Wal-Mart coming to Glenwood Park?

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by jsvh

GPNA also is holding a City Wide 800 Glenwood Conversation at the Zoo Atlanta ARC Building Coca-Cola World Theater on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.

Anyone going to be able to make it to this? I may have a conflict and not be able to make it tonight, but would love to get a re-cap.

[jsvh]

I ended up making it to this. There was a good showing. Had a few different council members there, and others had representatives. Spent some time recapping and talking legal plans and the process. There were also representatives from many other neighborhoods there too.

The key message is that this is not about this one parcel or fighting one big box. This is about the Beltline. Specifically its overlay that is its back bone. The same lawyers that are fighting for Fuqua on this are already starting the process on other parcels around the city with other developers. There are already other fights starting to enter the courts as developers are sensing that this Beltline overlay may not be upheld and they can build based on the underlying Industrial zoning (because most of the parcels near the Beltline were near rail road tracks) instead of the Beltine overlay that was designed to supersede that zoning.

The process of changing the underlying zoning of all the other parcels is starting but it will take years. And if a developer gets that initial permit in before the zoning is changed then they can build under the industrial zoning just like this parcel. And these developments bring in a fraction of the tax revenue of the dense mixed use that is intended, which means the TAD that funds future Beltline extensions and transit will not have enough funding!

If this effort fails we will see a rush of poorly planned developments rush to snap up parcels around the Beltline before they are rezoned!

Make sure your neighborhood is on top of this and involved with this fight!

[jsvh]

Fuqua, residents discuss possible Glenwood Park development changes | Atlanta News & Opinion Blog | Fresh Loaf | Creative Loafing Atlanta

I am really glad to see this. I think most in the neighborhood would support a reasonable compromise and want development to happen here.

[JPD]

Cautiously optimistic. We'll see what, if anything, comes of this PR move.

[arjay57]

"He also told residents that a parking-deck, smaller anchor tenant, or multi-level urban-style building would not be feasible."

Nice compromise!

[tikigod311]

Exactly. So all the things that residents hate about it and are important for the long term development of the surrounding community.... yeah, we're not fixing that. Here's a green wall, now shut up.

Thanks for reminding me that I really don't like this guy.

[jsvh]

Just so folks are in the loop: Talks are still on-going and nothing is final but I have been to a couple public meetings on this now and it sounds like there is some good progress. People are at the table and talking that never have before. Supposedly even including some folks from the Beltline.

Ideas that appear to have traction so far include:
-A Mid-rise multi-family development with retail on the first floor at the corner of Glenwood and Custer surrounding a parking deck
-Additional non-big box retail space on the property
-Senior mid-rise towards Kalb Ave in the back of the property
-Office space on top of the big-box
-Improvements to the walk-ability of the development and near by

However there is still going to be surface parking on part of the development due to a large sewer trunk that cuts through the middle of the property and cannot be built on top of. But that will be blocked from view on Beltline and Glenwood.

Again, none of this is final at this point. It could all fall apart but hopefully it works out. As this will be a tough legal fight and the neighborhood legal fund is running low and facing a real up hill battle. And if the developer wins they get to build the originally planed big box as is.

[arjay57]

Sounds like some positive changes, jsvh! Hope springs eternal.