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Midtown Atlanta Makeover Continues

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Midtown Atlanta Makeover Continues

Improvements to Midtown Atlanta just keep on coming! As you’ll recall, I posted a couple weeks back that some Midtown Atlanta Streets were getting a makeover. Crescent Street certainly was in need of some sprucing! But it seems that is not all that has been happening in Midtown.

Most of these streetscape improvments are designed to enhance the pedestrian experience in Midtown Atlanta while giving Midtown its own idenity. I can say from personal experience that some of the improvements below are certainly a welcome addition to Midtown.

  • Installation of new LED countdown ped-heads and traffic signals are nearing completion:  New, Ped Crossing Countdownsafer, more energy efficient signals have been installed throughout Midtown.  The Midtown Alliance received a grant from GDOT to begin this project and most recently, was awarded a second grant from the US Department of Energy to complete it.  These new signals are 80-90% more energy efficient. The new countdown crossings are great….it really helps you know how much time you have to cross the street. From a drivers perspective, it’s also like having a warning that the signal is about to change, so you can be a bit more prepared to stop. (Or some some people do, speed through the intersection on the yellow light!)
  • Streetscape projects begin on Peachtree Street from Peachtree Circle to the I-75/85 Bridge: This long-awaited phase of the Peachtree Streetscape furthers progress made between 3rd Street and West Peachtree Street.  The project was designed to extend pedestrian improvements to the north end of Peachtree Street, improve public safety and create a better balance between large volumes of vehicular traffic and a more walkable urban environment.   The project is expected to be completed in early 2011.
  • Five new traffic signals installed to create safer mobility for Midtown pedestrians and drivers: Midtown Alliance is in the process of completing construction.  Now at these intersections, traffic will move more smoothly and pedestrian crossings will be significantly safer:
    • 6th and Peachtree
    • 6th and Juniper
    • 8th and Piedmont
    • 12th and West Peachtree
    • 12th and Spring

    I can certainly tell you, that the  6th Street and 8th Street installations are going to be a welcome addition. There is a crosswalk at 6th and Peachtree, but just try to get a car to stop for you!

  • In mid-August, Midtown Alliance will assume the maintenance of the medians and planted materials on the 14th Street Bridge. A few months ago, we celebrated the re-opening of the 14th Street Bridge with our government and community partners. We can all take pride in this gateway into Midtown, representing the power of partnerships. This too will be welcomed! I’m not sure who was suppose to be maintaining them up until now, but there are already plants that have died!  And there are a few unsightly weeds starting to show….not the Welcome To Midtown we want to see!

You’ll be sure to notice these improvements underway on your next visit to Midtown Atlanta. If you live in Midtown, watch out for the construction!

Castle Building Midtown Atlanta GA Sells At Auction

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Castle Building Midtown Atlanta GA Sells At Auction

A unique, historic part of Midtown has gone across the auction block. What will now happen to this special Midtown Atlanta landmark, is anyone’s guess.

The winning bidder for The Castle Midtown Atlanta, or 87 15th St., in Midtown was Bryan Latham, a private investor from New York. He agreed to pay $951,500 for the 11,000-square-foot mixed–use property next to Promenade II office tower, according to Bull Realty partner Daniel Latshaw.

The Castle was built by its owner, Ferdinand McMillan, a wealthy Agricultural Supplier originally from Florida. He built it with no formal training and no architectural background, simply deciding to do what he thought felt right.

I pulled from a blog the following comments posted by “Phreakmoney” (just to give credit where credit is due)

“The most striking interior feature is the collection of large southern medallions gracing the corner of each of the large rooms. There are only two tiny bathrooms, one on each level. There is no obvious kitchen, nor is there infrastructure to support one, although there is a standalone sink and range in the attic. There are two sets of inadequate electrical wiring in the place: the original two-conductor cloth-covered wiring inside the ceilings and walls, still connected to the ancient bulb-fuse boxes on the top two stories; and newer 1970s+ era wiring run through unsightly (and unpainted) galvanized conduit in the hallways.”

So, she will certainly need some updating to become anything other than the Castle Building in Midtown. Suggestions have ranged from a bed and breakfast to a small museum. Knowing a bit about zoning code in Midtown, most options will be a challenge due to the lack of parking. Hopefully Mr. Latham will be able to secure that missing link from a neighboring office building.

I’m not sure it the building has already made the National Register of Historic places….let’s hope so. To give you a glimpse of the building, I recently took some pictures of the Castle Building in Midtown Atlanta.

[tomatoframe width=”600″ height=”500″]https://www.picnik.com/show/id/9610193565_B8MvB/t/the-castle-midtown-atlanta-ga[/tomatoframe]

Coca Cola To Renovate Atlanta Headquarters

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Coca Cola to Renovate Atlanta Headquarters

Coca-Cola World Headquarters Atlanta GAThe folks at Coke are going to spruce things up a bit. It’s going to take them 4 to 5 years to complete a major overhaul of their Atlanta “campus,” but never fear. You won’t even know its going on.

Currently, some 4,000 people (who knew?) work  at the building located on North Avenue, to the North and East of Downtown Atlanta. While not a building of note, it does stand out with it’s logo across the top. The mostly visible 29 story building was built in 1979.

The renovation plans will take place entirely inside the building as hopes to design spaces that will lead to greater collaboration and productivity, with improved technology design consistency. (Hmm, a Coke dispenser NEXT to my cube, not across the hall?)  The plan is still being developed, but Coca-Cola predicts changes to common areas will be visible early next year. Mind you, that is visible to employees. Have you ever BEEN INSIDE the Coca-Cola building? I liken it to a visit to the White House, and I was privy once to go inside the building when Coke was my account in my hotel sales days. It was cool then, especially the cafeteria are with its own Coke store….and yes, I have a nice Coke Truck to show for my visit there.

Coca-Cola is buying  the North American operations of bottler Coca-Cola Enterprises in the fourth quarter.  CCE has around 2,300 employees in the Atlanta area. It is unclear how many of them will move to Coca-Cola’s North Avenue complex after the $12 billion-plus deal closes. Coca-Cola says it is too early to speculate on staff movements.

For The Love of A Dog

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August 8, 2016 —

I’m going through some old posts on my site. Ironically, this one was published by me this very month, only SIX years ago. Simply amazing how the story is still just as strong now as it was then.

For The Love of a Dog

If ONLY people could have this kind of unconditional love and respect for one another.

Makes me think of the person on the other end of the phone when you call a lender and they

deny your short sale or tell you your home is on it’s way to foreclosure…..

But more than that, it’s just about unconditional love….

Nero...a.k.a "PCP" and "King Pooh Head"
Nero…a.k.a “PCP” and “King Pooh Head”

 

We were given:

Two hands to hold.

To legs to walk.

Two eyes to see.

Two ears to listen.

But why only one heart?

Because the other was given to someone else.

For us to find.


Midtown Atlanta Streets to Get Make Over

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Midtown Atlanta Streets to Get Make Over

14th and Crescent StreetMidtown Alliance announced construction will begin August 1 on Crescent Avenue in Midtown Atlanta to improve sidewalks, add lights, trees and parallel parking. Once that portion is completed, they will commence the 14th Street Streetscape from West Peachtree all the way to Piedmont Park.

Construction funds for the project were provided from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It was designed to enhance the pedestrian environment, improve public safety, and achieve a better balance between accommodating large volumes of vehicular traffic and creating a more livable urban environment. Over the last eight years, the Midtown Alliance Cityscapes Program has completed similar improvements along Peachtree Street, WestPeachtree Street, Piedmont Avenue and 14th Street (between Fowler and West Peachtree Streets).

Midtown Atlanta has been working to improve its walkability and mobility with projects that provide wider sidewalks, enhanced street and sidewalk lighting, new landscaping, granite curbing colored accent pavers, trash receptacles (AMEN AMEN!!!) and bike racks among other improvements.

Sadly, the announcement also mentions that a number of exiting trees will have to be removed on 14th Street due to utility conflicts and to allow for changes in the street function. This means some pretty big trees will probably be giving their lives up for progress. Bummer.  However, some 70 new Elm trees will be installed every 30 feet on either side of the street the entire length of the project. They will be keeping Midtown Atlanta green, but it might be a few years before the trees look anything like they currently do on 14th Street, depending on which ones come down…

Constructi0n will be intense, so if you are in this area of Midtown Atlanta, please watch out. Of course we’ll be watching this program very closely as our office is on 14th Street, and we’ve got some pretty big trees right in front of our office windows! I wonder if they will escape the chain saw??

Here’s a quick look at what Crescent Avenue currently looks like….I’ll get some before pictures of 14th Street so we can all see the changes!

Thom Abbott

Associate Broker, REALTOR(R)
905 Juniper Street, NE Suite 110
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
770.713.1505 Direct
404.876.4901 Office

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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