Doraville GM Plant/AJC (Atlanta, North Druid Hills: tenants, live in, zoning)

[TakeAhike]

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Florida-based Sembler picked as finalist to redevelop GM plant | ajc.com


Sounds like a good idea to me.

[atlantagreg30127]

Oh geez, of course. And Sembler is one of the very worst developers when it comes to people who don't really care how they impact surrounding communities with their developments, too.

Here where I live in Powder Springs, they did a strip mall area a few years ago. Their plans and blueprints unveiled during a town meeting showed a VERY dangerous design for the entrance/exist areas, which basically put them in an area directly across from another property's exists. So this created a multi-way exit onto a busy road, where people on both sides of the road try to cut across the road, make left turns against traffic, as well as make rights to blend with traffic. On both sides of the road, and, with no traffic lights. VERY dangerous. We brought this up at the meeting and they said it would be "corrected". It wasn't, and was built as designed, and today there are near deadly misses each day in that area. Likewise, a "right only exist" sign in another part of their parking lot was run over more than a year ago - the police say it's Sembler's responsibility to replace it. A years worth of emails about it, and they don't replace it or even reply to the emails. To beat it all, I'm told the rents they charge tenants there nearly equal rents in Buckhead as far as pricing goes.

That was a rant, but the point of the whole rant was to point out that Sembler has less than a great reputation when it comes to listening to local residents about projects. While they may or may not be able to handle an Atlantic Station sized project, they will most certainly not give proper consideration to traffic flow and safety around that project, either. Sad to hear they may get the job, actually.

[TakeAhike]

That is interesting. Maybe the other 3 will have a chance?

I think it would be good for Doraville and the area to have something to boost the economy --bring the area 'Up' but who should do this--I don't know.

I drive by the Brookhaven project on the way to Walmart/Chamblee. They are working on it. Hope things go well, somewhere, anywhere.

Wondering how things are going with the plans for Executive Park. Just 'nosy', I guess.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by TakeAhike

Wondering how things are going with the plans for Executive Park. Just 'nosy', I guess.

I just drove through Executive Park on Saturday. There are yellow rezoning placards everywhere you look, and several more on N. Druid between Target and Toco Hill.

Someone gave me this link a couple weeks ago:

Briarcliff/North Druid Hills

I would favor someone other than Sembler developing the GM plant. I feel Sembler has built too many projects in the area in the last few years. The metro area is already cookie-cutter, and it will only be moreso if Sembler does much more work around here.

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by JPD

I just drove through Executive Park on Saturday. There are yellow rezoning placards everywhere you look, and several more on N. Druid between Target and Toco Hill.

Someone gave me this link a couple weeks ago:

Briarcliff/North Druid Hills

I would favor someone other than Sembler developing the GM plant. I feel Sembler has built too many projects in the area in the last few years. The metro area is already cookie-cutter, and it will only be moreso if Sembler does much more work around here.

I scanned through the website which seems to have begun Sept '07. I think these are 'old' post/communications.

I guess I can walk up there and see what I see. My dog doesn't really like that route--too many cars whizzing by but he will go if he has to. He likes to stop at Starbucks/Panera and greet people.

Rarely do I see/meet many people out walking with dogs or alone. FWIW.
I wish I knew how Gwinnett County managed to include more parks and recreation areas in its development. Pinckneyville Park/Sports Center on S. Old Peachtee Rd is all I could ask for. Not asking for anything--that has is now futile.

Glad to have a few less developed spots. Wish I knew how it was all going to turn out.

[rackensack]

Anyone who's been around Atlanta for any length of time and paid any attention at all to politics could glean everything they needed to know about how Sembler plans to play this from the first four words of the second paragraph: "Sembler spokesman Angelo Fuster".

[LovinDecatur]

All these plans for the NDH corridor without a firm plan to address the infrastructure are just madness. On Saturday and Sunday, the cars on the exit ramp for NDH Road were backed up into the interstate. If this is 'Before', what can we expect 'After'?

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by rackensack

Anyone who's been around Atlanta for any length of time and paid any attention at all to politics could glean everything they needed to know about how Sembler plans to play this from the first four words of the second paragraph: "Sembler spokesman Angelo Fuster".

Such as this?

"It's a pretty wide-open concept," he said. "It's open to a number of development possibilities because it's a great property. Beyond that, I cannot discuss any of the elements of it."

The massive, 165-acre property presents one of metro Atlanta's biggest redevelopment opportunities. It's located near several interstate highways and is adjacent to a MARTA rail station.

There are some challenges, including the cleanup of any environmental damage at the site.

GM received hundreds of inquiries about the property and a "significant number" of proposals before settling on four finalists, Flores said.'

[Roswell/Alpharetta Homes]

At least they are finally moving forward on it. Atlanta is in the middle of an urban renaissance- only now we need to find our Michaelangelo of the DOT.

[davesm]

I want to be optimistic about this project, but if Sembler gets it expect stucco, stacked stone, Wal-Mart, Strip mall retail, Starbucks and a Moes. All this and less nice then Atlantic Station. I really hope a developer with foresight and imagination can do something unexpected and brilliant with this property, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm more optimistic about the Hapeville Ford Plant and especially the Fort McPherson redevelopment projects.