The ongoing (sub)urbanization of northern Decatur (Atlanta, North Decatur: apartment, lawsuit)

[LynnHarris1]

Given the commercial bustle and rising apartment stacks around it, Suburban Plaza could strike an observer as the most ironically named shopping center across ITP’s rapidly changing landscape. Built in 1958, it’s one of Atlanta’s first suburban-style shopping centers, and the name harkens an era when suburbanization was synonymous with progress.

Then again, Suburban Plaza’s name might be perfectly on point.

As the Great Recession petered out, prominent Atlanta developer Selig Enterprises announced a new look for the tired, struggling strip mall with designs inspired by the award-winning Shops Around Lenox. Plus, a Walmart Supercenter.

The latter component stoked the ire of neighbors, who formed a group called Good Growth DeKalb and filed a lawsuit in hopes of blocking Walmart, citing typical Wally Word concerns about increased traffic, public safety, and small business viability. A judge sided with Selig, and Suburban Plaza was soon reborn as a nearly 300,000-square-foot shopping and dining hub with Walmart as the anchor, alongside Ross Dress For Less, HomeGoods, Jo-Ann Fabrics, among other businesses, and a drive-thru Starbucks rimming surface parking lots.

For the area’s redevelopment, however, it was merely the beginning..."


FULL STORY: https://atlanta.curbed.com/atlanta-p...opment-walmart


SOURCE: Curbed Atlanta

[DJDeadParrot]

Note that the first image in the article, from Google Images, is the same you get from Google Maps overhead imagery showing the area as it was before most of this development began.

[Iconographer]

This is typical commercial development of areas abutting 'boutique' suburban cities like Decatur, GA, Darien, CT, Winter Park, FL and Franklin, TN. Residents want access to big-box amenities but they don't want them to besmirch their pristine, historic little enclaves. Hence you get places like North Decatur, Stamford, unincorporated Winter Park and Cool Springs to serve that purpose.

[A-Town Down]

I didn't think this project was as bad as the Curbed commentators would have you believe.

[ATLTJL]

Curbed commenters are as biased and ridiculous as AJC commenters, just in different ways.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by A-Town Down

I didn't think this project was as bad as the Curbed commentators would have you believe.

I agree. It's not unattractive. Keep in mind that this area is at the confluence of two major DeKalb thoroughfares, so turning it into a walkable village-style development was just not feasible. And I never bought into the COD NIMBYs' argument that this kind of retail development was unwanted in the area. It serves a much larger market than them, and it's outside their city limits anyway.
I guarantee you that the same COD prigs that were in a twist over this development are pushing their carts around the aisles of Wal-Mart, Sprouts and 365 today, clad in a hoodie* and sunglasses.

*natural fiber, of course.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Curbed commenters are as biased and ridiculous as AJC commenters, just in different ways.

I get the impression that Curbed editors don't even pretend to be unbiased.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Iconographer

I agree. It's not unattractive. Keep in mind that this area is at the confluence of two major DeKalb thoroughfares, so turning it into a walkable village-style development was just not feasible. And I never bought into the COD NIMBYs' argument that this kind of retail development was unwanted in the area. It serves a much larger market than them, and it's outside their city limits anyway.
I guarantee you that the same COD prigs that were in a twist over this development are pushing their carts around the aisles of Wal-Mart, Sprouts and 365 today, clad in a hoodie* and sunglasses.

*natural fiber, of course.

The Walmart seems to get a lot of people from all over, not just Decatur and Medlock.