Paces Nightmare (Atlanta, Decatur, Vinings: leasing, homes, neighborhoods)

[JoeP]

While I think most here to appreciate the concerns of those impacted, the document noted in this thread was insanely biased and full of hyperbole. Also, it's a special kind of nimbyism to join this forum just for this thread..

[DawgPark]

Originally Posted by lorilove

That is a building that begs for local walkability. If you could put in a great coffee shop like Rev Coffee where many of your patrons walked to your store instead of drove (since getting in an out is not ideal).

I was also wondering if it could be converted into residential - industrial conversion type of property. I am not sure how bad the noise is at that corner. I would definitely breakup the parking lot and put in some yard and trees to soften the exterior.

Nice idea, but I don't think that lot has the parking to meet code. Almost going to have to be a low-volume service business like lawyer or accountant.

[whodean]

Originally Posted by AreaNeighbor

Those who would over-simplify this as NIMBY need to pause for a bit of empathy. The people who are fighting against the proposal LIVE in the area. Their daily lives, children, and peace will be impacted by the undisputed traffic and noise that accompany commercial development.

They did not purchase homes by a commercial tract...they bought homes by a Church. This is a neighborhood.

Before you criticize the concerns of the neighbors and property owners: Would you really want a shopping center with all of its traffic and noise in your own neighborhood?

The impact is being vastly over estimated.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by AreaNeighbor

Those who would over-simplify this as NIMBY need to pause for a bit of empathy. The people who are fighting against the proposal LIVE in the area. Their daily lives, children, and peace will be impacted by the undisputed traffic and noise that accompany commercial development.

They did not purchase homes by a commercial tract...they bought homes by a Church. This is a neighborhood.

Before you criticize the concerns of the neighbors and property owners: Would you really want a shopping center with all of its traffic and noise in your own neighborhood?

You raise some concerns that ought to be addressed.

Any time you bring in more density and commercial, traffic is going nowhere but up. The residents still have to be able to go to work, take their kids to Little league and so forth.

Also, what about loss of tree cover, increased water runoff, and spillover lighting from the commercial? Is there a buffer and if so how much and who will take care of it?

Noise has to be taken into account as well. Nobody wants to hear commercial dumpsters banging around at all hours of the day and night or delivery trucks idling outside their back door.

All those things can be addressed but you have to specific agreements for them in writing.

[ElleKaye]

Originally Posted by AtlJan

Why does everyone like Trader Joe's? There is one near me and it has nothing I want to buy. It mostly has cheap snack foods and prepared frozen dinners (frozen thai meatballs in a bag ??)--very little and poor quality produce and meat. Give me a Publix or a Whole Foods any day. Trader Joe's is like what would happen if World Market ran a gas station mini mart.

OK, I go along with you with a lot of frozen food, but a lot of people don't like to cook and it has a wider variety than the average grocery store.

iI personally like the almonds, breads, olive oils, cheeses, wines, yogurts, and the vegetables. I'm not saying it's a farmer's market but I did not even know Brussels sprouts grew on a stalk before purchasing many there. As far as things go, Whole Foods is like an over priced Costco, but I will admit they have the widest variety of spices. I have found things in there that I couldn't find at Penzeys.

I guess the gist of it is that Whole Foods charges entirely too much money for what they are selling. Publix is only slightly above Kroger in qualitr. Fresh Market and Trader Joe's are about equal in status if not in selection and price. Trader Joe's is likely popular because while not being at the bottom or the top, it's in the middle.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by AtlJan

Why does everyone like Trader Joe's? There is one near me and it has nothing I want to buy. It mostly has cheap snack foods and prepared frozen dinners (frozen thai meatballs in a bag ??)--very little and poor quality produce and meat. Give me a Publix or a Whole Foods any day. Trader Joe's is like what would happen if World Market ran a gas station mini mart.

We are likewise underwhelmed. Limited selection and mediocre quality at best.

I'll take a regular grocery store any day, including one of the nice Krogers.

[ElleKaye]

Originally Posted by arjay57

We are likewise underwhelmed. Limited selection and mediocre quality at best.

I'll take a regular grocery store any day, including one of the nice Krogers.

I think it is a given that the church is going to srell their plot of land. Aside from a grocery store of any type, do you have a personal preference of what you'd like to have located there?

[maycar]

Originally Posted by AtlJan

Why does everyone like Trader Joe's? There is one near me and it has nothing I want to buy. It mostly has cheap snack foods and prepared frozen dinners (frozen thai meatballs in a bag ??)--very little and poor quality produce and meat. Give me a Publix or a Whole Foods any day. Trader Joe's is like what would happen if World Market ran a gas station mini mart.

The commercialization at the location in general is my primary objection not the type of commercial per se. The developer is requesting to change the current zoning of this property to RM-12 which would allow for everything that you typically see in a standard strip mall (nail salon, dry cleaner, mattress shop, hair salon,fast food concept and whatever else fits that zoning). Any lessee of said retail space can come and go (natural grocer today, discount chain tommorrow). If the zoning is changed the community has very little say regarding the type of business that will pop up, that will be handled by the leasing agent. Frankly this community does not need any more commercial development there are thousands of empty sq. feet of retail space in this district... just take a drive down Atlanta Rd or the EW Connector.

[maycar]

Originally Posted by whodean

I live very close and support the idea with some changes.

Give Estates home owners more buffer, build in pedestrian connections to the Silver Cmet spur that runs past th property and provide traffic calming measures on Spring Hill Road....looking forward to the new amenities so close.

Take a map and look at the neighborhoods surrounding this proposed development. There are 2 big ones directly across the street from the site. There are hundreds of homes that will be impacted. Sidebar - there are already walkable amenities in this area, if you live here take a walk to ivy walk, or downtown vinings both are within a mile and offer great restaurants and shops.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by maycar

The commercialization at the location in general is my primary objection not the type of commercial per se. The developer is requesting to change the current zoning of this property to RM-12 which would allow for everything that you typically see in a standard strip mall (nail salon, dry cleaner, mattress shop, hair salon,fast food concept and whatever else fits that zoning). Any lessee of said retail space can come and go (natural grocer today, discount chain tommorrow). If the zoning is changed the community has very little say regarding the type of business that will pop up, that will be handled by the leasing agent. Frankly this community does not need any more commercial development there are thousands of empty sq. feet of retail space in this district... just take a drive down Atlanta Rd or the EW Connector.

There is a development planned near us, and although it is mixed use, the developers came to an NPU meeting and had it put in some sort of documents the types of businesses that residents did not want in the development. Not sure if those kinds of things are different with different types of zoning.