andremurra

I like the post tower here - looks original enough - not so much the novare copy & paste architecture. I went apt hunting in midtown this weekend since I'm moving back to Atlanta next week - my goal was to find anything decent for less than $1300/month. Apparently that is new bottom-rung figure for decent rentals in Midtown. My how rents have skyrocketed in the mere 7 months I have been gone. The unit I was leasing for $1200 in October now $1400!! Apparently Skyhouse South is full except for a 3-bedroom unit on the 2nd floor facing southeast (panoramic views of takorea and the boarded up ludacris diner). I am so discouraged

Phase III cant come soon enough - I really want to see the 10th streetcar happen. Connecting Home Park/Gatech to Piedmont Park would be great. Depending on the time of day (or not) it can be impossible to cross the connector at tenth from the west side. I would love to hop on a streetcar to Rocky Mountain Pizza, then stroll down to Piedmont Park. Or as a techie living in Home Park it would have been so convenient to ride over to Trader Joe's for groceries. My aging Aunt Betty visited me one weekend and pointed out the old brick building on the ne corner of 14th and Piedmont recalling living there when she first moved to Atlanta and rode street cars everywhere throughout the city. It sounded like pure heaven! oooh and the Phase IV Boulevard streetcar - that would be a potentially beautiful ride.

I LOVE the Coca-cola sign atop the adaptive reuse a few posts up... I like to see remnants of Atlanta-past in the urban core!

Well - thats good. A 35-floor building would not add much to that area of midtown. I could not find a citation to the 51-floor count other than this website. The building in the photo is clearly not 51-stories if you zoom in and count them... I wonder what features of the rendering above will be 'taller' or if it will look anything like that. Yay for 50+ floors.

I don't think 1138 Peachtree is going to be 51 floors unfortunately - I cant find any recent article naming the floor count. I know the original proposal in 2007 was 51 stories, but the rendering shown in the brochure shows something much smaller than the surrounding buildings, and from zooming in and attempting to count the floors in the rendering, it doesnt look like it could be taller than 35-floors. Resolution makes it hard to count the floors though, but I do like the design shown. http://flyers.cushmanwakefield.com/flyers/1138%20Peachtree%20Marketing%20Brochure.pdf

^^ to your point, I think it will be Atlanta's high line... in that it is bringing renewal for many forgotten neighborhoods and appreciation for the city with views of the city which have never been seen before by the vast majority of Atlantans. I can only imagine what it will do to the historically shunned neighborhoods near the West and Southwest segments.

I am so excited that Atlanta is booming again. So sad that I had to move for work --- too many tech grads in Atlanta competing for the same handful of jobs. I'll definitely be back though. Talk about a culture shock from Piedmont/10th area to Albany, Georgia. I will try to keep the Georgia thread updated on Albany stuff and some Statesboro stuff too. I don't even recognize Statesboro it has grown so much in the 4.5 years that I have been gone - I wanna go take pictures maybe on Christmas day when no one is around. Albany actually has some interesting projects coming down the pipeline (no pun intended), but too early to report. I am thrilled that the Symphony Center site is being considered for two 50-story towers and one 58-story but really want to see rendering soon - the top-view photo looks a bit skinny for 50-floor towers in my opinion. Skinnier than the much shorter surrounding towers, including the "IBM" tower. I know the developer is Manhattan-based, and they have many extremely tall-skinny (scary in my opinion) looking towers in NYC, but I really dont know how that would be received in Atlanta, or compare to the skyline as we have known it for so long. If its a good design, I do hope that it tops out One Atlantic Center - we need something from the modern era in Midtown to complement the batman building (1180). I love the Lenox Square Apartments design!! We need more of that and less of boring McSkyhouse. The Cox building looks nice, and I am super excited to find out what State Farm has in store for Perimeter.... if its going to be a landmark - will it be a landmark for PC? or a game-changer for the entire Atlanta skyline? I am anxious to know!! And I know I am all over the place here, but the townhomes being built at Piedmont and 10th next to Blake's are freaking amazing!!!!!!! Maybe if I win the lottery someday, I can have one.

I worked on one of the "Second Airport" site-selection sustainability impact analyses - and our project aimed at finding the best site for the addition... from Chattanooga, Dawson County, Paulding County, I think there was one in DeKalb and/or Gwinnett and then we looked at expanding Hartsfield... of course we couldnt find anything positive about adding another airport to these areas since we were measuring environmental, economic, equity implications. So we started looking at which site would have the least negative impact. Expanding Hartsfield won that competition mostly because it has already been developed as the pollution/noise hub and what's adding a little more compared to bringing it to the Appalachian Mountains. I'm sure other studies were done - but I'm thrilled to see they are choosing to expand the current airport than razing Dawson County. I will note that a large part of the "Second Airport" focus was to concentrate more on freight travel than passenger - so Im not 100% sure if the 6th runway is responding to that need or just expanding for future passenger growth. I did think putting it in Chattanooga was interesting though since that might help rehabilitate the Atlanta-Chattanooga maglev project.

As for 867, I figured it would be a slightly taller 905 Juniper... which is fine... I am so glad we are seeing more condo's in Atlanta, and I'm pleased they are so much larger - I feel sorry for the units on the east/south side staring at a slab parking deck and surface pay lots. I do not know why on earth Jamestown has decided to switch to luxury rentals when the type of development they are creating in PCM will be a live-work-play area unlike any in the region (I don't think Atlantic Station counts because it feels too much like a theme park than anything organically urban). I really do not think that Atlanta has the numbers to sustain all these luxury apartments once the banks begin lending again. Most of the high end rentals are being utilized by film crews for living and productions space. Someone is going to have to start offering median income units at some point, God forbid affordable housing for us commoners who want a piece of the American dream. The intown housing marking for buyers is so slim now... sure there are plenty to choose from but quality units in convenient locations are difficult finds right now. Even the less desirable or "up & coming" areas like "SoNo" (lol) are evaporating. They keep announcing that 12 Centennial is out, but then another "new unit" pops up - who knows what's up with that. I am ready to see some mixed-income or affordable housing around Midtown, even if its a less convenient location where walking is involved. Jane Jacobs would want that.

I was shocked when I read the above announcement and disappointed that I have one fewer starbucks option in a multi-block radius. First world problems at its best. I will say that I am THRILLED to see that the UP threads for Atlanta are starting to heat up again... I remember in 2006, it seemed like a new tower everyday or several were being announced with pictures galore. Other than Lenox Mall updates, I have not seen much action on this site for some time... but glad to see that has changed now. I will try to help be "eyes on the ground" in Midtown since LC is in NYC now it seems. these emoticons are so cute btw.

While I am definitely not for the new stadium getting built, I really like this design the best. I think it helps add some pizazz to the Atlanta skyline (even though its not a highrise). I am disappointed that my graduation hall will be demolished though. The other design looks too "college"-ey to me. It is also boring and conservative in my opinion.

While not earth-shattering I think the Hyatt looks pretty nice for Perimeter area. They just finished a pretty uninteresting Hyatt House off Interstate North Parkway in Galleria area. This one looks much sexier.

Not to fact-check ya but I wonder who is billing this as even a large film studio? Medient Studios just inked a $>300-million development deal for a 1,500 acre megastudio halfway between Savannah and Statesboro in Effingham County - to be the largest movie studio in the United States. The first phases will employ 400-1200 initially. Perhaps the Gwinnett studio at 400k sq ft is why its being billed as largest since Medient's sound stages will only have 250k sq ft. http://savannahnow.com/effingham-now/2013-03-19/90-million-movie-studio-slated-effingham#.UcJWmflOOCg "Medient bills the complex as “the largest movie production facility” in America. The first phase of the project will include 16 soundstages in various buildings totaling about a quarter of a million square feet." and "Architect Shaleen Sharma, from Delhi, India, said he was told to “dream big” when designing the complex, which includes tall “trees” with solar panels on the top. The trees will light up at night and have waterfalls inside them. The entrance to the complex will be a tall bridge over the wetlands, which will end on the sixth floor of the main building. A feature called the “leaf” will be a glass covering a more than 300,000-square-foot area where large concerts, for 25,000 people, can be held. Sharma said the leaf will be visible from I-16. It will include an auditorium that will seat about 9,000 people." I think this project is great news for Georgia and even Atlanta as this studio will provide more opportunities for SCAD-Atlanta students perhaps via summer internships in Savannah or whatnot. With the mean salary of studio workers at $39,000 (which is very significant in Southeast, Georgia where $50k-household income is considered good). A two-employee household could easily bring in six figures given they are not cafeteria workers. If SE Georgia grows enough maybe we'll get a Atlanta-Savannah train. lol. As for the above studio in Gwinnett... I would prefer it be somewhere intown, but I suppose it'll be something for Peachtree Corners teenagers to stay out of trouble with auditioning for extra roles. Anything to bring down the unemployment numbers too - so we can vie for our intown jobs locally.

Thats correct - I keep forgetting about the highrises near west peachtree. I usually access Arts Center from Peachtree which is the opposite vibe. I guess that to me, Atlanta may not have the ability to develop a true TOD since so many residents are single occupancy drivers. Lindbergh is probably as close as we have right now, but there is so much surface parking in the vicinity and with congested Piedmont right there it doesnt feel to transity lol.

This is very exciting! After all these months of nothing on the up forum except new lenox store rumors. Im excited for a variety of reasons. 1). More apartment units in Midtown - which has been a huge criticism of the MA Blueprint plan lacking significant residential planning. Also, this may help keep my rent where it is since there is more competition. Also, part of the new economy that is to develop from the recession we are currently in (and this is not just an aspect of being in the recession, but actually part of the new era coming after) is a growth in the appeal of renting rather than buying. In today's 21st Century economy, the Baby Boomers are settling into their American dream, but the Millennials are going to be more rent-focused due to the fact that lifetime-careers seem to becoming something of the past. Millennials are expected to change careers every 3-5 years, including relocating as well. Owning a home, as great and stable as it may be, is going to be somewhat of a liability to this new generation of workers whose vertical mobility keeps them on the move. Its great to see that developers are now catching on (of course more are just doing so due to our current lending climate) but investing an entire mid-highrise building for rentals from the initial planning stages rather than as a mitigation strategy is very telling of what the future of housing and migration patterns will emerge. Very exciting. 2). It will be great to see cranes in midtown again! 3). Im also excited that these buildings are creeping closer and closer to the Arts Center MARTA station. Its about time that Atlanta starts focusing on increasing density at its train stations. Why on earth is there a station in Midtown with nothing except a few boutique midrises lining peachtree near it? Arts Center needs more density and if within two blocks is all we get right now, then Ill take it! Also, these developments will make West Peachtree a little less creepy which is good. Someday Atlanta will have a real TOD. Dont know when thatll be, but Im crossing my fingers. The hotel thing though - while its going to be great for that current eyesore intersection, makes me think of a Taco Bell Pizza Hut KFC - and makes me laugh a little. I think its a bit corny and awkward, but again, itll add to the interstate view.

Georgia Southern's fall enrollment for 2009 broke another enrollment record. It was 16,842 in 2007; 17,774 in 2008, and 19,086 in 2009. It jumped over 900 between 07-08, then another 1300 between 08-09. WOW.

Well, cities and counties are simply corporations. To run either in the best interested of the 'business' and the stakeholders, I think consolidation would be the best way to go. I grew up in Statesboro-Bulloch, and at least since the early 90's the city and county have done everything together. There have been some arguments, pushing and shoving, but for the most part, the city and county share responsibilities pretty well. Also the city seems to provide most of the county resources for the county. The county residents are like babies who take, but dont want to pay into the corporation that funds all the economic development of the surrounding area. I think the city has a lot of potential, and by consolidating the city and county and their comprehensive strategic directions as one, there would be many benefits.. perhaps even public transportation in the near future. Several years ago, a transit system was being designed for Statesboro, but it fell through because the private investor's finances. Anyway, the county has always relied on the city to provide everything for them. The city of Statesboro was created for the sole purpose of being a county seat for the South Ogeechee River area seceded from Screven County. It has pretty much served that purpose for the past two hundred years, just been a provider, but I think the city is beginning to reach its limit of being able to provide for the county, with only the city residents paying into the corporation. Unincorporated Bulloch is very rural. As a point of survival, the central city really has to be there for the county. Putting aside rankings, and density, and all that, we should do whats best for the people and the future of the community at the end of the day.

Statesboro Herald Consolidation Poll: http://www.statesboroherald.com/polls/detail/337/

The Statesboro Herald reported that discussions of city-county consolidation has been on the table for at least four years now, and Bulloch County is now preparing to put their half of the money down for a feasibility study. Though there is no official word on the city council putting their money down, this is a new exciting approach that could have many positive and perhaps some negative outcomes, depending on who you talk to. My dad, who is a property owner in Bulloch County stated that basically it would make it to where there would be no incentive of living in the county (he's talking about property taxes). IMO, I think consolidation is an excellent idea, and something that will work well for Bulloch County for many reasons. I have long hoped that consolidation would someday be considered but figured it never would because of how backwards the city council seems to be. However, fiscally speaking I think it would work well. For those who arent familiar with the area, Statesboro is a small but growing urban center and is the regional hub for shopping, labor, education, and medical services. The community is the largest community within the parameters of Augusta (76 miles), Savannah (52 miles) & Macon (120 miles). The halfway point between Statesboro and Savannah is also a rapidly growing area because of its proximity to both cities. Bulloch County is one of the largest counties in the state at 685 sq mi, but is very sparsely populated except the area around Statesboro which houses approximately 80% of the county's population. Statesboro is also just west of the center of the county. City proper of Statesboro was estimated by the census at 26,610 for 2007, while the county's 2008 estimation was 67,761. While the city population seems small, the area surveyed only covers 12.6 square miles, resulting in one of the highest incorporated densities in Georgia, at 2,111 per square mile. Several census blocks in Statesboro range from 600-3,000 population. In my semester project for Applied GIS last semester, I used the census-defined methods for determining an urbanized area to see if Statesboro could meet the qualifications to be reclassified to a Metropolitcan Statistical Area by the 2010 Census. My research concluded that it does currently meet the qualifications for reclassification (meaning census blocks can be joined together to create an area with over 50,000 population while maintaining a density of at least 1,000 per square mile). My proposed Urbanized Area polygon housed roughly 54,000 residents while maintaining about 1,100 density. My research reinforced the fact that the vast majority of Bulloch County's population reside immediately adjacent to Statesboro's city proper boundaries. As for services, many agencies that were once divided have, since the early 1990's been consolidated such as the development authority, the school system, the recreation department, among others. Those agencies that have consolidated are known to be much more successful and highly regarded than any of the services that are offered separately by the county and the city. It is also well-known in the community that the consolidation of various city & county agencies in the late-80's and early-90's are responsible for the extreme growth of the early nineties when Statesboro added over 6,000 jobs in 6 years. In many ways, the city and county operate as one big footprint, but through separate structures - this separation is why many local leaders have been discussing consolidation for the past several years. Pro's: -Statesboro's population ranking would jump to the top-ten just as Athens and Augusta did a few years back. -The new ranking would provide a better understanding of Statesboro's actual population (though an overestimation of approximately 20%). -Statesboro-Bulloch would be more focused on urban/regional planning as a whole, than a turf war or funding disputes. -County and city can grow in tandem, with a central strategy and comprehensive master plan. -City Council and County Commission would dissolve and a new government structure would be put in place (anything is better than Statesboro's current city council). This would be a great way to end the misery once and for all. Con's: -Statesboro's population density would be extremely under-estimated (dropping from 2,111 to 99 per sq mi) due to the 630 or so square miles of sparsely populated agriculture land. (Bulloch is the #1 row-crop county in GA with acres in the 100,000's). -County tax-payers would likely see an increase. -City Council members would likely not like the idea and would likely fight it to the finish due to them losing their political footholds. None of them would likely be voted for in a different government structure. Discuss.

This is a new thread for government issues in the city/county area. From city council controversies to city-county partnership alliances, this is the place to discuss the current struggles and triumphs of government services, politics and prospective initiatives. Keep it civil.

Ok yall, I am going to try to revive this city forum by introducing some new threads to be a little more organized so we dont blabber on every topic for 25 pages. I know that there have not been much posting going on for the last year, but a lot has happened during that time, we have just been lazy. I am about to move to Atlanta, but want to remain updated on whats going on down here, so lets get active again - Im going to try to remain active too.

Interesting! 20 years is a long time. I think Atlanta can do better than that in that time-frame - thats only 100k a year for Atlanta. I can see Georgia ranking 5th in population by 2025 as well. Currently at 9.6mil, all we will need is 3-4mil growth to contend for the 5th spot. We've gained 3.2mil in the last 18 years. With Atlanta's continued expansion, and the rapid expansion of Savannah and other smaller regions, I can see some future bragging rights.

Rome, GA 95,980 (up 658) Hinesville-Fort Stewart, GA 69,943 (down 1,971) I guess these are the honorable mentions.

Georgia Southern University enrollment figures will be officially released in October after the last day to drop without academic penalty has passed, but that number does not take into account the number of students who started classes in August. The current unofficial number is a whopping 17,700 - which is a leap from 16,841 last year. People who seem to be worried about the new 1,001-bed Centennial Place dormitory creating a surplus in the market should rest assured since 90% of those beds have been accounted for via one year of enrollment growth. By Fall 2009, when CP opens, GSU enrollment will be over 18,000 students, and since no new major apartment communities have been announced or started on construction, people should stop worrying about the rental market in Statesboro.

YAY!! Its about time we get a Dolce & Gabbana in this part of the country. I wonder if the MJ will be a Marc by Marc Jacobs or an actual Marc Jacobs? (both are usually referred to as Marc Jacobs, but either is fine with me). Savannah's Marc has the best polo shirts out there!