MARTA announces big developments at Brookhaven, Chamblee stations (Buckhead: leases, condo)

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by ATLondoner

Sorry it WAS Grady....but not no more!

Really? Then maybe we'll see King coming up as the next round, though there are others already in the pipe. It's not like MARTA is completely stalled for all TODs from this.

[Gulch]

Updated

Brookhaven, GA, February 2, 2017 – by Trey Benton - MARTA Board Members approved a Resolution Thursday, to terminate their relationship with Brookhaven City Center Partners (BCCP), to create a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) at the Brookhaven/Oglethorpe University Station. Citing the inability for BCCP to “reach a mutually beneficial term sheet” after 15 months of negotiation, MARTA has cancelled the contract award.

On Tuesday, January 24, the Mayor of the City of Brookhaven, Mr. John Ernst, released a statement regarding the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority’s (“MARTA”) proposed Brookhaven/Oglethorpe University TOD project (“Brookhaven TOD Project”). Mayor Ernst’s statement indicated the City administration’s support for an additional delay in the rezoning of the site. Additionally, Mayor Ernst’s statement indicated that the City administration would suspend all work on the incentive request submitted to the Brookhaven Development Authority. In light of this letter, today, February 2, the MARTA Board of Directors voted to cancel the award of the solicitation and discontinue work on the Brookhaven TOD Project.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by Gulch

Updated

So now they get to go through the RFP process all over again?

Edit: Nope, MARTA's moving on:

MARTA appreciates the time and effort invested by the community in planning for Brookhaven TOD Project. We are disappointed that we will not be able to advance this project to implementation. MARTA staff will now shift focus to implementing TOD projects at stations where greater readiness exists.

[arjay57]

Sounds to me like the folks up in Brookhaven have had all the urban density and TOD they want for a while.

[primaltech]

This won't be a surface parking lot forever. They'll figure something out eventually.

But, what they don't need is an urban island, in an overly suburban area, which that area along Peachtree Rd still very much feels like. So the change is going to have to come gradually and more organically in the whole area.

Town Brookhaven sucks, btw. It's sterile, and is an island.

[magnetar]

Originally Posted by ATLondoner

Sorry it WAS Grady....but not no more!

Let's hope they're cutting bait in Brookhaven so they can focus on that big parking lot on my side of town.

[JMatl]

Originally Posted by primaltech

This won't be a surface parking lot forever. They'll figure something out eventually.

They definitely will. Let's just hope it's sooner than later.

But, what they don't need is an urban island, in an overly suburban area, which that area along Peachtree Rd still very much feels like. So the change is going to have to come gradually and more organically in the whole area.

There's already an LCI Overlay District in place along Peachtree. The new mixed use Walgreens/office development next to Kroger is an example.

Town Brookhaven sucks, btw. It's sterile, and is an island.

I'm still sad that it replaced what it did. That being said, it serves a huge purpose in this area and is packed every time I'm there. The apartments seem to be full as well. At least it's mixed use, and has some urban elements. It does serve as a gathering place for the area.

I personally love what has happened along Dresden, and prefer that scale. What is contained at Town Brookhaven really couldn't be located elsewhere here though.

[cqholt]

This will not stay a surface parking lot for long. It appears the issue was between the developer and the Brookhaven development Auth. in asking for too much. MARTA will not let this huge property sit vacant.

[bfarley30]

Isn't this the same location where Brookhaven was considering/planning a "downtown" of sorts across the street from the station? I'm confused on what they want this busy intersection to be? I don't think nothing is going to happen anytime soon. MARTA invested years trying to make something happen with no results. If MARTA can let the phase II of Lindbergh sit dormant for 20 years they will definitely not worry about a bunch of uppity NIMBYs.

[JMatl]

Originally Posted by bfarley30

Isn't this the same location where Brookhaven was considering/planning a "downtown" of sorts across the street from the station? I'm confused on what they want this busy intersection to be?

Yes, it is. They still want this to be a Town Center, they just had issues with the design and the subsidies the developer was seeking. The concept of a Town Green and a Food Hall was extremely well received, the design of the overall development - especially the apartments - not so much.

I don't think nothing is going to happen anytime soon. MARTA invested years trying to make something happen with no results. If MARTA can let the phase II of Lindbergh sit dormant for 20 years they will definitely not worry about a bunch of uppity NIMBYs.

Don't bet on anything not happening here, this is some of the most prime real estate on the NE side of town. The development wave rolling north from Buckhead shows no signs of slowing down either.

The uppity NIMBY meme is a bit overplayed here. Some are a little freaked out at all of the density happening, but they need to be reminded where they actually live occasionally.