Alpharetta unveils new plans for overhauling downtown (city hall, college)

[koko339]

Alpharetta unveils new city center proposal *| ajc.com

Plans call for new city hall and library on 22 acres. I think it's great that we've returned to building in our town centers in a respectful, smart manner.
pics: http://neighbornewspapers.com/storie...town_id=&page=

[League54]

I think the library is a huge waste of money. NO ONE goes to libraries anymore with information easily , conveniently and abundantly available through the internet.

The park idea is cool though.

[Akhenaton06]

I didn't even know Alpharetta had a downtown, but it's nice to see some effort going into making it a destination.

Originally Posted by League54

I think the library is a huge waste of money. NO ONE goes to libraries anymore with information easily , conveniently and abundantly available through the internet.

The park idea is cool though.

I disagree about the library, and this article explains why.

[Esteban5]

This will be a great cornerstone for the future Milton County.

[testa50]

I like that they are attempting to incorporate private storefronts with the government buildings. Too often these new city hall or courthouse projects turn into a completely sterilized MUNICIPAL FORTRESS OF JUSTICE behind a great big parking lat that looks like it could just as easily be a flashy nursing home. Integrating it with the surroundings--like they were in the olden days--is the key.

[RandyWatson13]

Originally Posted by testa50

I like that they are attempting to incorporate private storefronts with the government buildings. Too often these new city hall or courthouse projects turn into a completely sterilized MUNICIPAL FORTRESS OF JUSTICE behind a great big parking lat that looks like it could just as easily be a flashy nursing home. Integrating it with the surroundings--like they were in the olden days--is the key.

BINGO. These top notch, too big, over budget giant city halls and govt buildings with chandeliers and marble floors and wood walls ARE RIDICULOUS and a slap in the taxpayers face.

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by RandyWatson13

BINGO. These top notch, too big, over budget giant city halls and govt buildings with chandeliers and marble floors and wood walls ARE RIDICULOUS and a slap in the taxpayers face.

I disagree. I don't think civic buildings ought to be overly extravagant, but they should serve as quality centerpieces within the urban fabric. If anything, the newer civic buildings pale in comparison in terms of quality and architecture to the buildings of yesteryear when this country wasn't nearly as wealthy.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by koko339

Alpharetta unveils new city center proposal *| ajc.com

Excellent! Downtown Alpharetta is charming.

[NYbyWAYofGA]

The plan looks ok and I'm glad that they decided to incorporate retail into the whole thing. This is definitely a step in the right direction. However, I really wish that there was more of an effort to bury parking all together in these newer developments or to at least actually incorporate some of the retail into the parking structures. Also, I would have the library facing either South Main Street or Academy Street. I don't understand why its' so far in the back of this development (and why is there even surface parking for the library instead of shared parking within the city hall parking deck....????). Those adjustments would make the whole thing more fine grained and walkable, IMHO.

[Akhenaton06]

Several cities have ordinances that mandate that retail spaces be built into the ground floor of parking garages. Alpharetta should follow suit.