A2

Lol, no worries adelosky. I am just a data geek and your post helped to get some hard data to the thread. It is great discussion material and what makes UP a great forum for us to debate freely and respectfully. I think we need to be prodded to ask questions and provide stats when asked. If not, we become pumpers of misinformation, which serves nobody, but the pumpers who like to see themselves in writing acting as if whatever they spew is the Gospel. A2 ps---Keep up the great posts, because your comments are actually thought provoking, and help us all to learn even more.

I concur voyager12...It seems that a high speed line that runs parallel to I-85 makes a ton of Economic sense. I would run it from ATL (possibly as far SW as Auburn/Opelika, AL), and run it straight up to Richmond (thus serving many of the major Urban Centers in the Carolinas) . I-85 is a MAJOR corridor, and one of the fastest growing in the entire US (if not THE fastest). A2 ps---I know I would add to the ridership. Even though I am now in ATL, I still visit CLT quite a bit for Business and the In-laws ...

As for total passengers O'Hare had just over 74.9M passengers served (2007 Stats), while Hartsfield clocked in over 92.6M. Midway served around 18M passengers in 2007. You would have to add both passenger counts of both O'Hare and Midway to get the numbers that Hartsfield serves as a single entity. As for NYC, ALL airports in their metro including JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark, served 107M in total (07' stats). So it would take all of the aiports in NYC to get close to the same number that Hartsfield does in one year. (and remember that is Three MAJOR airports vs. One) Dallas is not even close, with only 56M Passengers served. As for additional airports in the city of ATL, there are many. Dekalb-Peachtree Airport is the 2nd busiest in the state of GA (including Macon, Savannah, and Columbus). That is VERY impressive when you consider the scope and size of the world's busiest airport is right down the street. Outside of Hartsfield and Dekalb Peachtree, there are many other smaller ones. These are some that I know of, partly because my Dad used to be a pilot. (I might be missing one or two other private ones, so please anyone that knows please feel free to edit my list): Dobbins Air Reserve Base (Atlanta Naval Air Station) (KMGE)*** Fulton County Airport at Charlie Brown Field (KFTY) McCollum Field (KRYY) Briscoe Field (KLZU) Cartersville Airport (KVPC) Mathis Airport (GA27) Stoney Point Airfield

Ahhh, that clears things up a bit and makes sense. I just want to make sure we get our swoop. Thanks for the quick response LC. A2

LC, why do you think they would have a topping ceremony when they are still lacking the ornamental triangular top? Perhaps it is even occupiable space, but in every angle I come in contact with, I notice there is no work going verticle with the triangular piece. Any thoughts???? I sure hope we don't end up with a simple flat roof. I was really hoping for some nice design in the Alliance Center Complex. A2

Score One for Lee Myers! A2

In my journey up to CLT from ATL for the Holidays (Had to see the inlaws ) ,I noticed how far this puppy has come up. I am amazed at the progress and pleased that this was able to rise from the Earth before all hell breaks loose in the markets (still predicting horrid times into 09' and on through 2011). I am thankful that of all the condos that have run into trouble, that this was not one impacted , as it will have possibly the most impact on the Skyline of any. Great Pics InitialD! Happy Holidays to all ! A2 (Sorry I have not been posting lately, I have been swamped with work as of late. Still lurk though when possible.)

Say it aint so...Bad Move IMO. Keep the stadium downtown, and use the Doraville land for dense multi use development (office, retail, and resedential). This is an outrage and should ousted immediately as a viable plan. Not to mention the fact that Sembler is the lead dog in the hunt for developing this land. Gimme a break !!! A2

Given the size in the model, it looks like it is going to be one tall bldg. It will easily jocky for skyline prominance if this rendering is even close to accurate. Any clues if this redering is to scale??? A2

Boxy, but all-in-all a Be-A-U-tiful Building!!! (I will still be amazed if they are able to pull it off in such a tough market, but ATL never disapoints even in the toughest of markets. Even in the duldrums of the 70"s ATL was making waves) A2

^^^Now that is what I call Carolina Blue! ^^^ Awesome Shots!!! A2

Preach Brother, Preach !!! I second that motion teshadoh! A2

I don't know if it was just about ATL's ignorance. The only reason I say that is because when I was leaving Chicago the other day I also noted the NC attatchment for Charlotte at Midway. I was a bit taken back since I thought CLT had come a looooong way over the past few years. Maybe the general public are idots and the airports have to accomodate for ignorance (come to think about it that is probably it. ). A2

^^^Looking Good Martinman! Looking damn good! A2

Thanks Martinman! I actually was staying at the Hyatt Place on the side where the construction was taking place and it annoyed the hell out of me. They started work at 5 AM each morning and the noise was way too much for me. I am glad it is going up, just upset I had to be staying in that hotel that was right next to the loud site. When I am on the road I need my Z's, or else I am worthless the next day (thankfully I am moving to ATL next week so I will be in Hotels a lot less.) Thanks again for the post Martinman! A2

What is going up on Peachtree and Piedmont right beside the eight story Hyatt Place and in front of the Rock Bottom? I was asking one of the construction workers and he mentioned that it will be a high rise Apartment complex. I was kind of shocked since it is a rather small parcel. If it is going to be a high rise (whch it is) then does anyone have a rendering and know how tall it will be??? (sorry if this has already been discussed earlier in this thread) Thanks, A2

Bingo! A2

Thanks LC for the kind welcome . I am definately staying a fan of Charlotte even being back in ATL, especially since I will be back at least once every six weeeks or so on business. However, now I can start to look forward at all the exciting things happening in ATL. I am already spending hours at night watching the Gov't station and trying to put my finger on all of the happenings going on in Atlanta. (Gee, I am such a geek. ) (ps-- the closer drive to B'ham is not bad either.) A2

Is this the same Gables that owns Metropolitan at the Perimeter? That is now my new home. I just moved from Charlotte after being there for over ten years. A sad move as I will miss the Queen city, but all in all Atlanta was once my home too, so I plan to make the best of it. A2

Yeah, I went by on Fifth today to grab a view and had to detour as they were "putting the top on the crane". It is exciting to finally see this project get some momentum. A2

^^^Where's Number 9? A2

I was under the impression that the sales center would open almost immediatly afer The Avenue is complete. Some had even said that the same sales center would be used for Catalyst. If that is the case, then we should see a transition of the current Avenue sales office becoming the Catalyst sales office before years end. (or perhaps I am totally off base and the Sales Center will be somewhere else entirely. Just passing along what I heard so take it for its worth. ) A2

The longer this thing takes to build the more concerned I am that it won't. They have not budged in weeks on 210 and have still not received an approval on their permits. Am I the only one thinking that this won't happen??? I can see Aloft being built, as well as the Epicenter (which is already almost complete). Both will be a vibrant source of energy for the block, but I am really wondering about Ghazi's ability to pull off 210, especially in the face of current market conditions. Anyone else think we might have another "Park" on our hands, or does everyone still believe this project will start before the end of 2007? A2

It is not all just about the pirce of a condo, but rather the supply and cost of money borrowed that determines how many projects can and do get built. Right now the Credit markets are staring into the dark abyss of endless pain. This will have DIRE consequenses on ALL markets, granted to a lesser extent where the excesses were not as great.

Well as much "funny money" that the Central Banks have been printing Trump might be able to "take a number" and let ol' Benny cut him a check too. They have already "prinited" (infused) over $80B last week into the credit markets to bail out some banks, and funds! That is three times how much money they injected into the system after 9/11 just to keep the credit market from freezing up. Hell's fury is just starting to be unleashed on the credit markets which will stall ANY project not started by the end of the year. Even Trump uses OPM (other people's money) to develop his projects, so if money is tight(or expensive), projects don't get started, its that simple, A2