Downtown on the Rise (Atlanta, Marietta: real estate, apartments, foreclosure)

[NYbyWAYofGA]

How come I'm just reading the February issue of Atlanta Intown magazine...? Downtown Atlanta's rising popularity has been discussed here for sometime. I would like to see what you guys think about this.

Downtown… where all the lights are bright! Yes, this month we update all the projects happening in the heart of the city, including the streetcar project, new transportation center, the future of the Civic Center, a new playground for Woodruff park and more.

February 2012, Atlanta INtown

[ATLTJL]

Don't want to veer off topic, but since we are discussing downtown, last night I noticed that condos in the Healy building are DIRT CHEAP. I know about Healy, Metropolitan, Museum Tower, and Twelve Centennial Park. Can anyone provide a list of the other condo buildings in the downtown area?

[Newsboy]

I remember looking at several units in the Healey building as well as the Rhodes-Haverty building back when they converted to apartments in the late 90s I think? Maybe not? Anyway, yeah those conversions of older (even historic) downtown office buildings into residential uses struck me as amazingly cheap back then, relatively speaking, especially compared to Midtown and Buckhead. Problem was -- NO PARKING! Or if there was it was couple hundred dollars more a month in an aging garage 4 blocks away! Doubt that has changed ....

[BroadStJudge]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Don't want to veer off topic, but since we are discussing downtown, last night I noticed that condos in the Healy building are DIRT CHEAP. I know about Healy, Metropolitan, Museum Tower, and Twelve Centennial Park. Can anyone provide a list of the other condo buildings in the downtown area?

Gordan Lofts, Kessler CityLofts, SoMar Lofts, Centennnial Park West, W Downtown, Peachtree Tower, Landmark Tower, Centennial Place, 90 Fairlie, 123 Luckie, and Renaissance Walk. Then there is Muses lofts which are rental. I have not listed the lofts and condos in Castleberry Hill or on the Marietta Street corridor.

[ATL Urbanist]

Originally Posted by NYbyWAYofGA

How come I'm just reading the February issue of Atlanta Intown magazine...? Downtown Atlanta's rising popularity has been discussed here for sometime. I would like to see what you guys think about this.



February 2012, Atlanta INtown

It's a cool issue -- I especially like my fellow-downtowner Kyle Kessler's article on great things about living here:
Keep It INtown: Downtown Atlanta | Atlanta INtown Paper

In reference to the other post on the Healey Building condos being cheap: the low prices are because the few on the market now are all bank-owned (from what I can tell anyway -- if anyone knows different correct me, please).

It's a sad situation for the original purchasers. In 2001, when the Healey condo conversion happened, it was the middle of the Atlanta intown housing bubble and the units were terribly overpriced. The current foreclosure prices are much more along the lines of the true market value of the condos, in my opinion anyway. So it's a bum deal for the original buyers but a good opportunity for new ones who don't mind going through the whole foreclosure-purchase process.

It seems like a similar situation is happening with a couple of other downtown buildings that had overpriced units in the bubble. I'm no real estate expert but my guess is that it's a good opportunity to buy a condo downtown now.

[BobKovacs]

A playground in Woodruff Park??? Do the homeless folks need someplace to exercise or something???

[koko339]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

A playground in Woodruff Park??? Do the homeless folks need someplace to exercise or something???

Actually there is legit exercise equipment in the southern end of Woodruff. I can't find a good pic of it, though. The only people I've seen use it are those who I assume are homeless, but hey there's worse things they could be doing.

[ATLTJL]

I've got to agree that downtown is still a bit grimey, which is I assume what you were alluding to with the homeless in Woodruff Park.

I always just fantasize about a pied-à-terre and I work downtown.

If I ever decided to do it, I'd probably scrape up the extra cash and go for midtown. But I'm always on the lookout for an extra hot deal.

[ATL Urbanist]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

A playground in Woodruff Park??? Do the homeless folks need someplace to exercise or something???

It's not a regular playground. It's a piece of playable art, the development of which was part of a design competition. It's a pretty cool project. You can see a picture of the winning design here:
A Unique “Playable Piece Of Art” To Be Built In Atlanta’s Woodruff Park

It's not a big draw for families, but kids can be found running around in Woodruff Park on the weekend regularly (in good weather, anyway). Mine is one of them.

[StAubin]

I think downtown near woodruff parks has the most character in the city. The "griminess" college students, businessmen, residents and historic buildings all come together around the area. Midtown is nice but lacks the new York style urban character. But that's what makes midtown midtown and downtown downtown. Both have character I just prefer downtown.