High Rises in East Point? (Atlanta, Perry: fit in, rentals, how much)

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I don't mean to quibble over details, Joe. My point is simply that some of the of areas regarded as most desirable and "urban" have gotten there in the absence of highrise buildings. The core areas of both Decatur and VH are marked by a preponderance of low and midrise architecture.

That's the case in many great urban areas all over the US and around the world. Tall buildings do not a city make.

I don't think East Point needs to go after towers. They'd be far better off with ten 4 story buildings than one 40 story building. Just think about the difference in street presence -- with midrise you'd wind up with 40 pedestrian facades rather than just 4!

In opinion that's true in almost every part of the city.

Oh I definitely agree...that's not to say that there won't be additional highrises in East Point, but the obvious prize for an area like this is infill/midrises - or just development in general.

Part of Decatur's charm is its walkability coupled with a small-town feel, and it would be a great model for East Point to follow. I'm not saying that Decatur is brimming with tall buildings obviously, but there certainly isn't a complete absence of them. There is space in the middle of those two ideas! It's hard to find a photo of Decatur's "skyline", but there are a couple of 10-12 story buildings mixed in among the low and midrises in this one: Decatur, Georgia USA | Flickr - Photo Sharing! For reference, a development forum (not mentioning any names) lists 5 highrises in Decatur, but that doesn't include any outside of downtown.

[arjay57]

Great photo! And of course there are the courthouse buildings, too.

To me all of these fine structures fall in the midrise category. I'm not knocking them in the least -- they just don't seem like highrises by today's standards. But I wouldn't argue with the idea that they should be considered towers. Either way, they aren't necessary to Decatur being an urban, walkabout kind of place.

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Great photo! And of course there are the courthouse buildings, too.

To me all of these fine structures fall in the midrise category. I'm not knocking them in the least -- they just don't seem like highrises by today's standards. But I wouldn't argue with the idea that they should be considered towers. Either way, they aren't necessary to Decatur being an urban, walkabout kind of place.

I fully agree...some nice infill like the new apartment building at Cleveland and Norman Berry would be just fine with me. It's 6 floors and built out to the sidewalk, much like a lot of the infill occurring around Atlanta. It's a very good-looking building for East Point. There is a photo here of the "highrise" that was demolished to make way for this new building: New East Point building to serve as city gateway and here is the new building, Gateway at East Point:


http://www.hathawayconstruction.com/...-at-east-point

[ATL_II_DMV]

Depends on what part of East Point and what type of tenants the development would attract.

Many neighborhoods on the south side have drastically dropped in value and never quite panned out. I live in one in Fairburn, which is a good neighborhood IMO, but the price value went down something terrible and we've had renters in this neighborhood come in and sell drugs and I've even heard of a few robberies occur here.

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by JoeTarheel

I fully agree...some nice infill like the new apartment building at Cleveland and Norman Berry would be just fine with me. It's 6 floors and built out to the sidewalk, much like a lot of the infill occurring around Atlanta. It's a very good-looking building for East Point. There is a photo here of the "highrise" that was demolished to make way for this new building: New East Point building to serve as city gateway and here is the new building, Gateway at East Point:


http://www.hathawayconstruction.com/...-at-east-point

The irony of this development on this thread is that it replaced a taller 12 story building that was demolished a few years ago.

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by waronxmas

The irony of this development on this thread is that it replaced a taller 12 story building that was demolished a few years ago.

True...it was in really rough-looking shape, but it was a highrise.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by JoeTarheel

I fully agree...some nice infill like the new apartment building at Cleveland and Norman Berry would be just fine with me. It's 6 floors and built out to the sidewalk, much like a lot of the infill occurring around Atlanta. It's a very good-looking building for East Point. There is a photo here of the "highrise" that was demolished to make way for this new building: New East Point building to serve as city gateway and here is the new building, Gateway at East Point:


The Gateway at East Point

Nice looking building! I was down that way recently and probably drove right by without even noticing the construction.

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Nice looking building! I was down that way recently and probably drove right by without even noticing the construction.

Definitely a step in the right direction for the Point.

[KittyAtlanta]

I don't agree. Although every city will need to up accommodation for seniors, that demographic is not the one on which to build a thriving area. The building being discussed is low-income and age restricted. Thriving cities need a robust tax base and this is not it.

It is a nice, attractive building built amongst run down, dilapidated or abandoned single family rentals built back in the '40s.

East Point government is koo-koo, except for Lance Rhodes (if he is still a City Councilman).

[demonta4]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

It just doesn't make sense. Why go back to the same silly ideas such as developing in spread out areas of the metro? Why not focus attention in areas that still have massive parking lots everywhere, especially in Midtown? Wouldn't make sense. This is where the criticism comes in about southern cities just being spread out. I'd rather all development be concentrated in areas in or immediately around the core so that a healthy core can be established....who cares about another office park in East Point. I want Midtown to become the next River North or Streeterville.

But that doesn't mean East Point can't have a decent core too. I would expect every major suburb in any city to have a core. Doesn't have to be a Perimeter, but at least look like a Marietta or Woodstock.