This is mainly because I vowed to take pictures of Atlanta’s lofts/warehouse/industrial side, and I’m stubborn so I woke up early on Saturday and spent a few hours doing this. It was fun, though. I’ve gotten to the point where I literally don’t ever leave Midtown, and so I enjoyed doing this.
Nobody outside of Atlanta actually knows about Atlanta’s industrial side, but it is very extensive, especially for the South. There are large pre-war warehouses and factories and brick stacks on all four sides of the Downtown-Midtown line. These are usually concealed by hills and tall trees, but if you drive around Atlanta, you’ll stumble upon this kind of stuff all around. Atlanta has done a superb job of preserving these buildings and reusing them.
CASTLEBERRY HILL
Named for a grocer, this area was built up to how it is today after the Civil War. Designated a federal historic district in 1985, it was depressed from the early 1900s to the early 1990s. It is now a quiet residential district filled with recent grads, city workers, and AUC students. There is a second Friday Art Stroll (http://castleberryhill.org/ch_calendar/art-stroll/) and a monthly Nuit Blanche (an all night art event). There are several galleries in the area. Downtown event visitors to nearby Phillips and Georgia Dome stroll over for No Mas Cantina, Wasabi, and a string of bars.
According to a resident I met on the sidewalk, the liveliest times aside from official events are “dog walking time†in the late evening, and on weekend nights (Thurs-Sat). Otherwise it’s a peaceful area.
The area is changing for the better now on a year by year basis. There are probably 10 noteworthy galleries here.
Shot of Atlanta from the start of Castleberry, showing the barren ruins of the Gulch.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts009.jpg)
The Gulch was recently a bidded on project whereby 3 local developers teamed with 3 national developers for the redevelopment bid. Cousins Properties won the bid, but the team duo of Jacoby and John Buck Co out of Chicago included this rendering:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/capitalcenter.jpg)
What the area used to look like:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/gulch.jpg)
A view in 2005:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/gulch22005.jpg)
Large warehouses still undeveloped, but will be part of the Gulch redevelopment (and the tracks will be covered like Millennium Park in Chicago). The Union Station used to be around here, but was demolished.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts010.jpg)
Housing in the area:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts011.jpg)
The first building one comes across:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts012.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts013.jpg)
More housing in the area, stuff like this pops up all over Atl:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts014.jpg)
Castleberry Lofts, prices range from $199K-$800K + on the 1st and 2nd floors and $99K-$300K for most of the lofts in this block large building.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts015.jpg)
The view:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts016.jpg)
One side:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts018.jpg)
ZuCot Gallery is in this building:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI5Tx_C5Y5k
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts019.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts022.jpg)
Here you see the Mueller Lofts ($175K and up) and the Storehouse Lofts ($189K-$275K):
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts024.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts027.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts028.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts029.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts030.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts031.jpg)
Ge Lofts ($150K-$250K and 15 ft windows!)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts032.jpg)
The back of No Mas Cantina, Wasabi, and another restaurant I think. The back has one of the “vacant†lots, taken up for valet parking.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts033.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts034.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts035.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts036.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts037.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts038.jpg)
Beeline Lofts ($215K-$300K)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts039.jpg)
New crap:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts040.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts042.jpg)
A stable for carriage tour horses?
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts044.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts045.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts046.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts047.jpg)
330 Peters ($265K and up)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts048.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts049.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts050.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts051.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts052.jpg)
Some guy (apparent owner of the jazz club Studio 281 here) yelled at me here. The area is still a little rough around the edges. He was crazy and unstable.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts053.jpg)
Market Lofts ($179K-$350K):
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts054.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts055.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts056.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts057.jpg)
Swift and Co ($199K-$600K):
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts058.jpg)
Kingan and Co ($179K-$300K):
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts059.jpg)
Organic grocer going in:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts060.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts061.jpg)
Castleberry Row? ($379K-$500K):
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts062.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts063.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts064.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts065.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts066.jpg)
Moving on to other side of tracks as I move up to Lucky-Marietta District:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts067.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts070.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts071.jpg)
Much more to come…
Can't seem to figure out embedding youTube videos on this site if someone can assist me with that just at least for future reference.
My uncle lived in an old Atlanta factory loft like those back in the early 90s, but I don't think it was Castleberry Hill. It was somewhere near grady hospital buy the old cemetery. They had a unit in an old matress factory I believe, the space was really cool. The neighborhood however was really sketch, the guy down the hall from them was a heroin addicted clown... it was interesting. Then he moved oer hear piedmont park into an old house turned into apartments and the guy next to them was a legit voodoo doctor. Hanging chicken bones and stuff in the yard. He lived some colorful places.
^^^Mattress Factory Lofts
(From AJC Homefinder)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/mattress.jpg)
I took pictures of that area, too. Now that I have time to sort through everything, I will post pictures of the Luckie-Marietta District up to the historic Westside (we call it Midtown West now). I will post pictures of Miami Circle, which is newer and lower density industrial re-use, but as good of an example of clustering and re-use as one can get. I will post pics of the warehouse district in the Old Fourth Ward, which contains one of the largest structures in the country, and I will show Memorial Drive down past the Cottonmill Lofts (the Stacks) on down to the Mattress Factory Lofts where your uncle lived. Oh, and can't forget a couple of shots of industrial re-use in Inman Park, which is definitely the hottest neighborhood in Atlanta right now (I mean HOTTT).
LUCKIE-MARIETTA DISTRICT
Legacy Property Group (http://www.legacyproperty.com/) is the key to the rebirth of the anchor area of Marietta Street near downtown/Centennial Olympic Park. Yes, the CNN Center and Omni Hotel and Phillips Arena were already there, but they added actual life beyond tourists and event seekers to the area. Now there are great restaurants, lounges, hotels (for Atlantans), condos, and destinations in that area. Marietta Street is about 1.5 miles long, though, and runs by rail yards. As a result, there are a ton of old buildings lining the street, but at some points these old buildings are a room across.
The following are from Legacy Property Group’s website:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/legacy.jpg)
(What it looked like before)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/legacy2.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/legacy3.jpg)
Because they specialize in one area, and have a lot of vision, and now a lot of experience, they can get so much done. This could be one route for an area in Jacksonville. Someone who is passionate about infill and rebirth could make LaVilla their baby, and nurse it from birth to adulthood like Legacy has done with the area around Centennial Park. They are very very respected.
Some buildings still need some TLC:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts072.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts073.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts074.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts075.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts076.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts077.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts078.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts079.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts080.jpg)
The trains are right there:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts081.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts083.jpg)
Hands On is a community service organization:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts084.jpg)
These buildings are a block off of Marietta Street, and there are quite a few buildings like these, providing the area with loft space and art space (CARRIAGE WORKS):
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts085.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts088.jpg)
Old Roxy Hotel…the bottom floor has Spoon, a Thai restaurant, and Wingnuts, a late night Georgia Tech favorite:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts082.jpg)
A college bookstore for Georgia Tech:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts090.jpg)
BRICKWORKS
Read the following from 1999 discussing plans to turn the old Brickworks into a tech office hub with retail and restaurants:
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/1999/09/06/story2.html
It just opened under those same plans a couple years ago.
Anyway, being the start of Midtown West, there are literally around 1,200 residential units that have been built in a walkable area around here in the last 3 years, and another 1,200 that were built in the few years prior. Now Facebook has leased space in the Brickworks, which is a very telling sign. Atlanta is a tech hub of the South, and it helps that Georgia Tech is right there. Atlanta is also one of the top cities for social media connection (I think only behind DC according to Menshealth, but always right up there). That helps, too.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts091.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts092.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts093.jpg)
Octane Coffee is a good example of how a coffee shop should be (and Starbucks follows most of the rules): free wi-fi, liquor license, wine and beer, pastries/snacks/sandwiches prepared be nearby restaurants, really really nice baristas, local art hanging for sale, outdoor seating.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts094.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts095.jpg)
Parking on the roof:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts097.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts098.jpg)
Great pics. Castleberry Hill still looks like I remember it. There are still a number of vacant lots that take away from walkability but I'm sure the area will see significant infill over the next decade as the trend of coming back to the city center grows. My guess is that like Jacksonville, many of those sites had buildings on them at one time that were torn down for one reason or another.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts078.jpg)
I like the small scale adaptive reuse and infill projects along Marietta in the last post. When I was speaking about building scale in the Myrtle Avenue thread, these are the type of spaces I was referring too. When you're dealing with square footage that scale in Jacksonville, a wider spectrum of people have the opportunity to play a role in the redevelopment/adaptive reuse/urban infill game. I found a great local example yesterday in the Eastside (I'll have to go back and get a pic). Pretty close to the Union Terminal warehouse on East Union, it appears that someone has converted a small vacant brick storefront into a private residence.
Btw, from a public ROW standpoint, does Atlanta have any plans to upgrade the quality of street/sidewalk infrastructure in these popular redevelopment areas? Many of these areas would look completely different with a complete streets makeover.
WHITE PROVISIONS ON HOWELL MILL
Literally a quarter mile down from Brickworks (and past a few huge new apartment buildings with their own ground level retail) is the coolest development in the city (or one of them).
Jamestown Properties is a private German real estate fund manager with interests throughout the country. It is headquartered in Atlanta, and it specializes in large projects in urban areas and large markets (the exception is their Warehouse Row in Chatanooga, which is really cool). They are the capital provider and project manager for many projects in Atlanta, and they partnered with Chris Faussemagne (the son of the former CFO of Ritz Carlton when it was an Atlanta company owned by W.B. Johnson Int’l. ahem I mean Waffle House), Michael Phillips, and Mike Millett.
This is big league, big money stuff (like Legacy Property stuff nowadays). I wouldn’t expect anything like this in Jacksonville, but, it would be nice to see a similar development between downtown and Springfield where the Claude Nolan Cadillac building is.
http://whiteprovision.com/
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts102.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts104.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts105.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts106.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts107.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts108.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts109.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts110.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts111.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts112.jpg)
If Atlanta can claim the best of any genre of food, it is the burger. We have America’s best burger at Holeman & Finch, we have the Vortex, we have Fuze Burger, we have Top Chef Masters winner and Atlanta chef Richard Blais’ Flip Burger (down the road from all of this), and we have Yeah Burger here. Go to any of them and be impressed.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts113.jpg)
Lots of garden and yard furniture stuff…
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts114.jpg)
One of **Many** new condo/rental buildings in the area…
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts115.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts116.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts117.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts118.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts119.jpg)
Smokestacks are all over Atlanta…a sign of its industrial times and something that you won’t find in other southern cities or Dallas/Houston.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts121.jpg)
Believe it or not that is a 5 star restaurant in the background, and the wait for a Saturday dinner can be months…
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts122.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts123.jpg)
Yes, national retailers are here too (Room and Board is a super high end furniture shop shown earlier that is in only a few cities)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts125.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts126.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts127.jpg)
This is not the Atlanta Hermes (or maybe it’s another one?), but the Atlanta Hermes is actually not in a mall, but rather a district in Buckhead.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts128.jpg)
The same area…
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts138.jpg)
Is the West Egg Cafe any good? The last time I was up, I tried Carver's Country Kitchen, which isn't too far away.
Quote from: thelakelander on July 24, 2011, 07:09:31 PM
Great pics. Castleberry Hill still looks like I remember it. There are still a number of vacant lots that take away from walkability but I'm sure the area will see significant infill over the next decade as the trend of coming back to the city center grows. My guess is that like Jacksonville, many of those sites had buildings on them at one time that were torn down for one reason or another.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts078.jpg)
I like the small scale adaptive reuse and infill projects along Marietta in the last post. When I was speaking about building scale in the Myrtle Avenue thread, these are the type of spaces I was referring too. When you're dealing with square footage that scale in Jacksonville, a wider spectrum of people have the opportunity to play a role in the redevelopment/adaptive reuse/urban infill game. I found a great local example yesterday in the Eastside (I'll have to go back and get a pic). Pretty close to the Union Terminal warehouse on East Union, it appears that someone has converted a small vacant brick storefront into a private residence.
Btw, from a public ROW standpoint, does Atlanta have any plans to upgrade the quality of street/sidewalk infrastructure in these popular redevelopment areas? Many of these areas would look completely different with a complete streets makeover.
I might be blind, but aside from maybe 3 lots, there aren't any vacant lots in Castleberry. It's actually pretty walkable, but I do have a life you know and I didn't want to take up my afternoons and evenings with photos, so I took all of these on Saturday morning (and it was already above 90 degrees).
It's great that people are converting old buildings. They are more of pioneers for doing so in Jacksonville than Atlanta because a) there are 5 million fewer people, b) there is a much higher risk that they will be alone for a while. The word should be spread.
Also, regarding streetscapes in Atlanta, the city does not pay for them. It is up to the neighborhoods. That is why Midtown sidewalks are so nicely landscaped and wide and clean. That is why downtown is always improving and now there are those permanent public toilets you see in New York or London in downtown Atlanta. All of that is paid for by additional taxes via the community improvement districts. The Westside is so newly redeveloped, all private sector, no TIF financing, that it will have to come into its own. I agree, though, that it needs sidewalk help. One thing Atlanta does have, even in areas with bad sidewalks, are crosswalks with timers and clean, covered bus shelters.
I just think Jax citizens are so selfish for getting mad at the city for building beautiful streetscapes and not having the money to keep them up (which is minimal effort and cost). You pay barely any taxes, and the city still stepped in. We pay 3x the property taxes and still the city won't do street work. Jacksonville City Hall was very kind (in the long run of course...I know businesses suffered) to do the streetscapes.
Quote from: stephendare on July 24, 2011, 07:29:29 PM
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts074.jpg)
thanks for the photos, simms.
I used to live here. Its the old Seed Factory building. I lived on the 4th floor, and it was just an amazing space.
Very cool! Didn't know you lived in Atlanta!
Quote from: thelakelander on July 24, 2011, 07:34:17 PM
Is the West Egg Cafe any good? The last time I was up, I tried Carver's Country Kitchen, which isn't too far away.
Never been to either. Heard mixed reviews on West Egg, but people up here always expect food tht only God himself could serve up. When I saw West Egg yesterday, there was a line out the door, and it wasn't breakfast or lunch hour if that gives you any indication.
I literally rarely leave Midtown except to work, which I don't feel bad about because Atlanta is becoming so dense and bustling that I don't even need to think about other places.
Brickworks was a partnership between a few impassioned guys who wanted to do this kind of thing. They convinced the lenders, they signed the tenants, they got the word out, and they along with Jamestown have made Midtown West one of the top destinations for Atlantans. There was nothing to do here, nowhere to live around here, or no reason to even drive through, and now the place is literally an 18 hour walking environment (better in the Spring and Fall, heh) without a MARTA stop.
First came the Carriage Works rehab. Cox Enterprises had offices there and a few were lofts. Then a few apartment buildings like M Street Apartments sprang up, giving the area about 700 new residents. Of course Georgia Tech is right there, and it bought land and created a technology incubator (it's off the beaten path and you can't see it), but all of a sudden tech firms and design firms became interested in the area. Then these guys came up with the idea for rehabbing the Brickworks and eventually got around to it.
At the same time was the White Provisions Jamestown development.
Aside from the restored residences along Marietta Street and the loft rehabs, unfortunately for Jacksonville big money and big interests spurred the redevelopment of West Midtown/Luckie Marietta. There was a foreseen demand, available buildings, and a huge capital source. Georgia Tech helped (nothing like it in Jacksonville). Jamestown helped (they won’t eye Jacksonville). And wealthy businessmen in Atlanta with capital connections helped (we have people like that on Jacksonville’s level who could help).
In Castleberry Hill’s case, and in West Midtown’s case, tenants were dispersed among various established areas in Atlanta, including Buckhead. As soon as these areas picked up and known developers were behind it, it was easy for them to decide to relocate. Castleberry Hill is definitely more grassroots, but it has a theme that was attractive to artists and gallery owners.
Further west of West Midtown is another area that picked up in just the last 2 years…
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts129.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts130.jpg)
I foresee this kind of stuff in Jacksonville:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts131.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts132.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts133.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts135.jpg)
This restaurant I have tried to eat at twice. One time was a 2 hour wait, and the other time was an hour wait…
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts137.jpg)
I have to resize my pics coming up, but there is even more stuff on the East side of Atlanta and the north side of town.
Before I move on to the East Side, I must show Atlantic Station as an obligatory move and a couple of industrial districts north of the city that are developed between WWII and the 1970s (these are districts that I would compare to what Jacksonville has on parts of the inner northside).
Atlantic Station was originally the Atlantic Steel mill, which employed 2,300 workers and produced 750,000 tons of steel a year. It was Georgia Power’s largest customer and today would eat up the same amount of electricity as 80,000 average homes. The workers lived in nearby Home Park.
Jim Jacoby, a well known Atlanta developer, purchased the site in 1998 and found a capital partner in AIG Global Real Estate (basically completely disbanding now after the meltdown a couple years ago). The site was purchased for $76 million, but had to be remediated, which would take place over the next 5 years and cost another fortune. Atlantic Station’s retail component was completed in 2004, and the site has added new towers and apartments ever since (it’s a 15 million square foot buildout). My company just recently purchased much of AS for a huge discount ($75M) and is acting as the equity partner to North American Properties to redevelop AS.
Here is how the area where the steel mills appear today, on a Sunday afternoon.
Atlantic Station back then as a steel mill…courtesy of EPA.gov
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/lg_atlantic_steel_mill.jpg)
The only remaining portion of the steel mill behind the property, courtesy of Atlantic Station’s website…
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantic-Steel-Mill-Remains.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts068.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts070-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts072-1.jpg)
These buildings are newer if you couldn’t tell…
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts073-1.jpg)
Pieces of the mill are scattered about and used as decoration...
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts076-1.jpg)
This is looking north to Buckhead, so you have an idea where it is (if you drive through Atlanta, you can't miss it as it is across from Midtown between Midtown and the Westside as seen above).
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts075-1.jpg)
The newer industrial areas that can provide lessons to Jacksonville. Each has a clustering of similar businesses, and each is packed in tightly. I would compare them to what we have on the inner northside (and I know some of our buildings are older, but we don’t have a “huge†older building stock, most are mid-20th century).
Maps for relation.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Industrial.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/ArmourDrive.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/MiamiCircle.jpg)
MIAMI CIRCLE
Just as we think of Miami as a design center, so too is Atlanta (perhaps even moreso ironically). This is the product of being a design hub (which is only true of Atlanta because of Georgia Tech grad and world famous architect and Atlanta native John Portman). Portman developed Peachtree Center downtown (which is the series of office buildings, underground mall, and all of the big downtown convention hotels including the Westin). He also developed the Atlanta Merchandise Mart, Gift Mart, Inforum, and Fashion Mart. All of this takes up 7.9 million square feet downtown. He also developed the ADAC (Atlanta Decorative Arts Center), which is quite famous.
Because of all of this, all of the high fashion designers of anything from furniture to art to clothing to appliances, etc have boutiques or stores or galleries in Atlanta. Miami Circle is just one clumping of a lot of this kind of stuff and is where one would go for lighting and antiques, or specialty items. Midtown is where one would go for high end European appliances and kitchens. Westside is for art and outdoor decorations/furniture. Buckhead and Midtown to a lesser degree are where all of the “Architectural Digest” ad stores are.
Large decorative object in front of ADAC. These kinds of things can turn an ugly building or ugly area into something much cooler.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts049-1.jpg)
Some of the following buildings are still a little unsightly, but all are much better than what they were originally built as. Most of this is due to simple, inexpensive façade work, keeping the interior largely as it was. A lesson for Jacksonville that does not require big money to do the work, but it requires demand for a particular good (in Atlanta’s case, expensive antiques and interior furninshings/carpets, etc).
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts050-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts051-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts052-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts053-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts054-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts055-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts056-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts057-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts058-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts059-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts060-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts061-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts063-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts064-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts065-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts066-1.jpg)
OLD FOURTH WARD
This area is VERY hot right now. Because it is on the Atlanta Beltline, currently under construction, apartments, parks, and commercial space have popped up all over the place. Houses are being rehabbed, too. This area was dominated by Section 8 towers and apartments just 5 years ago, and now boasts a high and growing average household income (will easily be close to $80K-$90K within 5 years). A new park was just opened a couple of weeks ago (one of several new parks along the Beltline).
City Hall East will become Ponce City Market. The former Sears store and regional headquarters for the South was built in phases between 1925 and the 1960s. It is 2 million square feet, making it one of the largest buildings in the country.
Jamestown (as we have heard a few times already), just closed on the building, paying $27M. It will redevelop it into a Chelsea Market type of thing (Chelsea Market in NYC is actually an Atlanta creation, being that Green Street Properties and Jamestown, both of Atlanta, developed it in a similar building). It will include lofts, office space, and retail (and the front façade will be broken into individual components on the lower two floors where the retailers will be). In addition, it can fit 2,000 parking spaces inside.
The building in the 1950s:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/atricle_19484993815-1.jpg)
Renderings of the improvements:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/ponce-city-market-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Ponce-City-Market-3.jpg)
Today (well yesterday morning):
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts139.jpg)
Shopping strip center across the street…with one of 9 Whole Foods in Atlanta:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts143.jpg)
Lofts next door with retail below:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts144.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts145.jpg)
And there are old re-used warehouses around the entire area. One is a scooter shop. One is a club. One is an antiques shop called Paris on Ponce. A few are restaurants, etc.
The area as it is developing literally in the past year:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts146.jpg)
^^^^Jane Fonda lived here and just sold her place
The new park that opened a couple weeks ago:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts147.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts148.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts149.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts150.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts151.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts152.jpg)
ATLANTA BELTLINE:
I don’t even feel like explaining the Beltline or all of the transportation improvements occurring in Atlanta. It’s big, though.
Adaptive re-use along the future beltline…this kind of development literally forms a ring around the entire city and is only being helped by the Beltline:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts153.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts154.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts155.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts156.jpg)
Two Urban Licks (http://www.twourbanlicks.com/index-home.htm), a Concentrics Restaurant. It takes up space in this warehouse and has the coolest valet line ever (you drive up into the warehouse). You can play bocce ball outside while waiting for food…it wasn’t lunch or dinner hour when I took this.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts157.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts158.jpg)
Transit and bike friendliness are working to make these old kinds of buildings extremelt valuable:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts159.jpg)
The Masquerade (a music venue and multistory club)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts160.jpg)
What it looks like inside Two Urban Licks, which looks pretty nondescript up there…
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/2urban_HArticle.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/TWO20INTERIOR.jpg)
Another smoke stack…I like these:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts077-1.jpg)
INMAN PARK
I’m tired of explaining and advertising Atlanta…these pictures are of the quiet parts, but Inman Park is the hottest neighborhood in the city right now. It, too, was ghetto 5-10 years ago. Now it is borderline unaffordable. Some of the best restaurants in the city are in Inman Park, which is also connected via rail. There is a dense “downtown†area to Inman Park, not shown. These are the quiet parts, but cool parts nonetheless.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts078-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts079-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts080-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts081-1.jpg)
Rathbun’s (http://www.rathbunsrestaurant.com/dinner-menu.html) and Krog Bar (http://www.krogbar.com/menu.html)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts082-1.jpg)
Inside Rathbun’s:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/rathbuns.jpg)
Inside Krog Bar:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/krogbar.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts083-1.jpg)
Doesn’t look like much, but Rathbun’s Steak is in this building…
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts085-1.jpg)
And what it looks like inside…I had my graduation dinner here:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/krsimage.jpg)
An old water tower…
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts086.jpg)
FULTON COTTON MILL LOFTS:
Built in the 1880s. 9 buildings in total, including 3 really large buildings. Partially destroyed in the 2008 tornado, which lopped off the top 2 floors of one of the buildings. Had a friend who was an architecture student who lived here. Best views of town from the roof (there is a terrace up there).
The surrounding houses are all 1880s buildings, too, and housed the 2,300 workers. Some of these houses are now businesses on certain roads. Very cool, dense area.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts088-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts089.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts092-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts094-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts095-1.jpg)
Brief pause from buildings to display something you won’t see in Jacksonville or much of the south outside of Atlanta. Because of the hills, the trains, the wide roads, the density, the older built environment, and MARTA, there are tunnels EVERYWERE. This is a common site. Driving through Atlanta on the highway (the Connector), you’ll even go through what you might consider tunnels if you are not used to that. There is the huge half mile long tunnel that is 12 lanes wide under the Atlanta airport, which has huge ventilators. There is the tunnel where 400 goes under Buckhead, which also has ventilators. There are steel tunnels with girders and supports that look like the El in Chicago or New York. There are concrete tunnels such as this. And yes, people stroll through to observe the graffiti or make their mark. Enough people walk through these tunnels such that people post flyers here. Ok, enjoy.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts096.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts097-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts098-1.jpg)
Not really a tunnel, but a common scene:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts122-1.jpg)
Stephen, what's you favorite US city and why?
MEMORIAL DRIVE/ORMEWOOD PARK
A&P Lofts
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts111-1.jpg)
LOTS of new industrial looking lofts like this all over the place…
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts112-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts113-1.jpg)
Not far from Grant Park, which is the next HOT neighborhood in Atlanta (now is the time to buy).
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts114-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts115-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts116-1.jpg)
MARTA
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts118-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts119-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts120.jpg)
Oakland Cemetery
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts121-1.jpg)
I liked this wall…don’t ask.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts123-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts124.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts125-1.jpg)
Not the same building as seen before with the giant peach and Air Tran on top (there are several of these things throughout the city):
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts126-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts127-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts128-1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts129-1.jpg)
GLENWOOD PARK
New Urbanism at its best (minus being too far from a rail stop, but convenient bus service). Once again, developed by Green Street Properties, recently purchased by Jamestown, the German fund based in Atlanta. Only a couple years old, but selling well. I took pics because it is near so many lofts/warehouse districts and I thought I would have fun taking pictures of different things…warehouses are now done, prepare to be bombarded with other sights of Atlanta.
Glenwood Park is in Ormewood Park, which is north of Grant Park, which is next to Inman Park, which is not too far from Candler Park, which is near Cabbagetown :)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts100.jpg)
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And that is how Atlanta is developing now. So much for the epitome of sprawl…
Quote from: stephendare on July 24, 2011, 11:09:42 PM
Quote from: simms3 on July 24, 2011, 07:35:46 PM
Quote from: stephendare on July 24, 2011, 07:29:29 PM
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts074.jpg)
thanks for the photos, simms.
I used to live here. Its the old Seed Factory building. I lived on the 4th floor, and it was just an amazing space.
Very cool! Didn't know you lived in Atlanta!
Sure did. I was a consultant for a coffeeroaster in Virginia Highlands, and created a chain of smart bars (it was the 90s) for the old Beat Motel. and a couple of other clubs. Most of our friends hung out in cabbagetown when it was still very very rough arts warehouses.
In the picture you can see my old apartment. Its on the top floor with the balcony. Bill Hallman lived one floor beneath us, and we would always pass him in the morning with racks of new designs on the way his shop. Lots and lots of art openings downstairs in the gallery space.
The gate was originally covered with astroturf and rolled back automatically for residents.
We would hang out on the balcony with a telescope. Lots and lots of fun, actually.
I was part of the old Slacker scene and hung out at MJQ back when it was still at the ponce de leon hotel. There and Eatz.
I liked living in Atlanta, to a certain extent. But it actually not my favorite US city.
MJQ is still cool, don't worry. It's underground now on Ponce near the Sears Building, coincidentally under a rehabbed warehouse (but not as much of an underground scene...). The Ponce de Leon Hotel is one of my favorite buildings, still slightly shoddy, but people live there now. The Georgia Terrace across the street is something you wouldn't even believe, though. It is owned by Lincoln Properties now, and they have really made it into an unbelievable asset to the city (and Livingston is a great restaurant). The Fox across the street is still active, but is flanked by Publik and Churchill Grounds, so that area is still alive and well (and there are actually a few underground in all senses of the word clubs around there).
Very cool about Bill Hallman, definitely a big name in Atlanta fashion/retail now.
And I don't know when you lived in Atlanta, but I suspect it has been quite a long time. I arrived literally 5 years ago almost to the day, and it is night and day between then and now. The city was actually kind of sleepy still then, but has really picked up in a way I can't describe. Virginia Highlands has as high of rents as Phipps Plaza now and small houses are wayyy out of reach of the middle class or creative class buyer. Still one of the best bar scenes and restaurant scenes in the city (that won't ever change). Inman Park is the new Va-Hi, but will be unaffordable in a couple of years, and then it will be Grant Park and East Lake and Kirkwood/Cabbagetown. All of these places are already larger and well ahead of Springfield, but in Atlanta terms they are still "gentrifying". Midtown is like a little boomtown - 2 more towers are about to break ground this year, in the recession, adding 610 units. The only scene that has "suffered" is the gay scene, which is still strong of course since it is Atlanta, but is moving north from Midtown into Ansley Park and Morningside Heights. Backstreet and Wetbar are closed. Also, everyone in Midtown just mixes together now, which I actually prefer (and to me that is either a sign of the times or a sign that Atlanta is just a more diverse, accepting, cosmopolitan city.
Buckhead Village is no longer the nightlife hub of the South, as it is a sea of concrete, rebar, and tower cranes (and a few boutiques like the Atlanta Hermes). That whole scene turned real violent in the early 2000s due to some city corruption. Buckhead Village was kind of replaced with the area behind the theater there where the split is (that area is filled with bars and clubs, galleries, and boutiques, and restaurants). So I guess it all evens out.
An area that is picking up, however, is East Point in south Atlanta. That area is surprising even me. I'm sure that would be a shocker to you, as you may remember all of the projects throughout the city. Well, Atlanta has done what Chicago has done and destroyed most of the projects. They just demo'd the Roosevelt Towers, which I think was the first Section 8 in the country (they had to do it at 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday and the noise even from 2 miles away echoed so loud on the buildings I thought a bomb went off). They deconstructed floor by floor the Centennial Towers this year. Lots of the towers on the south, southeast, and west end of downtown are now gone, too. Overall, much safer city. Still gritty, though :)
So, you may not recognize the city anymore. The suburbs, except for the town of Roswell, still suck, but are much larger clusterfucks than they probably were when you were there (they were poorly planned to begin with, and now they have only quadrupled the amount of people in the same amount of space with the same poor planning...and NO road improvements!).
Quote from: stephendare on July 24, 2011, 11:30:55 PM
Physically, I like Boston the best. Its a well planned, compact, walkable city filled with great architecture, and all the elements. Hills, Water, Rock, a brilliant built environment and a modern sensibility. It helps that the culture of the city is so full of educated people. The average age of the city's resident is 30 and it has a vibrant thoughtful feel that drives the culture forward without destroying its history or heritage.
But, culturally, and from the viewpoint of cities that exploit community potential, Seattle and SanFrancisco are my top choices. I would choose to live in either over any city on the East Coast.
Seattle lags behind San Francisco in terms of public transit (and many public amenities) but it makes up for it with its superior quality of life. Everything seems possible in Seattle, and for me the lessened presence of the Sun is a definite plus. Its a much healthier, ordered city compared to its souther cousin, and the culture is totally based on enjoying very simple things. It is a pretty unpretentious city and I very much appreciate that on a personal level.
San Francisco is the most exciting civic environment in the country. The architecture, history and openmindedness of the city is mind blowing (and expanding) and its built environment, public amenities and intellectual environment make it the superior city of the west coast. But it can be awfully rigid and offputting for southerners. I hated living there until the minute I left it. Then I realized that it was one of the best places on earth.
And I didnt mean to say that I don't like Atlanta. I do. But I really love several of the other cities. After the three that I listed, I would have to say, Chicago, New York, Charleston, Minneapolis, Santa Barbara, Philadelphia, Ann Arbor, Los Angeles, and DC would follow closely behind.
What about you Lake?
Atlanta is a pretentious city, though. No denying that. Actually, it's probably as pretentious as a city gets (but so are Boston and Chicago, not so much New York or Philly, and definitely not typically Midwestern cities). Never been to the west coast. If I can enjoy East Coast cities and Atlanta (and I HATE Dallas, never been elsewhere in Texas), then I am sure it couldn't be easier to enjoy life and love west coast cities. Is that why people move west? ;)
And because I created this thread…and I got to dust my camera off, literally, I get to post random non-related pictures, too. :)
I caught a flash mob interpretive dance on some street corners a block from my place last evening around 7:30-8:30, so I grabbed my camera and took some shots…and anyone still care to tell me how to post video?
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts002.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts003.jpg)
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The Atlanta Zoo, in Grant Park (this was yesterday when it was 95 degrees out…)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts163.jpg)
Cyclorama, in Grant Park.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts164.jpg)\
Good bye:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts183.jpg)
Quote from: stephendare on July 25, 2011, 12:07:11 AM
I was actually doing a hella lot of business in Atlanta around 99 to 2001. My business associate there lived out in Dunwoody, it was a guy that was well known in Atlanta for a while: Michael Molen and a company called Sanswire. I was doing international negotiation for the company, and helped develop a municipal model of wireless internet deployment for them. We actually brought the concept here to Jacksonville, and were pursuing it with JEA before the Feds stepped in with regulation prohibiting energy companies from deploying information services.
At that time I was hanging out mostly in the west (?) end....At a place called The Fountainhead, near hamburger mary's Loved that place, chocolate martinis and all.
I returned to MJQ in the underground location, and rather liked the new space, especially when they kept the VIP rooms visually hidden from the rest of the club. (although a bit more oxygen would have been appreciated), and still like it. But nothing will be as cool as when it was the tiny microclub at the basement of the Ponce, in my opinion.
Atlanta has some pretty marvelous spaces, and I think Jacksonville would be well served to follow many of the examples provided by the city. Its awesome to have you posting so much visual information, because it proves that point in a way no essay can provide.
Its a very very cool service, and its a visual essay that isnt really found anywhere else on the web.
Thanks, I appreciate it. Whenever I post pictures of Jax online I am always prepared to undergo a lack of interest or even negative attention, whether or not it is deserved (I don't mean on Jax specific websites like this where everyone enjoys the pictures, but public forums with a wider audience), and Atlanta also to a similar degree is so hated on. It's a city that is hard to get because a) people can be pretentious and less than friendly (there is still *some* southern hospitality, lol), b) it's very easy to be in the wrong area and get the wrong impression, c) it's so easy to hate since it spent 2 decades being the poster child of sprawl along with LA, and d) it's so difficult to navigate and explore because it is hilly, has dense tree coverage, and unless you're with someone familiar with Atlanta you don't know where to go. It's a city that is like a combo of Chicago's core development pattern (albeit 50 years behind), Pittsburgh's hidden neighborhoods that are cool but nobody knows about, and DC's suburban nodes, and it doesn't yet have an identity.
It's getting to be impossible for me to find time to take pics nowadays, even of new cities I haven't been to or taken pictures of. Props to Lake and those involved with MetroJax who always find time to take great pictures for the urban studies.
Quote from: stephendare on July 24, 2011, 11:30:55 PM
And I didnt mean to say that I don't like Atlanta. I do. But I really love several of the other cities. After the three that I listed, I would have to say, Chicago, New York, Charleston, Minneapolis, Santa Barbara, Philadelphia, Ann Arbor, Los Angeles, and DC would follow closely behind.
What about you Lake?
I'm a sucker for coastal or river cities that are compact at a pedestrian scale level as well as being architectural and cultural diverse. DC would probably be my favorite but places like Miami, Chicago, Charleston, Boston, etc. are right there on that list. Overall, I don't really loathe any cities since I can find something that appeals to me in most. For example, as far as Atlanta goes, I like it culturally but I'm not to excited about it at the pedestrian scale. Nevertheless, it is impressive to see the amount of infill that has taken place since the late 80s/early 90s.
Quote from: simms3 on July 25, 2011, 12:23:56 AM
Thanks, I appreciate it. Whenever I post pictures of Jax online I am always prepared to undergo a lack of interest or even negative attention, whether or not it is deserved (I don't mean on Jax specific websites like this where everyone enjoys the pictures, but public forums with a wider audience), and Atlanta also to a similar degree is so hated on. It's a city that is hard to get because a) people can be pretentious and less than friendly (there is still *some* southern hospitality, lol), b) it's very easy to be in the wrong area and get the wrong impression, c) it's so easy to hate since it spent 2 decades being the poster child of sprawl along with LA, and d) it's so difficult to navigate and explore because it is hilly, has dense tree coverage, and unless you're with someone familiar with Atlanta you don't know where to go. It's a city that is like a combo of Chicago's core development pattern (albeit 50 years behind), Pittsburgh's hidden neighborhoods that are cool but nobody knows about, and DC's suburban nodes, and it doesn't yet have an identity.
It's getting to be impossible for me to find time to take pics nowadays, even of new cities I haven't been to or taken pictures of. Props to Lake and those involved with MetroJax who always find time to take great pictures for the urban studies.
Thanks. I seriously don't know where I find the time myself. As for the Atlanta hate on larger urban forums, I think its a mixture of jealousy, anger and the fact that its not as historically dense as typical Midwestern and Northeastern cities. Most of that comes from those from or living in those areas and its directed to nearly every city south of the Mason Dixon line, excluding DC, Baltimore and Richmond. Don't worry or get offended, just keep posting.
If The Lakelander EVER goes to Portland, Oregon, we've lost him forever...
OCKLAWAHA
Just wanted to see what it would look like to blur some of the larger warehouses in Atlanta (in various districts) together.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/ATL%20lofts%20warehouses/Atlantalofts016.jpg)
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I couldn't help myself, sorry :)