Downtown Newnan May Join Mixed Use Development Train - 348 Apartments and 25K Sq. Ft. Commercial (Atlanta: homes, luxury)

[citidata18]

Similar to developments recently completed in downtowns Woodstock, Fayetteville and Cartersville, an Atlanta developer has submitted "information only" plans to re-use a long abandoned steel plant adjacent to a rail line and build 348 "luxury" apartments, a 408-space parking garage and 25,800 sq. ft. of commercial space. It will be called "The Village."

Mayor outlines Broad Street project process - The Newnan Times-Herald

Developer seeks to revamp Caldwell Tanks in downtown - The Newnan Times-Herald

[Joe_P]

I love that communities outside of the city are seeing these kinds of developments.

[WanderingImport]

NOW... all we need to do is have rail to connect them all.

[Joe_P]

NOW... all we need to do is have rail to connect them all.

That would be awesome.

[citidata18]

Originally Posted by WanderingImport

NOW... all we need to do is have rail to connect them all.

From your mouth to God's ears, lol.

It's in the ARC's long range plan, so it's at least being discussed.

[citidata18]

NIMBYs strike again. The developer is now close to just saying **** it.

After the council put a several week stay on a decision, they've now scaled down the project from 4 stories and 348 apartments to 3 stories and 285 apartments. And the only reason for the opposition is because the NIMBYs are afraid of "transients," or they feel demolishing an old, polluted, decrepit steel factory "takes away from the historical charm."

Council hears final offer on Caldwell redevelopment - The Newnan Times-Herald

To go on a bit of a rant, if you read articles in local publications about retail developments, in the comment section they will ***** and moan about only fast food restaurants, oil change places, car washes, etc. opening up and cry for more "upscale" places like Trader Joe's to open on this side of town, yet they don't want the growth or higher population density that is necessary to attract those places, which is what a project like this would help to bring.

[pinkpaula]

Theoretically, each apartment dweller in this proposed project would have a car, since there is no mass transit in Newnan. The "Atlanta developer" wanted 348 apartments, which had the potential to add 348 cars daily to the narrow, already overcrowded streets of downtown Newnan. "Scaling down" the project to 285 apartments with the accompanying 285 cars wouldn't help with traffic congestion. I know. I live in downtown Newnan. Traffic is a nightmare already.

Assuming that the residents of Newnan WANT more traffic problems and WANT hundreds of apartments with residents who will not pay Property Taxes to support even more children in the public schools is an arrogant misconception.

In addition, licking your lips in anticipation of "the ARC's long range plan" to "have rail to connect them all" (urban developments) might be some individual's message "to God's ears", but it is NOT what the residents in Newnan want. Just take a good look at downtown Decatur, GA. What a mess.

Developers from Atlanta, or other big cities, come into smaller cities to make a quick buck. After they make their money, they leave. They have no connection to the people or to the problems they leave behind.

Newnan should remain "The City of Homes", not apartments.

[joey86]

Originally Posted by pinkpaula

Assuming that the residents of Newnan WANT more traffic problems and WANT hundreds of apartments with residents who will not pay Property Taxes to support even more children in the public schools is an arrogant misconception.

The owner of the property still has to pay property taxes...

[citidata18]

Originally Posted by joey86

The owner of the property still has to pay property taxes...

Exactly.

Not to mention, the developer is paying the cost to remediate this property (something the city seemingly can't afford to do).

Having hundreds of more residents within walking distance would also be a boon for the small businesses in the town square.

The hearing is at 6:30pm today. So we'll see what happens.

[citidata18]

Originally Posted by pinkpaula

Theoretically, each apartment dweller in this proposed project would have a car, since there is no mass transit in Newnan. The "Atlanta developer" wanted 348 apartments, which had the potential to add 348 cars daily to the narrow, already overcrowded streets of downtown Newnan. "Scaling down" the project to 285 apartments with the accompanying 285 cars wouldn't help with traffic congestion. I know. I live in downtown Newnan. Traffic is a nightmare already.

Assuming that the residents of Newnan WANT more traffic problems and WANT hundreds of apartments with residents who will not pay Property Taxes to support even more children in the public schools is an arrogant misconception.

In addition, licking your lips in anticipation of "the ARC's long range plan" to "have rail to connect them all" (urban developments) might be some individual's message "to God's ears", but it is NOT what the residents in Newnan want. Just take a good look at downtown Decatur, GA. What a mess.

Developers from Atlanta, or other big cities, come into smaller cities to make a quick buck. After they make their money, they leave. They have no connection to the people or to the problems they leave behind.

Newnan should remain "The City of Homes", not apartments.

You live along an interstate highway in the 3rd fastest growing metro area in the country and within commuting distance to the world's busiest airport.

If you think you can stop growth and if you think you can dictate what the market demands in terms of the type of housing to absorb the growth, you're being quite unrealistic. The people are still coming, and it will just mean much more expensive for everyone due to NIMBYs such as yourself who are artifically stonewalling the necessary supply of housing.

EDIT: To add, we all have our own reasons for living here and our own thoughts about growth in Newnan. I personally moved here because of the proximity to Atlanta, the growth potential and the "good enough" amenities (although I wish so very much that we had more). To say stuff like "the residents of Newnan" as if all 40,000 people here are some monolithic group is insulting, condescending and frankly intolerant of those who may hold a different perspective.