in 2011. What is more, most of these new for-rent dwellings are being built in-town, near the highest office densities and public transportation. Very positive developments for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which word that suburban sprawl- a concept we here in Atlanta know a little bit about- is a lot like a ponzi scheme. (http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2011/10/suburban-sprawl-ponzi-scheme/242/)

---

Curbed (http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2011/10/07/the-great-atlanta-apartment-boom-is-gaining-steam.php)

I feel the concept of "sprawl" doesn't apply to the major distribution areas like Chicago, Atlanta, and Dallas - Fort Worth. Those metropolitan areas have to be multi-polar in concept as it is impractical to build warehouses into skyscrapers. Those particular regional centers also have multiple major commercial shopping districts as their downtown areas no longer serve as the primary one.

Curbed (http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2011/10/11/a-look-at-the-design-of-the-center-for-civil-human-rights.php)


A Look at Atlanta's Next Big Attraction: The National Center for Civil & Human Rights

Tuesday, October 11, 2011, by Josh Lindenbaum

http://www.bustler.net/images/uploads/freelon_cchr_01.jpg

For those who have not yet seen the winning design for the forthcoming National Center for Civil & Human Rights, the gallery of renderings above shows an interesting addition to both the Pemberton Place tourist quadrant (site of the Georgia Aquarium and The World of Coke) and the downtown skyline and streetscape in general. There is also a cool video that takes you on a more detailed tour through the design. Though The Freelon Group, a North Carolina architecture firm designed the building, they are working in partnership with the Atlanta office of HOK, and a joint venture of three venerable Atlanta construction firms (Holder, H.J. Russell and C.D. Moody) will handle construction management for the project. The partnership building the museum has set an $85 million fundraising goal to break ground, and hopes to get construction underway this fall in anticipation of an opening in 2013.

---

@ the corner of Ivan Allen and Centennial Olympic Park Dr.

I had thought the College Football Hall of Fame was going in that area, but I just saw it would be in the "Green Lot" right across Baker St. from Stats on Marietta. Fall 2013 (although some seem to be questioning if it will ever happen).

ajc.com (http://www.ajc.com/business/new-office-project-proposed-1207253.html)

.
Atlanta Business News 3:42 p.m. Friday, October 21, 2011

New office project proposed downtown

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/view20from20stats203_905.jpg

By Rachel Tobin
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Two development companies are proposing a “Times Square South” project near the Georgia Aquarium downtown.

Bob Voyles’ Seven Oaks Company and David Marvin’s Legacy Property Group want to build a sizable office tower flanked by television screens that would mimic the feel of New York’s Time Square. But until they have a tenant for it, the building will not break ground, Marvin said.

He and Voyles met while working on an expansion plan for Dunwoody event space and restaurant Villa Christina. Voyles brings the office background to the downtown project, Marvin said.

The 350,000 square foot building would rise at 285 Marietta, in the Lucky Marietta District that Marvin has been developing for more than a decade. The estimated project cost for the new building, plus an addition to a hotel, would be $150 million, he said.

[...]

I suspect that about the only way this project gets built anytime soon is if TBS decides to expand/consolidate into a large chunk of the office space. Who knows how likely that is to happen.

ajc.com (http://www.ajc.com/business/new-office-project-proposed-1207253.html)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/view20from20stats203_905.jpg

^^ Is this development apart of a wider mixed-use district? I can't imagine this complex mimicking the feel of Times Square without other components such as entertainment venues, housing, retail, etc.

I suspect that about the only way this project gets built anytime soon is if TBS decides to expand/consolidate into a large chunk of the office space. Who knows how likely that is to happen.

^^ Is this development apart of a wider mixed-use district? I can't imagine this complex mimicking the feel of Times Square without other components such as entertainment venues, housing, retail, etc.While at Tech I can't tell you how many times we fantasized about this happening. Watching TBS build a campus across the street (which GT would love to own, for the land's sake) just seemed to strike a blow against the hopes for a stronger urbanity near downtown and the CNN center district. Especially now with renewed discussion of a transit center @ the gulch, the area around the northern end of Centennial Park has even greater potential and it would be a coup for the city if they could convince CNN to go all out in making a Times-Square like experience.

Can't believe that it would take a herculean effort to get this built. It's certainly not a massive project. Is Atlanta that moribund ? This would almost be feasible in downtown Orlando right now.

^^ Is this development apart of a wider mixed-use district? I can't imagine this complex mimicking the feel of Times Square without other components such as entertainment venues, housing, retail, etc.


This project is a part of a larger development that includes all of those components but I think the "Times Square" reference is because of the slight resemblance of that feel in the Centennial Park area due to the video screens, restaurants and attractions.

2061 Peachtree a 140,000 SF (phase 1) medical office project is now under construction across from Piedmont Hospital.

http://www.parksidepartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/New-2061.png

Hilton Garden Inn
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6051/6329448467_355e5ea598_b.jpg

Can't believe that it would take a herculean effort to get this built. It's certainly not a massive project. Is Atlanta that moribund ? This would almost be feasible in downtown Orlando right now.

Orlando also did not just build nearly 5 million rentable SF of Class A+++ office space in high rise towers in 2 years. There are three new office buildings that need to lease up still (i.e. they are all still half empty). The Bank of America building is now only about 60% occupied, and given that the tower sold for $350/SF in 2006 (i.e. more expensive than any building in Houston and nearly any building in Chicago including Aon and Sears Tower), it is in danger of being distressed. Class B tenants have shuffled up to Class A space, and have even been given concessions to do so. Atlanta's Class A space was renting for $35+, but now the best space rarely cracks $30. Class B space is facing the most difficult challenges now. Atlanta's housing bust has killed the employment for the area, so tenants are wary to expand and are still in fact downsizing.

So actually Atlanta is a full 12+ months behind the national recovery. Orlando is surprisingly in better shape.

Atlanta is by no means moribund, especially not when compared to Orlando, which is a speck compared to Atlanta, but for a new office tower to go up anywhere, it will need to be 80%+ pre-leased with A credit tenants or better, and it will need "full steam ahead" momentum with the city and the community. This is nearly impossible to do outside of DC, Boston, and NYC right now.

To give an example of two successful towers and what it takes: 50 floor IBM Tower sold to Sumitomo in 1987 for $273/SF and then again to Hines in 2006 for $302/SF, has been anchored by IBM and/or Alston & Bird for its entire existence. Rents only average closer to $30, but the tower is iconic and cannot be replicated. 2 doors down 1180 Peachtree sold for over $400/SF (most expensive sale in Atlanta and in SE) to GE Capital, and is practically leased entirely by King & Spalding, which has a long-term lease. The average rent in that building is pushing $40/SF and nothing is likely to change for a long time, if ever. Both buildings are in a clean, upscale business district, which Downtown and Luckie Marietta District where this tower is proposed cannot claim. It's like Lower Manhattan versus Midtown Manhattan: one is gritty, but has dramatically improved over the last decade, and one has Ferrari dealerships and Bergdorf Goodmans anchoring the bases of buildings.

Contrast with Bank of America Tower...which was anchored by its namesake in a 375,000 SF long-term lease paying $38/SF, along with some other prestigious law firms. A couple law firms left and BofA halved its lease in every way...both in rent and in occupied space. The problem is that the building is in a dead transition zone between Downtown and Midtown and the homeless shelter near there is a real community detriment. Nobody wants to be near it, but it's ironic because there is no building nearly as "trophy" in the entire SE as this one.

Long story short, putting an office tower in the proposed location is risky. There is no telling it will be a good place for Class A space, and besides it's very hard to get an A or higher anchor tenant nowadays. Even with, because there are so many other proposed office towers still, I think lenders are going to be afraid to re-test the Atlanta market. They have suffered in Atlanta immensely because of the weak employment and glut of office space. Aside from securing financing, barriers to entry in Atlanta are pretty low. Seven Oaks, which is a partner in this development, has other office towers planned. Every developer has office towers planned, and many are "pre-leasing".

Hopefully this long response answers your question. Orlando cannot be compared to Atlanta in any way.

No, I wouldn't presume to compare Atlanta and Orlando. But it's not a large office tower. It is in a prime location. It does have (presumably) deep-pocketed backers. And it does present a fairly novel concept. Hard to believe this couldn't get done in Atlanta.

No, I wouldn't presume to compare Atlanta and Orlando. But it's not a large office tower. It is in a prime location. It does have (presumably) deep-pocketed backers. And it does present a fairly novel concept. Hard to believe this couldn't get done in Atlanta.

Well you didn't read my long response; I don't blame you. I work in real estate and you obviously don't, so you're going to have questions about why hopes and dreams can't get done so easily and I'm going to have a picture of reality. It really couldn't get done outside of 3 cities right now. It would get done in Atlanta before Orlando, though.

Well you didn't read my long response; I don't blame you. I work in real estate and you obviously don't, so you're going to have questions about why hopes and dreams can't get done so easily and I'm going to have a picture of reality. It really couldn't get done outside of 3 cities right now. It would get done in Atlanta before Orlando, though.

I can't help that you take this so personally and expend so much energy (while still missing my point). Yes, Orlando is much smaller than Atlanta - and has MUCH less corporate clout - EVEN STILL, if something like this were proposed in downtown Orlando, yes, you'd get the usual expressions of skepticism, and perhaps even outright surprise, but nobody would be saying things like, "The only way this could happen is if ...".

I can't help that you take this so personally and expend so much energy (while still missing my point). Yes, Orlando is much smaller than Atlanta - and has MUCH less corporate clout - EVEN STILL, if something like this were proposed in downtown Orlando, yes, you'd get the usual expressions of skepticism, and perhaps even outright surprise, but nobody would be saying things like, "The only way this could happen is if ...".

What you are missing is that whether anyone would be saying it or not, that statement is the REALITY . I don't know if you've noticed but the state of the US and local economy is not exactly thriving. Office buildings are NOT constructed purely for the pleasure skyscraper sites readers. There has to be a market for the product no matter where its built.

What you are missing is that whether anyone would be saying it or not, that statement is the REALITY . I don't know if you've noticed but the state of the US and local economy is not exactly thriving. Office buildings are NOT constructed purely for the pleasure skyscraper sites readers. There has to be a market for the product no matter where its built.

Yes, yes, I know the economy is not thriving. Yes, yes, I realize that skyscrapers are not erected purely for the pleasure of skyscraper fans.

But Atlanta is a very big city. And this is not a large project. Therefore, the point stands.

Yes, yes, I know the economy is not thriving. Yes, yes, I realize that skyscrapers are not erected purely for the pleasure of skyscraper fans.

But Atlanta is a very big city. And this is not a large project. Therefore, the point stands.

Even in a "very big city" there must be a tenant ready to occupy a good portion of the building...otherwise you're going to have an empty building adding to the available office space in the city - for which there is currently very little demand. In this economy, no matter what size the city, it is rare to see spec buildings under construction...it just doesn't make sense right now.

This tower could go up tomorrow if a major tennant was signed on. Or it could languish for a while. But it will more than likely get built at some point in time and depending on the tennant and other factors, could spur additional development.

What amazes me is how the "boom" in so many other cities in this hemisphere is mainly residential, not office. Cities like Atlanta that built a lot of office space aren't in the development forefront these days but cities with strong high-end residential demand are getting all the action. Take Toronto for example: here's a city with cranes everywhere building 50-60 story towers but the tallest purely office towers being built there are only around 25 stories. Everything else is condos. Only New York is building office skyscrapers (excepting Devon Tower). And as more and more firms choose to headquarter in suburban corporate campuses, we will see fewer office towers overall. I think Atlanta's next big boom will be mainly residential skyscrapers. But unlike most cities, Atlanta stands a good chance of beefing up the office tower inventory. :)

Yes, yes, I know the economy is not thriving. Yes, yes, I realize that skyscrapers are not erected purely for the pleasure of skyscraper fans.

But Atlanta is a very big city. And this is not a large project. Therefore, the point stands.

There is pre-leasing for Tech's 24 floor tower, Kim King & Associate's tower, this tower that we speak of, Tishman Speyer's Three Alliance Center, Daniel Corp's The Metropolitan office component, Daniel Corp's Phase 4 of 12th & Midtown, Seven Oak's 4004 Perimeter, and the list goes on. Seven Oaks is a partner in this tower, too, so there is a degree of cannabilization going on (Kim King & Associates developed Tech Square and Centergy One for Georgia Tech and wants to build it out, now Tech is 50% pre-leased on their 24 floor tower that directly competes with Tech Square's private buildout).

If this were the only office tower in the pipeline, it would be UC within a year because Class A space has been largely gobbled up.

This tower could go up tomorrow if a major tennant was signed on. Or it could languish for a while. But it will more than likely get built at some point in time and depending on the tennant and other factors, could spur additional development.

What amazes me is how the "boom" in so many other cities in this hemisphere is mainly residential, not office. Cities like Atlanta that built a lot of office space aren't in the development forefront these days but cities with strong high-end residential demand are getting all the action. Take Toronto for example: here's a city with cranes everywhere building 50-60 story towers but the tallest purely office towers being built there are only around 25 stories. Everything else is condos. Only New York is building office skyscrapers (excepting Devon Tower). And as more and more firms choose to headquarter in suburban corporate campuses, we will see fewer office towers overall. I think Atlanta's next big boom will be mainly residential skyscrapers. But unlike most cities, Atlanta stands a good chance of beefing up the office tower inventory. :)

By Q1 2012 tower cranes will be moving concrete and steel for close to 10 towers in the 10-25 floor range, all residential with one hotel. Atlanta is actually seeing a lot of construction activity in the high-rise rental category.

Furthermore, suburban office space is not going away, but it has been hit *much* harder than core/CBD office space in virtually every market. In Atlanta, the furthest out buildings that will be built for a while will be in the Central Perimeter submarket, which is 9-10 miles from downtown. Most activity, like most other cities, will be concentrated in the city.

You're right that aside from corporate owned towers (or sale-leaseback scenarios) cities outside of NYC are not building any new office for the time being. There is Devon in OKC and soon to be PNC3 in Pittsburgh, and a short 21 story Ernst & Young tower in Cleveland, but I really don't think there is anything else.

^
I wonder how many stalled tall condo proposals in Atlanta are getting reworked as rentals. Could there be some nice surprises soon?

Atlanta Mega November Construction Update

I took the day off because I have been under the weather, and so I had extra time to take some pictures of construction and other activity going on in Atlanta. This will be the most comprehensive update on Atlanta in years.

Two projects I missed: the CDC Buford Campus tower and the Cox Enterprises towers, both of which have been topped off and are wrapping up.

To start –

Georgia Tech Carbon Neutral Energy Solutions (LEED Platinum)

Full PDF on Project (http://www.space.gatech.edu/planning/assets/PlnFile_0_20091110103111.pdf)

http://nanopatentsandinnovations.blogspot.com/2010/01/georgia-tech-building-new-233-million.html

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/georgia_tech_carbon_neutral_lab.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011015.jpg

Hank McCamish Pavilion at Georgia Tech

All About Hank McCamish Pavilion Plus Additional Renderings (http://www.ramblinwreck.com/ot/mccamish-pavilion.html)

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/4670010.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/6434667.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011019.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011020.jpg


77 12th Street – 22 Floor Rental Tower as Phase III of 12th and Midtown

Metlife is out and Northwestern Mutual is in as the lender and equity partner. Ground clearing is scheduled either this month or next. Pre-leasing has commenced with 1-bedrooms starting at $1,500 and 2-bedrooms starting at either $2,250 or $2,350.

Juicy Details Straight From Daniel Corp’s Site (http://www.danielcorp.com/news/news47.pdf)

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011082.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction20110772.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011078.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011079.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011080.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011081.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011011.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011012.jpg

Hilton Midtown Atlanta (Dual Branded Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn)

North Point Hospitality’s project. 226 rooms, 8 floors of hotel above 4 floors of parking, a lobby, and a restaurant.

North Point Hospitality Development (http://northpointhospitality.com/development.html)

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/dual_branded_hilton.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011052.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011053.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011054.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011056.jpg

Look at these fall colors!
http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011057.jpg

Emory Pointe (Gables and Cousins, both ATL based)

Official Site – Emory Pointe (http://www.emory-point.com/)

From WhatNow Atlanta (http://whatnowatlanta.com/2011/03/28/renderings-82000-square-foot-retail-project-near-emory-to-break-ground-in-june/)
http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/Emory_Point_Aerial.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/tumblr_looz1vTfXE1qfg0oy.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/imagesemorypointe.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/Emory_Point_05.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011030.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011031.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011032.jpg

Emory Health Science Research Building

4 stories above ground, 200,000 SF, 2-story pedestrian bridge to connect to Children’s Healthcare.

Update and Renderings (http://whsc.emory.edu/home/publications/health-sciences/update/november_2010/2010_11_15.html#3)

More Renderings from Emory Magazine (http://www.emory.edu/EMORY_MAGAZINE/issues/2011/autumn/campaign/researchbuilding.html)

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/OctoberAtlantaConstruction041.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011029.jpg

Site of Jamestown’s Proposed Mid-Rise Infill Rental Tower on Howell Mill

195 units, 250,000+ SF with parking deck, 0.9183 AC (40,000 SF of land area, i.e. SMALL)

New Apartments for Westside (http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2011/10/28/new-apartments-for-the-west-side.html)

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011017.jpg

AMLI O4W Apartments Phase II

AMLI is planning another mid-rise apartment complex to go right on North Avenue in front of O4W Park, next to 4th & Swift, and across from Ponce City Market. The article below in the Biz Chron goes on to say that North American Properties is rumored to be in the development mill for the same area (also apartments). If all gets built, that area around the park and the Beltline will be very dense. The article states that their parcel is 4.5 acres, but Fulton Assessor says it is greater than 6 (not that all available land will be built on).

For a comparison, the AMLI development next door, which is 7 floors and has all 2-bedrooms from between $1,566 and $1,880 sits on 3.9 acres.

AMLI Plans Apartments in Fourth Ward (http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2011/11/11/amli-plans-apartments-in-fourth-ward.html)

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011021.jpg

Crews continue to work on the park and the beltline:
http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011022.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011023.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011024.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011026.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011028.jpg

New Crate & Barrel and Shops Around Lenox

One of this year’s Development of Excellence Awards (ULI) went to Shops Around Lenox:

2011 Project Winners – Shops Around Lenox (http://www.uliatlantaawards.com/2011-project-winners/shops-around-lenox-development-of-excellence-winner/)

Article on the $34M redevelopment by Healey Weatherholtz Properties (HW Properties):

Shops Around Lenox Gets $35M Overhaul (http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2011/09/16/shops-around-lenox-gets-35-million.html)

They are planning similar shops where the McDonalds/Chik Fil A are across from Felini’s on Howell Mill.

AND THEY OWN THIS PROPERTY WITH THIS RENDERING ON PEACHTREE!::

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/HWPropDevelopment736Peachtree.jpg
Source: 736 Peachtree (http://www.hwproperties.com/736-peachtree.html)

I will be seeing Eric Weatherholtz tomorrow night at a dinner, and while I don’t personally know him I think I’m going to ask him for an update on 736 Peachtree! :)

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011033.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011034.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011035.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011036.jpg

ATLANTA BUCKHEAD

Currently the largest project in the city, we all know as much about it as the next guy so no need to go into details.

Atlanta Buckhead Brochure – Official (http://www.olivermcmillan.com/buckhead-brochure)

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011037.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011038.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011039.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011040.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011041.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011043.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011044.jpg

And hopefully as part of the project, this creepy dead tree comes down!
http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011045.jpg

Village at Buckhead - 365 Pharr Road

373 luxury rentals directly across from Atlanta Buckhead, 5 floors, JLB Partners, their first Atlanta project, likely to be relatively expensive (1-bedrooms may start above $1,600).

Official Project Site (http://www.jlbpartners.com/portfolio/show/7-Village-at-Buckhead)

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011049.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011050.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011048.jpg

2061 Peachtree Medical Office Towers

Moving Dirt!

http://www.parksidepartners.com/2061-peachtree/

http://www.parksidepartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/New-2061.png

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011051.jpg

NEW SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES IN MIDTOWN!

1. Bobby Berk Home (http://www.bobbyberkhome.com/home), still not open

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011013.jpg

2. The Clothing Warehouse: Classic Vintage (http://www.theclothingwarehouse.com/), opens Dec 1 in Michael Habachy’s old space in 999 Peachtree.

They have locations in Atlanta, Jacksonville, Savannah, New York, Greenville, and Chapel Hill!

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011059.jpg

3. Revolution Vintage – Was a pop-up shop in 999 Peachtree in the old Midtown Blue space, has since relocated to Metropolis and has a lease to test the waters until June. Sells Men’s and Women’s clothing and all of those vintage fashionistas walking around Midtown are hangouts/employees there.

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011061.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011060.jpg

4. Café Agora Midtown! (http://www.cafeagora.com/)

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011062.jpg

5. OMG I totally forgot the name of this – it’s a small business!

They research brands apparently and act as “truth media?” Hopefully someone can explain this to me. Looks interesting.

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011063.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011064.jpg

6. STKHouse (http://www.stkhouse.com/)

Almost open!! Other locations in the Meatpacking District of NYC, LA, Miami, and Las Vegas. We are balling out of control with this.

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011070.jpg

You know where I’ll be taking pictures sometime this week!::
http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011069.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011072.jpg

7. Cucina Assellina (http://togrp.com/asellina/)

Also from The One Group, other location is in Manhattan.

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011073.jpg

8. M.I.S.T.E.R. (http://plancast.com/p/86jo/healing-hands)

A healing clinic for those who are depressed or having mental difficulties, I think. Looks to be a solid gay outreach center, as well.

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011075.jpg


UPDATE ON 1010 CONDO SALES…SLOW

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/Atlanta%20September%20Construction/Atlanta%20November%20Construction%20Update/NovemberConstruction2011074.jpg

Nice to see Atlanta becoming a more urban orientated city. Too bad it's in state where many politicians hate urban areas. BTW, did that transit referendum passed?

Nice to see Atlanta becoming a more urban orientated city. Indeed. Lots of potential and long overdue.

Too bad it's in state where many politicians hate urban areas.They don't 'hate" urbanism, they simply fear urban scale blight and this is a fiercely private-property rights oriented state. Many outlying counties still don't employ zoning, and we're hard pressed to encourage sustainable development, let alone require it.

Atlanta also needs to resolve its water and sewer woes and come to grips with mass transit if they're ever to produce true urbanity. There's barely enough capacity for the population now, let alone another 200,000 in the urban core.

BTW, did that transit referendum passed? That's slated for next summer, unless the legislature moves the vote to the same date as the Nov. elections.

and we're hard pressed to encourage sustainable development, let alone require it.

At least they will suffer a lot in the near future while Atlanta leads the way in sustainable developments.

WSJ (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203503204577038431769351196.html)


DEAL OF THE WEEK | NOVEMBER 16, 2011
Atlanta's Rental Rebound
BY MAURA WEBBER SADOVI

http://www.atlantarealestateforum.com/wp-content/photos/2009/09/12th-Midtown3.jpg
12th and Midtown

Developers are set to break ground next month on an $82 million glass tower in Atlanta's stylish Midtown area in the latest sign that the apartment recovery is breathing some life into the country's troubled construction sector.

The planned 330-unit tower, at 77 12th St., also is the next phase in a massive Atlanta development that was put on hold by the economic downturn.

A venture of Selig Enterprises Inc. and Daniel Corp. broke ground about five years ago on the $2 billion mixed-use project, named 12th & Midtown, which was slated to include nine towers on about 17 acres. But the project stalled after the construction of three towers containing Loews Atlanta Hotel, office space, condominiums and retail stores. The 425 new condominiums remain just half sold and its 725,000 square feet of office space is 65% leased.

Meanwhile, apartment rentals in the area are in short supply. The vacancy rate in Midtown fell to 7.2% in the third quarter from 11.4% in the year-earlier period, according to real-estate research firm Reis Inc. Selig and Daniel put unsold condos on the rental market, and executives said some of them now have a waiting list.

[...]


http://www.11alive.com/images/640/360/2/assetpool/images/110617034304_77%2012th%20Street%20Front.jpg
77 12th St

^^ Looks handsome. That's the one catty-corner to the Federal Reserve, right? I'm so thankful the newer rental and condo properties are of much higher claibre than those from the early '90s. Easily 3-4 buildings in downtown and midtown that should be razed for their crap exterior.

- - - - - - -

At least they will suffer a lot in the near future while Atlanta leads the way in sustainable developments.Er, not exactly what we're striving for here, but I get what you're saying. Those of us in a position to help are relying on education and helping the smaller, rural cities nurture a capacity and desire for higher densities. Everyone loves their twon squares, for instance, so if we can help them build up and out from there then hope springs eternal.

^^ Looks handsome. That's the one catty-corner to the Federal Reserve, right? I'm so thankful the newer rental and condo properties are of much higher claibre than those from the early '90s. Easily 3-4 buildings in downtown and midtown that should be razed for their crap exterior.


No from that angle, the new apartment building will be to the left of the curved condo building.

ajc (http://www.ajc.com/business/cousins-properties-buys-midtowns-1245022.html)


Atlanta Business News | 9:19 p.m. Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Cousins Properties buys Midtown's Promenade II

By J. Scott Trubey
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

http://www.furnished-spaces.com/uploades/photo/1415_a32fc6c9.jpg
POromenade II

Cousins Properties, the Atlanta-based real estate firm, has completed its acquisition of Midtown's Promenade II in a move that ranks among the largest office building deals of the year.

Cousins acquired the 38-story Promenade II, which is about 58 percent occupied, for $134.7 million, the company said in a news release. The price per square foot is about $174, according to real estate research firm DataBank Atlanta.

The seller was Boston-based Beacon Capital Partners, which acquired the tower and other U.S. assets this year from Australian real estate firm Charter Hall.

Promenade II, which formerly housed some AT&T offices, rises in the heart of Midtown near Colony Square and the Woodruff Arts Center. Law firms Smith Gambrell & Russell and McGuireWoods are among its largest tenants.

Cousins President and CEO Larry Gellerstedt said in the release that the deal “[furthers] our strategic goal of upgrading the portfolio as we recycle out of older, stabilized assets.”

The acquisition follows the firm's sale of One Georgia Center in Midtown for $48.6 million earlier this year.

[...]


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/39/108930347_174a0e9b72.jpg
Very classy score!

Hi! Would it be possible for anyone in Sandy Springs/Atlanta to get a pic or two of how the Lifetime Athletic at Roswell Road and I-285 in the Prado mall is progressing? I'd appreciate it very much. Thanks!

Perkins+Will Atlanta Office

http://www.eco-structure.com/Images/Plaza%20rendering_tcm26-791712.jpg
http://www.eco-structure.com/commercial-projects/designing-for-design.aspx


One of Atlanta's pre-eminent architecture and design firms got the chance to give itself a commission when Perkins + Will decided to purchase the old Invesco building at 1315 Peachtree and renovate it for themselves. The result is a building that is both a showcase for cutting-edge environmentally-friendly technology (like a rainwater harvesting system and solar shades that manage the penetration of the sun to reduce interior heat) and lovely to behold inside and out. By continuing to host the Peachtree branch of the Atlanta Fulton County Library as well as allocating the ground-level retail space for the Museum of Design Atlanta, the building makes an enhanced contribution to the critical mass of culture occurring at the location (sitting across from the High Museum as it does).

curbed http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2011/12/19/best-green-corporate-makeover-the-perkins-will-building-on-peachtree.php

Atlanta developer Novare Group and Batson-Cook Development Co. say they are moving forward to break ground on SkyHouse Midtown, a 23-story, 320-unit high-rise apartment building at 12th Street and West Peachtree Street.

Construction will begin immediately and is expected to be completed in December 2012.

Skyhouse to Break Ground (http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2011/12/21/skyhouse-midtown-to-break-ground.html) - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Great news!

The structure near Underground Atlanta that formerly housed the World of Coca-Cola Museum, what's gonna happen to that structure? Will it be torn down for new buildings or converted into something else?

The structure near Underground Atlanta that formerly housed the World of Coca-Cola Museum, what's gonna happen to that structure? Will it be torn down for new buildings or converted into something else?

The building was bought by the state of Georgia with the plan of building a State History Museum. Those plans were of course put on hold after the economic downturn. I'm not sure if this is "official" or if the state even still has plans to someday complete the project but here is rendering that appears to show a conversion rather than a total demolishing.

http://houserwalker.com/museum/gasthm/gasthm1.jpg
http://houserwalker.com/museum/gasthm/gasthm2.jpg

Nicely done updates, the present economy has certainly resulted in a more pronounced Midtown-north-to-Alpharetta orientation than I have ever seen before, and I am a native of this area. There are so many places around town that are absolutely dying.

Curbed (http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2012/01/12/-httpwwwompatlantacom-httpwwwbizjournalscomatlantastories20071112daily17html-httpwwwatlantaskyrisebl.php)


What Will Become of Atlanta's Premier Building Site?
Thursday, January 12, 2012, by Josh Lindenbaum

As Midtown and the areas that immediately surround are leading whatever sort of recovery Atlanta's real estate market is currently experiencing, Please Build Here has been drawn- like moths to the flame- to some of the marquee building sites there, in anticipation of the next round of development. Today we present what is arguably the most valuable piece of dirt (for its size) in the entire City of Atlanta, sitting on Atlanta's grand boulevard (Peachtree) at the entrance of one of Atlanta's grandest neighborhoods (Ansley Park) and across from perhaps Atlanta's grandest architectural specimen (Richard Meier and Renzo Piano's High Museum of Art). But 1301 Peachtree Road NE today exists as little more than a repository for dirt, weeds and rainwater. And were it not for the High using the fencing as a quasi-billboard, the plot would be a genuine eyesore from the street.

http://www.atlantaskyriseblog.com/images//omprend.jpg
One Museum Place

It wasn't supposed to be this way. Atlanta mega-home builder/developer, entrepreneur and art-loving philanthropist John Wieland spent a reported $18.3 million assembling the parcel to build a spectacular condominium project called One Museum Place. Back in the good old days, plans called for the David Chipperfield-designed tower to contain 96 homes with price tags starting at $2 million, a restaurant, a gallery programmed by the High Museum and likely to include works from Wieland's own collection and other amenities geared toward well-heeled buyers. Then the bad times came, and with them an official announcement that the project was on hold.

Two and a half years later, the real estate community was jolted out of its slumber by an announcement that a group helmed by (a very serious looking) broadcasting executive named Alvin James had secured "European hedge fund" financing to purchase the land from Wieland and develop a luxury hotel on the site, with a small number of condominiums on top. Slated to open this spring, the $350 million project retained some vestiges of the original vision, notably an art gallery featuring Wieland's collection and named in his honor.

As evidenced by the photos above (taken last week), the hotel's opening has been delayed, perhaps permanently. We don't know what we don't know, but in spite of a picture of James with Steve Forbes and some very dated pictures of James with people like Donald Trump, Robin Leach and Oprah, the Alvin James Group does not necessarily look like they're going to be able to get this one across the finish line.

[...]

Curbed (http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2012/01/13/new-falcons-stadium.php)


With the Economics Still in Question, a New Open-Air Falcons Stadium For Downtown Gains Momentum

https://alsd.com/sites/default/files/481430551_dc7922aebf.jpg

If you're just waking up to the discussion, here are the basics: the Atlanta Falcons currently play in the Georgia Dome, which was completed in 1992 at a cost of $214 million (and recently renovated at a cost of $30 million). And though it seems there are plenty of people that find it a perfectly nice place to watch a football game, Falcons owner Arthur Blank would disagree (as would the NFL). As word comes this week that Governor Deal and the State of Georgia seem inclined to help Blank in his quest for a new, open-air stadium on a parcel of land semi-adjacent to the Dome, more than a few folks are concerned about just how it will be paid for. And rightly so- the City and the State are kind of broke, right? The critics' arguments are bolstered by studies like these (http://news.illinois.edu/news/04/1117stadiums.html), which present a pretty compelling case that sports stadiums don't spark the local economic growth often cited in justification of bond or taxpayer financing for their construction. Plain old logic and practicality have some relevance here, too. Given Atlanta's many pressing infrastructure and education needs (to name just two), does it make sense to spend $694 million on a structure that the Falcons will use between 8-10 times per year?

---

If Blank wants a stadium, he can write a check. It's absolute bullshit for taxpayers to pay for yet another sports venue and in this case, only 20 years later.

One point on some of the restaurants noted above, it's nice to have out of town investors, but how about something unique to Atlanta, importing the same restaurant as another city I don't think enhances Atlanta's dining options.... they just become expensive chains.

If Blank wants a stadium, he can write a check. It's absolute bullshit for taxpayers to pay for yet another sports venue and in this case, only 20 years later.

It's always much easier to cobble together a big stadium proposal than it is to get the thing financed and actually built. ;)

One point on some of the restaurants noted above, it's nice to have out of town investors, but how about something unique to Atlanta, importing the same restaurant as another city I don't think enhances Atlanta's dining options.... they just become expensive chains.

I think Atlanta is certainly large enough to have both...in ample numbers.

I've always wondered about the plot of land bordered by Ponce, North, and Juniper. I would call that the best plot of land in the city. And with an L shape, it could provide a more interesting design (or probably just a stand alone parking garage next to a rectangular building, the way things work around here...)

http://g.co/maps/mgcgu

Anyone know a reason why nothing is there or (to my knowledge) being planned?

I've always wondered about the plot of land bordered by Ponce, North, and Juniper. I would call that the best plot of land in the city. And with an L shape, it could provide a more interesting design (or probably just a stand alone parking garage next to a rectangular building, the way things work around here...)

http://g.co/maps/mgcgu

Anyone know a reason why nothing is there or (to my knowledge) being planned?

LOL just google anything in Midtown + "Cousins" and you get your answer:

From 2006:
http://www.ajc.com/multimedia/dynamic/00222/Cousins_Fox_Plaza_p_222468l.jpg

ATLANTA -- Cousins Properties Incorporated (NYSE:CUZ) announced today plans for Fox Plaza, a planned 2.4-acre multi-phase mixed-use community bounded by Ponce de Leon Avenue, Juniper Street, North Avenue and Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta. The Company also announced today plans for the first phase of Fox Plaza - a 30-story, 210-unit high-rise condominium tower called The Premiere at Fox Plaza. Slated for the southwest corner of Ponce de Leon Avenue and Juniper Street, The Premiere is expected to include more than 20,000 square feet of street-level retail including a 5,000-square-foot signature restaurant at the corner of North Avenue and Juniper Street. The building will feature one-, two- and three-bedroom units, as well as penthouse units, with expected pricing starting from the low $300,000s.

In addition to The Premiere, Fox Plaza will contain another significant building including some combination of office, hotel, residential or retail uses facing Peachtree Street. Plans for that site - currently home to a 1950s-era, 12-story office building - are still in development

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=5&sqi=2&ved=0CDwQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffindarticles.com%2Fp%2Farticles%2Fmi_m0EIN%2Fis_2006_June_28%2Fai_n26910063%2F&ei=VTEVT6jwCIWRiALvr8TNDQ&usg=AFQjCNGAovxP4Jq8YIsA-9iV_jpvv-AlfA&sig2=rBB33yL1ZcxLGwtfAyG54g


But things didn't go well: http://www.ajc.com/business/the-city-that-was-95043.html


Cousins Properties said all future developments are on hold until market conditions improve. That effects Fox Plaza, a proposed 30-story condo tower near the Fox Theatre, where there’s now a vacant lot after Cousins demolished the existing building. And three more buildings at Terminus are stalled. Carter is proceeding with cautious optimism. He will restart construction on Phase I of his $1.5 billion luxury retail project in September with no hotels, though three were proposed. Plans for Starwood to build the first U.S. outpost of Baccarat are canceled, said Carter.

Fort McPherson, at East Point, was officially closed down September 15th, 2011 as a result of the 2005 BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) commission recommendation. The McPherson Planning Local Redevelopment Authority came up with a comprehensive reuse plan which includes the following:

* An employment district approximately 115 acres (0.47 km2) in size that is envisioned as a knowledge-based biomedical research park.
* A mixed-use, high-density retail area about 35 acres (140,000 m2) in size.
* A historic district covering approximately 40 acres (160,000 m2).
* Other areas would be home for up to 4,600 units of residential housing.
* Approximately 150 acres (0.61 km2) would be set aside for green space.

Re: Fort McPherson, that Authority and one affiliated with the citizens in the surrounding neighborhoods gave a presentation at the Georgia Planning Association's fall conference last year. Some interesting stuff, and while there remain some disagreements between the factions the overall ideas appear a good fit for the area. Might go a long way to imropving the quality of Atlanta's urban neighborhoods if done right, especially if it does upgrade that local economy.

Was hopeful land might be set aside for future MARTA route, though.

APS Will Raze IBM Complex For New Buckhead High School (http://skylineviews.typepad.com/skyline_views/2011/12/aps-will-raze-part-of-ibm-complex-for-new-buckhead-high-school.html)

https://www-03.ibm.com/services/continuity/resilience.nsf/pages/atlanta/$file/atlanta_picture.jpg


ATLANTA (Dec. 23, 2011) - Plans for the new high school in north Atlanta, a.k.a. "Buckhead High," are starting to crystalize.

Today, plans were revealed that show Atlanta Public Schools plans to redevelop the existing IBM campus on Northside Parkside into the new high school. That much has been known for a while. (Photo courtesy of IBM.com.)

What's new is this:

"Site will be redeveloped by removing one office building and approximately 1400 parking spaces to construct a new assembly building and athletic fields," according to a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) filing made public today.

The project size will be 475,000 square feet and accommodate 1,800 to 2,200 students, the filing states. The new high school at 4111 Northside Parkway will be completed in 2013.

In February, Atlanta school board members voted to acquire the 56-acre site for more than $56 million, The Atlanta Journal-Constitition reported.

The two buildings comprise 785,000 square feet of office and traning space built in 1978. Current tenant IBM is scouting new locations for a consolidated regional office. Jamestown acquired the campus in 2003.

Curbed (http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2012/01/23/invest-atlanta-steps-into-help-the-national-center-for-civil-and-human-rights.php)


As New Centennial Park-Area Attractions Struggle To Raise Funds, Invest Atlanta Steps In

Monday, January 23, 2012, by Josh Lindenbaum

http://atlanta.curbed.com/uploads/cchr%204.jpg
NCCHR

Amid the slow-enough-to-be-in-doubt economic recovery and ever-increasing competition for philanthropic support, the National Center for Civil & Human Rights- a big piece of the new, expanded vision for the Centennial Olympic Park tourist mecca- is struggling. But thanks to Invest Atlanta steering some TAD funds to the project, it will continue to move forward, albeit at a slower pace than originally planned. The development assistance is particularly crucial because if construction does not begin by June, other project funding is at risk. The NCCHR is not alone in its money woes. Fundraising difficulties have plagued another marquee project in the area- the College Football Hall of Fame. City boosters would very much like to see these projects completed as construction begins on the Atlanta Streetcar, which will ferry visitors from the Centennial Park area through the east side of downtown and the Sweet Auburn district to the Old Fourth Ward and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Site.

[...]

Should Public Funds Be Used To Build New Falcons Stadium? (http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2012/01/20/poll-should-public-funds-help-build-a-new-falcons-stadium.php)

http://atlanta.curbed.com/uploads/falcons%20stadium.jpg
[A rendering of a new, open-air Falcons stadium, part of an in-depth presentation posted here by the folks at CLOUD architecture|design.]

The last couple of weeks have seen a flurry of news about the push for a new Falcons stadium at the corner of Northside Drive and John Street downtown, just northwest of the Georgia World Congress Center. Heated debate has followed. Falcons owner Arthur Blank seems to have marshaled the support of various city and state officials, in spite of a general consensus among economists that while a new stadium is great for Arthur Blank and the Falcons, the benefit to the local economy and public at large is negligible. It's here that the debate splits. There are certainly those who don't want a new stadium at all, seeing it as a big waste. The Georgia Dome is, after all, just 20 years old and was recently renovated. There are also those that object to the location. But the essence of the debate seems centered around the use of public funds to build a new outdoor stadium for the Dirty Birds. While no one would seem to mind if Arthur Blank finds a way to build the thing with private funds, the thought of putting it ahead of education or infrastructure or Atlanta's many other areas of need seems to offend.

-curbed

Curbed poll results:

For: 18%

Against: 82%

APS Will Raze IBM Complex For New Buckhead High School (http://skylineviews.typepad.com/skyline_views/2011/12/aps-will-raze-part-of-ibm-complex-for-new-buckhead-high-school.html) Huh. My mother-in-law used to work there. Agonizing security to go through when we used to meet her for lunch.

As New Centennial Park-Area Attractions Struggle To Raise Funds, Invest Atlanta Steps InFor some reason I'm leary about putting this facility alongside the park. Such a different tenor and character compared to the other attractions. I also think the City now needs to find ways to stretch out the tourist district, and not overwhelm the Centennial Park area.

Are there any plans to put more lanes in I-75 though Henry County south of Atlanta? EVERY time I go through there (even in non-rush hours), it is ALWAYS clogged. A 3 lane north/3 lane south divided highway CANNOT SUPPORT THE KIND OF TRAFFIC THAT GOES THROUGH THERE!!!!:ohno:

Nice!

Hi! Would it be possible for anyone in Sandy Springs/Atlanta to get a pic or two of how the Lifetime Athletic at Roswell Road and I-285 in the Prado mall is progressing? I'd appreciate it very much. Thanks!

Skyhouse had its groundbreaking ceremony this week although the actual groundbreaking happened in December.

http://skylineviews.typepad.com/.a/6a00e551d321cb88340167617dca9e970b-800wi

For some reason I'm leary about putting this facility alongside the park. Such a different tenor and character compared to the other attractions. I also think the City now needs to find ways to stretch out the tourist district, and not overwhelm the Centennial Park area.

It won't exactly be alongside the park. The closest potential site is two blocks from the Aquarium and the others are along Northside Drive. The reason for the location is that it would be a part of the the convention center (GWCC), just like the Dome, and it would sit on land owned by the GWCC.

The GWCC and the Falcons are currently in negotiations and the only certainty at this point is that the state legislature has already made it possible to use the hotel tax that funded the Dome to fund a new stadium project. It has yet to be determined if it is even feasible to operate a new open-air stadium plus the Dome. If that won't work then the options are a retractable-roof replacement for the Dome or a renovated Dome with a retractable roof.

Screen Shot from webcam


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/screen-capture.png



7712thstreet (http://oxblue.com/open/brasfieldgorrie/7712thstreet)

12th and Midtown Signs Two High-End Tennants (http://www.costar.com/News/Article/Duane-Morris-IMG-Sign-at-12th-Midtown/136013?ref=/News/Article/Duane-Morris-IMG-Sign-at-12th-Midtown/136013&src=rss)

http://atlanta.curbed.com/uploads/12-midtown-1.jpg
http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2012/02/23/post-68.php


Law firm Duane Morris and IMG Worldwide, a leading global sports and media company, are the latest tenants to sign a deal at 12th and Midtown at 1075 Peachtree St. NE in Atlanta, GA.

Duane Morris will occupy an entire floor totaling 27,898 square feet for nine years. Steve Morgan of Grubb & Ellis and Mark Kercher of Studley represented the firm.

IMG Worldwide leased 36,000 square feet for 15 years. Jason Schulz of The J. Rich Co. and Russell Jobson and Jeff Kelley of Colliers International handled the deal for IMG.

Duane Morris will move from its Midtown location at Atlantic Center Plaza this summer, and IMG Worldwide will consolidate from two locations from Interstate North and Buckhead in June.

Daniel Corp.'s 12th & Midtown property is a LEED Silver certified, 752,710-square-foot, mixed-use office development. It was built in 2010 on 2.9 acres in the Midtown/Pershing Point submarket.

ajc.com (http://www.ajc.com/business/mansion-on-peachtree-to-1380163.html)


Mansion on Peachtree to be rebranded Residences at Mandarin Oriental
Sunday, March 11, 2012

http://www.concierge.com/images/destinations/hotels/usa/georgia/atlanta/mansiononpeachtreearosewoodhotel/atlanta_mansionpeachtr_001p.jpg

By Leon Stafford
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

After seeing its opportunity to open a new hotel in Atlanta run into trouble with the foreclosure crisis two years ago, Mandarin Oriental is coming to Georgia's capital after all.

The company will announce Monday that Buckhead's Mansion on Peachtree -- the mixed-use project that is home to the 127-room Rosewood Hotel and several floors of million-dollar condominiums -- is being rebranded the Residences at Mandarin Oriental Atlanta. The change will take place in May.

“We are delighted to introduce Mandarin Oriental's renowned services and facilities to this important destination," Edouard Ettedgui, group chief executive of the Hong Kong-based company, said in a statement. He said it gives the group an opportunity to establish its brand "in one of America’s fastest-growing, cosmopolitan cities.”

Mandarin's entry into the Atlanta market is seen as a big win for the city because of the chain's status as an international brand -- especially considering the metro area's attempt to grow the Asian market.

"Mandarin has a much broader reach than the Rosewood and that will work symbiotically with the changes we expect with the new international terminal [at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport]," said Paul Breslin, managing partner of Panther Hospitality. "We will reach an audience that will stay here as opposed to using us as a pass-through to somewhere else."

If the economy had not nosedived in 2008, Mandarin might have already been in operation here. Tivoli Properties announced plans that year to build a 53-story tower on Peachtree Street in Midtown that would have housed a Mandarin hotel and condos starting around $1.8 million. But in January 2010 a foreclosure notice was placed on the property, 1138 Peachtree St., that the lodger would have been built on.

Mandarin's new home has had its troubles, too. The 42-story Mansion building was bought by its lead lender, iStar Financial, in February 2010 after it went into foreclosure. The building's condos have struggled to sell and Craft, New York restaurateur Tom Colicchio's free-standing eatery in front of the property, closed later that year

[...]



Too bad the original Mandarin Oriental didn't happen. But this is a great vote of confidence for Atlanta!

http://www.atlantaskyriseblog.com/images/mandarin/onboards_1138.jpg
http://www.atlantaskyriseblog.com/category/midtown/mandarin-oriental-atlanta-residences/

Skyhouse:
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w18/g-man430/115.jpg

Homewood Suites/Hilton Garden Inn:
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w18/g-man430/116.jpg

^^
Looks great!

A Look At Doings Over At "The Gulch" (http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/local_news/Residents-Learn-More-About-Gulch-Project-20120314-pm-pk)

http://transportationspotlight.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/gulch.jpg
http://transportationspotlight.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/study-economic-impact-of-proposed-multimodal-passenger-terminal/


ATLANTA - People got a first chance Wednesday night to hear more about a new transportation hub planned for downtown Atlanta.

A crowd turned out at Georgia-Pacific to learn about project proposed for "The Gulch" -- an area between the Georgia Dome, CNN Center, Phillips Arena, Castleberry Hill and the Five Points MARTA station.

The project manager of the Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal [MMPT] says the 120 acres are downtown's largest piece of undeveloped land.



http://transportationspotlight.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/greenline.jpg
http://transportationspotlight.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/study-economic-impact-of-proposed-multimodal-passenger-terminal/

In general I realy love that scheme. Capping the gulch and creating a grand corridor connecting the Dome, a multi-modal station and the capital would be fantastic. This would add depth and character to downtown that woul enhance building values and design potential, and would be a big boon to Ga State. This would effectively close the loop that's been established from Five Points to Peachtree Center and from Peachtree Ctr to Centennial Park.

A lot would depend on the form and scale of the new station, and my big fear would be designing something on the cheap, both how that would nullify architectural enthusiasm and also compromise the station's ability to grow. If Atlanta is to truly take that next step then we'll need that facility to have the potential to handle a lot more traffic.

If they could also ever cover over the connecter between lower and upper downtown (a reverse Big Dig), that would give the City a HUGE makeover and make downtown immensely attractive. Simply make it greenspace with maybe pocket retail to make the connection a seemless urban environment, so pedestrians could comfortably walk from P'tree Ctr to North Ave. Would go a long, long way to healing the wound made by the Interstate.

Kudos to the first person that can post an aerial of the same area as it exists today and give us a side-by-side comparison. (since I'm at work)

Side note: What should be the future of Underground? Seattle's is more like a museum/history center experience and I can't help but wonder whether or not the retial center concept can ever prosper. Downtown still lacks the volume of people or attractions to make people seek it out, IMO. Kenny's Alley gets the lunch crowds but beyond that...

OliverMcMillan to demolish part of former Streets of Buckhead (http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2012/02/10/olivermcmillan-to-demolish-part-of.html)

http://skylineviews.typepad.com/.a/6a00e551d321cb88340133f475c279970b-320wi


Developer OliverMcMillan Inc. plans to carry out a partial demolition of the former Streets of Buckhead, a project that in recent years became a high-profile victim of the slow economy and the lending freeze.

OliverMcMillan submitted a request Feb. 9 for two commercial land development permits valued at $7.4 million and $7.8 million, according to the city of Atlanta. The permits would allow partial demolitions of unfinished construction on two separate parcels -- as well as utility work and streetscape improvements -- within the eight-acre project at Peachtree, East Paces Ferry and Pharr roads. Most of the existing construction is a parking deck.

77 12TH Street erected its cranes today.
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/7403/screencaptureg.png

This pic from last week by Traniac shows both of the residential projects under construction - Skyhouse (left) and 77 12TH (right).
http://atlantahistory.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/img_3003.jpg

http://transportationspotlight.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/study-economic-impact-of-proposed-multimodal-passenger-terminal/

This new plan for "The Gulch" means that 5 existing parking garages are gonna be torn down. May be conpensated for by new parking garage underneath an open space.

This new plan for "The Gulch" means that 5 existing parking garages are gonna be torn down. May be conpensated for by new parking garage underneath an open space.One person I spoke with at CAP suggested there would have to be some parking in and around Phillips Arena and the proposed station in order to make this succeed, and that this is essentially the biggest logistical component they're addressing. Called it the Gulch Paradox - That in order to achieve a cleaner urbanity and true multi-modal transit station for the site, we also have to accommodate tons of parking for all the folks from outside of town!!!

Supposedly the GWCC will be providing more parking on the other side of the Dome, and various parties have hinted at a parking deck with street level retail along the extended Wall Street. We'll see.

Integral's Horses Held: The Atlanta Daily World Building Saved (http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2012/03/29/atlanta-daily-world-building-savedfor-now.php)

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0tw7oX4591qc63pwo1_500.jpg
http://atlurbanist.tumblr.com/


The Urban Design Commission made a strong statement Wednesday night with its unanimous “no” vote regarding the Integral Group’s demolition permit for the Atlanta Daily World building. Preservationists count 13 buildings that have been lost in the corridor over the past few years; the denial could signal a shift in the way the area redevelops. It wasn’t too long ago that Integral incorporated older structures into its Renaissance Walk mixed-use project a block away, but it looks like facadism might be suddenly passé on the historic thoroughfare. In an official statement, neither buyer or seller plan to appeal the agreement, which effectively nullified the contingent sales agreement that the parties had in place. However, it may not be the end of the road for this controversy, as the statement also mentioned that Integral looks forward to working out a palatable plan for the structure. Let’s see if we can have the best of both worlds: stewardship of our history and an increase in downtown residents.

Ponce City Market comes alive on webcam: http://oxblue.com/open/jamestownproperties/poncecitymarket

http://atlanta.curbed.com/uploads/Ponce_City_Market-20120404-125428.jpg
http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2012/04/09/you-can-watch-ponce-city-market-take-shape-on-the-internets.php

Regent Partners and Pope & Land Enterprises Inc. are about six weeks away from launching the first stages of their Buckhead mixed-use project, including a new financial services and trading center for TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. at 3330 Peachtree.

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2012/04/20/new-buckhead-project-to-move-forward.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iKSdwCFTeYk/TutSZNg6YwI/AAAAAAAACGs/kffUiutmtR4/s1600/3330peachtreerendering.jpg

The Atlanta Falcons and Georgia World Congress Center Authority reached consensus that it makes more financial and logistical sense to build one new $948 million football stadium with a retractable roof than to retrofit the Georgia Dome.

They also suggested a new location just south of the Georgia Dome may be favored for the new stadium.

The two discussed the options Wednesday at a GWCCA meeting that featured a cost analysis from Kansas City, Mo.-based sports and entertainment architecture firm Populous.

To date, the most talked about area for the next home of the Falcons was an area north of the Georgia Dome at the intersection of Northside Drive and Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard. But now a new site gaining favor is the area immediately south of Georgia Dome and just west of the Gulch, which itself could be redeveloped into a mixed-use complex centered around a bus and rail terminal.

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2012/04/25/populous-new-falcons-stadium-would.html?page=2

And I'm assuming, if this were to happen, the Dome would be razed? What would be built on that site?

$948,000,000.00! WTF is wrong with people? What a disgraceful waste of money. Seriously, where's the shame?

$948,000,000.00! WTF is wrong with people? What a disgraceful waste of money. Seriously, where's the shame?

Standard procedure for billionaire owners in the NFL.

This was $1.3 billion:

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/0521/travel_a_stadium1_sw_576.jpg

And I'm assuming, if this were to happen, the Dome would be razed? What would be built on that site?

Given the size of the new site south of the Dome, it will most likely require a portion of it to be used to for the new stadium and parking. This is still early in the process and the only news here, other than the new potential site, is that they have ruled out building a separate open-air stadium or retrofitting the Dome.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/screen-capture-1.png

It's nice of the billionaire owners to saddle the city with a $400million tax burden so that they can build a billion dollar stadium.

It's nice of the billionaire owners to saddle the city with a $400million tax burden so that they can build a billion dollar stadium.
I've never understood how someone can, in good conscience, sell this idea to a city.

If it is as profitable as you say, then it should be worth your investment. Since Blank is a good businessman, I assume he's either getting as much as he can for as little as possible, OR he knows it isn't a good investment for himself to foot the bill.

My question is, what is the deal going to be with the GWCC? They can't be OK with losing the income from all the GA Dome events. AND this is on their land (right?). How is Blank going to get a drastic amount of money out of this? (the whole reason he wants a new stadium)

CityBiz (http://atlantarealestate.citybizlist.com/3/2012/4/24/North-American-Properties-Wins-City-Nod-for-600M-Project.aspx)


North American Properties Wins City Nod for $600M Project

http://atlanta.curbed.com/uploads/avalon2.jpg

Posted April 24, 2012

ATLANTA - With the stars aligning for a $600 million project, North American Properties has secured key approvals to advance a resort-inspired, mixed-use development in Alpharetta, Ga. If the plan stays on track, the Avalon will open in October 2013.

The Avalon is being touted as the Southeast's first "experience center," a high-end collection of retail, restaurant, residential, office, hotel and public spaces. The developer's plan won the nod of the Alpharetta City Council.

Whole Foods Market and Regal Cinemas are headlining a pack of experiential retailers for the development. The developer is planning to integrate outdoor concerts, yoga in the park and family camp-outs into the high-end package, which will include on-site, hotel-style concierge and valet parking services.

North American Properties believes retailers must deliver a lifestyle brand experience in order to compete with e-commerce.

""Alpharetta is an affluent community and locals want and deserve a luxury shopping experience they can't currently find in the Southeast," said Mark Toro, managing partner of Ohio-based North American Properties.

The Avalon is being designed for 559,000 square feet of shops and restaurants to go along with Whole Foods and a 14-screen theater. North American Properties will lease, own and managed the space. Also on the development horizon is a 330-room full-service hotel and a 175-key boutique hotel set atop retail space.

Greenstone Properties will lease, own and manage the office component. On the drawing board is a 350,000-square-foot, 14-story office building; two 200-square-foot buildings; 85,000 square feet of office lofts above retail; and a 5,000-square-foot financial institution.

The residential component includes apartments, townhomes and single-family dwellings. North American will develop, lease, own and manage 250 apartments set on top of retail. The average rent will be $1,400 per month. The mix includes 150 0ne-bedroom units and 100 two-bedroom units, with dedicated resort-style amenities.

[...]

Midtown Patch (http://midtown.patch.com/articles/landmark-midtown-building-facing-possible-wrecking-ball)


Landmark Midtown Building Facing Possible Wrecking Ball

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4095/4777459102_bec42fbde9_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40598203@N08/4777459102/)
Crum & Forster Building (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40598203@N08/4777459102/) by The Mover (http://www.flickr.com/people/40598203@N08/), on Flickr

Permit application filed by the Georgia Tech Foundation, Inc., to demolish approximately two-thirds of the Crum & Forster building

April 23, 2012

An application to demolish portions of the Landmark building, the Crum & Forster building, was filed last week and will be heard by the Atlanta Urban Design Commission on May 9.

The building, located at 771 Spring Street, was built in 1926 and is located across the street from the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center. The application filed by the Georgia Tech Foundation, Inc., which purchased the building in 2007 to expand nearby Technology Square, is for a permit to demolish approximately two-thirds of the building.

The Foundation applied for a Special Administrative Permit, a pre-requisite for applying for a demolition permit, with the intent to use the site for surface parking. This was denied by the Office of Planning in July 2008. The Georgia Tech Foundation’s appeal of this decision made to the Board of Zoning Adjustment was also denied.

After its appeal was denied, the Foundation purchased the nearby branch of Sun Trust Banks Inc. “Now that we have obtained the SunTrust property, we are in the process of pursuing a mutually agreeable resolution to the future of the Crum & Forster building,” John Carter, president of the Georgia Tech Foundation, said at the time.

But now it looks as if the wrecking ball could still swing the Crum & Forster building's way. How do you feel about this?

Georgia Tech has said before that it would like to build a High Performing Computing Center, a potential 24-story, 680,000 square foot public-private development, on the block. The Crum & Forster facade and possibly the entire front portion of the building could be preserved.

A school representative told the SaportaReport last fall that the High Performing Computer Center “has the potential to enhance economic development in the Technology Square area as well as create new construction jobs and employment opportunities generated by the technology companies that might eventually locate in the vicinity.”

[...]

$948,000,000.00! WTF is wrong with people? What a disgraceful waste of money. Seriously, where's the shame?

it is shameless. it starts and ends with populous if you ask me, a firm who is solely in the business of "consulting" ... translation: telling cities how they can spend the most possible on new convention centers, stadiums, and arenas. populous has been at the center of all of these scandalous mis-uses of public resources to build gigantic coliseums to the 1% that sit vacant for over 99% of the year. not only are these projects standing in the way of social justice and better-placed public priorities, but they're also wreaking havoc on the urban landscape.

the opposition is usually more of a counter-movement wherever these things get proposed, and is so splintered that they have never fused together their combined lessons, meanwhile populous goes from city to city to city, stronger than before, and tells the next successive city how they absolutely must up the ante or else be left behind and become the next detroit. it's a very persuasive job, even if it overlooks the obvious that detroit even keeps pumping money into several new stadiums and for all they're trying, they are still detroit, and always will be detroit for better or worse (if better ever takes hold for them).

can you imagine the combined benefits to social justice, the urban environment, community redevelopment, et al., if atlanta instead spend $.9 billion on a streetcar system to complement the marta and extend its transit service into neighborhoods? rail-based transit has a ROI effect of 18-1 in the transit model of portland, even higher in some cities. the "save" figure that consultants like populous have low-balled transit down to is 10-1, which is still infinitely higher than the ROI with convention palaces, stadiums, arenas, and the rest of that ilk.

i hope atlanta can fight the good fight, but i doubt it.

rail-based transit has a ROI effect of 18-1 in the transit model of portland, even higher in some cities. the "save" figure that consultants like populous have low-balled transit down to is 10-1, which is still infinitely higher than the ROI with convention palaces, stadiums, arenas, and the rest of that ilk.OT: but I'd like to see the details on those ratios...

FYI
The public part of a new stadium was a done deal two years ago when the GA legislature and Governor passed the bill to extend the hotel tax that paid for the majority of the existing stadium. That bill is contingent upon reaching a deal with the Falcons to build a stadium downtown. The tax is projected to raise $300 million and the Falcons and the NFL ($200 million) will come up with the rest.

Landmark Midtown Building Facing Possible Wrecking Ball (http://midtown.patch.com/articles/landmark-midtown-building-facing-possible-wrecking-ball)

I support this plan. It will preserve all of the architectural detail but allow for a modern use of the property.

Here are Georgia Tech's plans for the site.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/tHPCh12.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/tHPCh4.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/tHPCh6.jpg

More than 1,600 volunteers streamed into the $1.4 billion new international terminal bright and early for the dry run.

Many were eager to get a sneak peek at the gleaming 1.2 million square-foot terminal and 12-gate concourse -- and give some constructive criticism. The simulation attracted avid travelers and airport enthusiasts excited to see the eye-catching row of international flags lining the road leading up to the airy, light-filled terminal with soaring ceilings.

http://www.ajc.com/news/travelers-take-test-flight-1430468.html

http://www.ajc.com/multimedia/dynamic/01374/050312AirExercise__1374900c.jpg

According to draft agenda for next week’s Midtown Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting, a new application has been submitted for the construction of a mixed-use project located at the northwest corner of 6th and Juniper streets in Midtown.

The “Novare Residential” application calls for a 23-story building including ground floor retail and 320 residential units.

http://midtown.patch...-project-on-6th (http://midtown.patch.com/articles/novare-looks-to-build-23-story-building-mixed-use-project-on-6th#comment_3232951)

Big Changes For The Paces (http://www.buckheadview.com/2012/05/npu-b-approves-rezoning-of-old-east.html)

http://atlanta.curbed.com/uploads/paces.jpg


The new owner of The Paces, one of the most sought-after (re)development sites in Buckhead, got its dispensation from Neighborhood Planning Unit B and is clear to begin work on the site. Coming to East Andrews Drive in between West Paces Ferry and Roswell Roads in the first phase of Camden Property Trust's overhaul of the site is a new 10-story luxury apartment building and townhouses, as we've noted before. Phase II is expected bring more domiciles and some street level retail.

Construction To Begin On Outlet Mall In Woodstock (http://www.ajc.com/business/construction-to-start-on-1430824.html)


http://www.cblproperties.com/pag.nsf/mod_ImageGallery.jpg



Construction is beginning on a metro Atlanta outlet mall scheduled to open next summer.

The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta, in Woodstock, is scheduled to open in August 2013. The 370,600-square-foot center about 40 minutes northwest of Atlanta was originally intended to be an outdoor-shopping lifestyle center, but the plans were changed to an discount outlet mall after the recession hit, and the open-air malls had begun to fall out of favor.

Stores will include Nike, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, Brooks Brothers, Guess and Michael Kors.

The center will be located off I-575 at the new Ridgewalk Parkway exit. In a statement, developers said they expect the shopping center to draw 4 million people annually, from a three-state area. It will have covered walkways and landscaped courtyards, and is expected to generate more than $130 million in annual sales.

Curbed (http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2012/05/07/new-viewpoint-tower.php)


Send in the Cranes: Midtown's Getting Another New Tower

http://atlanta.curbed.com/uploads/novare.jpg
Older render of original Viewpoint concept.

The Viewpoint condo tower might be getting a little bit of company if Novare’s recently announced plans come to fruition. An application was submitted to the Midtown Development Review Committee by the glass-crazy company for a 24 story residential structure at 6th and Juniper (Viewpoint is 36 stories), with a parking deck proposed for the corner of 7th and Juniper. If you’ll remember, the original renderings released for Viewpoint depicted two similar towers behind the first one as future phases. It turns out that Novare’s design before that only had one additional tower, so they’re really turning back time with this one. Naturally, the 320 unit building will be mixed use with retail on the ground floor, but there’s already been questions raised over whether the parking deck next to it will receive something at street level other than mostly blank walls, á la the Spring Street facade of Novare’s SkyHouse apartments now under construction.

[...]

Atlanta developer Novare Group is proposing a 23-story mixed-use tower with up to 320 apartment units in Midtown.
The project, known as 100 6th Street, would take shape near the intersection of Juniper and next door to Viewpoint, a condo tower Novare developed.
The site is the former home of establishments including Loca Luna and McCray's Sixth Street Tavern. The property has sat vacant for several years, raising public safety issues in the immediate area, nearby residents have said.
The plans for 100 6th Street are to be discussed today at a Midtown development review committee meeting at the 999 Peachtree building.

http://assets.bizjournals.com/atlanta/real_talk/100%206th%20Street%20large.jpg

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/real_talk/2012/05/novare-plans-new-midtown-tower.html

Sounds good! :) Wish they would come back to Tampa and construct another one. Wink Wink Novare. :lol:

Curbed (http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2012/05/08/falcons-stadium.php)


A New Falcons Stadium Will Be Built, Now It Needs Your Support

http://atlanta.curbed.com/uploads/domey%201.jpg

If your eyes and mind have already been soiled by reading Falcons President & CEO Rich McKay's AJC op-ed (http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2012/05/07/falcons-boss-says-new-stadium-will-be-a-win-win-uses-other-business-jargon?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+clatl%2Ffull+%28Creative+Loafing+Atlanta%29), reading this won't be a complete waste of time; that said, we're quite happy we read Thomas Wheatley's synopsis (http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2012/05/07/falcons-boss-says-new-stadium-will-be-a-win-win-uses-other-business-jargon?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+clatl%2Ffull+%28Creative+Loafing+Atlanta%29) first. For those just tuning in, here's the deal. Atlanta: you're getting a new stadium for your football team whether you like or not. The campaign to build "public support" is now underway, so you might as well focus on the positive maybes. Maybe Atlanta talent will get a shot at designing the thing. Maybe the new stadium will inspire the team to new heights, and spur Arthur Blank to spend more money on players. The stadium-spurring-economic-development thing is a canard, so we won't speak of it. On to the positive positives: a bunch construction jobs will be created. There will be a shiny new place to watch the Falcons and drink, what, maybe, $16 beers by then? Various websites will feature neat-o image galleries giving gawkers around the world the chance to tour the Dirty Bird's new digs, perhaps inspiring a trip to see the Super Bowl on a television inside the Cheetah. Hopefully there will be an entertaining scandal thrown somewhere in there. Go Falcons!

http://assets.bizjournals.com/atlanta/real_talk/100%206th%20Street%20large.jpg

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/real_talk/2012/05/novare-plans-new-midtown-tower.html

That deck represents a horrible waste of space. The tower should be built atop it.

Curbed (http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2012/05/16/a-grand-ol-midtown-construction-update.php)


A Grand Ol' Midtown Construction Boom Update
Wednesday, May 16, 2012, by Jonathan Carnright

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/4fb2769985216d0607062985/IMG_1081.JPG
Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites underway.

http://www.atlmud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/10th-and-Williams-hotels.jpg
10th and Williams hotels (atlmud)

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/4fb276a685216d06070629d1/IMG_1087.JPG

Real estate crash be damned: all of the construction taking place in Midtown is pretty exciting to behold right now. With three major projects underway (a hotel, and the SkyHouse and 77 12th Street apartments), and a fourth one in the pipeline (100 6th Street apartments), we thought it was time to take stock of where they all stand, literally. First, the dual-branded Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites is coming along swimmingly at the busy corner of Williams and 10th Streets. It's topped out at 12 stories, with ground for the hotel having been broken in August of last year. Although it looks coherent now, various architectural flourishes should ensure that passerby understand the split lodging situation, but maybe they'll be just as confused as the rest of us. Completion is set for early next year.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/creech444/skyhousephaseII.jpg
SkyHouse

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/4fb2769f85216d06070629ab/IMG_1062.jpg

A couple of blocks north of the hotels, two rising apartment towers seem to be engaged in a heated staring contest. Novare's SkyHouse is definitely winning as it's already to the point of being glazed. We're only counting 15 of the final 23 stories as having been built, so there's still a little way to go vertically. Work has yet to begun on the contentious parking deck that'll front Spring Street. According to the website, Novare expects to deliver the project in December 2012.

Bringing up the rear is Phase III of the 12th and Midtown development, known as 77 12th Street and headed up by Daniel Corp. and Selig Enterprises. Right now much of the building site resembles Sol LeWitt's "54 Columns." Horizontal structure is now underway so it shouldn't be long before floors start being stacked. Once complete, it'll stand one story less than SkyHouse - not that anyone's counting.

http://o3.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/400x268/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/5e3ed1039df382a9f6e7be13ef906c79
77 12th St

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/4fb2769d85216d06070629a1/IMG_1050.JPG

---

^^Calling this a boom is a bit of a stretch. It is much closer to a return to normalcy for Midtown and I'm not even sure that's accurate.


By the way that rendering you posted is for 100 6th Street. I know its difficult to discern any difference between the two but the rendering below is Skyhouse Midtown. There is also a Skyhouse proposed for Austin, Raleigh, and Orlando (so far).

http://whatnowatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/skyhouse-3.png

^^Calling this a boom is a bit of a stretch. It is much closer to a return to normalcy for Midtown and I'm not even sure that's accurate.


By the way that rendering you posted is for 100 6th Street. I know its difficult to discern any difference between the two but the rendering below is Skyhouse Midtown. There is also a Skyhouse proposed for Austin, Raleigh, and Orlando (so far).

[IMG]http://whatnowatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/skyhouse-3.png[IMG]

I think the term 'boom' is somewhat tongue in cheek. After the last 4 years, I guess anything rising higher than 3 stories constitutes a boom! ;)

And expect more. High-end rentals are hot in Chicago, a city devastated by the mortgage meltdown. Cities the size of Atlanta like Boston and Houston are building thousands of apartments. The condo market sucks but banks are lending for rentals and in some places, a bubble is being predicted.

Here's a shot of SkyHouse from the 12th:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kIJPEt69PIo/T68ieYjRqFI/AAAAAAAAHIY/E__1BA0lHJY/s1600/IMG_7287.jpg
http://tomitron-sure.blogspot.com/2012/05/update-on-viewshed.html

I stumbled upon this page the other day. Can anyone help me out? I don't know if this is proposed or if financing failed for construction. Does anyone have ay information on this "project"? http://tvs-design.com/2010/09/c-s-tower/

I stumbled upon this page the other day. Can anyone help me out? I don't know if this is proposed or if financing failed for construction. Does anyone have ay information on this "project"? http://tvs-design.com/2010/09/c-s-tower/

From what I can tell from the renderings, and knowing that I think the Bank of America building originally had something to do with C&S this is probably a different design for that building. We all know the building actually built:
http://www.bloomberg.com/image/i4E8patU40mA.jpg

http://www.bloomberg.com/image/iIVCdf0gUVeA.jpg

Images Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-06/american-foreclosure-hits-bottom-with-tower-auction-in-atlanta-mortgages.html

From the Renderings I think I like that building better actually. Street level is much less intimidating to the pedestrian.

^^ That is definitely the TVS design for the C&S tower . It was originally to be the C&S bank Headquarters and became Bank of America through a series of mergers.

92 West Paces Ferry - 210 units, 9-stories

77 E. Andrews - 376 units, one 9-story & one 5-story building

No renderings have been released

I think the term 'boom' is somewhat tongue in cheek. After the last 4 years, I guess anything rising higher than 3 stories constitutes a boom! ;)

And expect more. High-end rentals are hot in Chicago, a city devastated by the mortgage meltdown. Cities the size of Atlanta like Boston and Houston are building thousands of apartments. The condo market sucks but banks are lending for rentals and in some places, a bubble is being predicted.

Given the nature of our public policy regarding residential construction (and urban design/planning and infrastructure in general), I'm going to go ahead and say that a multifamily housing bubble will absolutely never happen under the current scheme.
We subsidize single-family detached houses, which puts multifamily at a disadvantage. Then we cut off the life and liveability to our urban areas with massive highways and poor mass transit, which only adds to the disadvantages. I could go on for pages but, in short, what I'm saying is that if people in the US build apartments/condos, then there must REALLY be demand for them.