Turner Field Redevelopment RFP Going Out Next Month (Atlanta: apartments, neighborhoods)

[cqholt]

Fanplex site is not part of Turner Field RFP.
Why isn't FanPlex being sold with Turner Field? - Atlanta Magazine

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Fanplex site is not part of Turner Field RFP.
Why isn't FanPlex being sold with Turner Field? - Atlanta Magazine

Sell it. The fact that we've sunk millions into this thing doesn't justify spending more money on it.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Fanplex site is not part of Turner Field RFP.
Why isn't FanPlex being sold with Turner Field? - Atlanta Magazine

Well, at least the plans from GSU didn't have that property as part of the design. It really should be gotten rid of, but, as far as I can tell, it was never part of the plan. There are other properties around, mostly large surface parking, that are not included but could prove to be very valuable in the near future.

I wonder if the city is waiting to sell it until after they choose a Turner Field buyer, so they can up the price of the property if the chosen developer leads to a property value increase?

Edit: after reading the full article, it would appear that I am on the right track:

Through a spokesperson, Bottoms explained that the Rec Authority will keep FanPlex because officials believe they can “maximize the value of that property if it is offered for sale separately.” In the process, the Rec Authority plans to spruce up the building in a way that’s similar to a “homeowner [who] might paint a house before placing it on the market.” - See more at: http://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-....t9RBPXVN.dpuf

[cqholt]

Turner Field Bidders
Turner Field bidders released | www.ajc.com
3 groups submitted bids for Turner Field. GSU being the most recognizable.

Three groups have submitted bids to acquire all or part of Turner Field, according to the recreation authority overseeing the sale and redevelopment of the ballpark.

Georgia State University is the only widely-recognized name among the bidders, which also include two little-known entities: Mercury Youth Organization, Inc. and Rita World Pearl Kingdom, LLC.

Though Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed dropped hints of prominent suitors for the ballpark during the past two years, in the end, no other large scale development groups, corporate entities or casino interests made offers on the site.

BREAKING: Turner Field bidders released photo
Aerial of Turner Field May 7, 2014. (BRANT SANDERLIN /BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM)
The Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority did not release the amount of the bids, development plans, nor details including how much of Turner Field each entity hopes to acquire when the Atlanta Braves leave for Cobb at the end of 2016.

Mercury Youth Organization Inc., formerly known as the Mercury Track Club of Atlanta, formed in the 1970s to train kids to participate in track and field events. According to its website, Mercury Youth has sought to build an indoor track for year-round training in multiple sports. The organization could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Details about the Rita World organization are not immediately known, nor could it be reached for comment. No such entity is listed in the Georgia Secretary of State’s corporations archives and simple Internet and public record database searches revealed no information about the group.

Georgia State and real estate firm Carter announced hopes in 2014 to redevelop Turner Field in a public and private mixed-use development. The entities, partnering with Oakwood Development, are behind a $300 million project that includes student housing, apartments, retail and the conversion of Turner Field into a football stadium.

The Carter firmed declined comment out of respect to the closed bidding process and directed comment to the recreation authority.

Many residents, real estate and political observers have privately said a sale to Georgia State and Carter was all but inevitable given its backing by such prominent boosters as Reed.

What’s more, the request for proposals includes what some consider a nod to the Carter plan as it calls for renovating, reusing or repurposing the stadium structure “as a key asset in the development program” or to provide an “iconic replacement structure.”

Matthew Garbett, a spokesman for the Turner Field Community Benefits Coalition, said he was surprised that groups other than Georgia State and Carter bid on the ballpark. The coalition represents residents of Summerhill, Peoplestown and Mechanicsville in issues related to the sale of Turner Field. Garbett said he, like many, are not familiar with Rita World.

“We always suspected there wouldn’t be a lot of bids, especially when the person making the final decision has publicly supported one institution,” he said, in reference to Reed. “I think everyone else is just very surprised and interested to see what the proposals are for these other group, and in fact, who one of the groups even is.”

The redevelopment area contained in the RFP covers six parcels, including the ballpark, totaling 67 acres of land. The Turner Field site is nearly 80 acres, but media lot, lots across the interstate and FanPlex are not included in the bid.

Many residents sought to delay the sale of Turner Field until the completion of a community study next summer. Authority officials and Reed have said the sale must move forward now, however, in order to have a new owner in place when the Braves vacate the ballpark by Dec. 31, 2016.

Keisha Lance Bottoms, the authority’s executive director, said at a community meeting in September that the study and sale process “can run parallel courses” and that the community will continue to have opportunities for input. The recommendations that result from the study, she said, can be incorporated in final negotiations with a future buyer.

According to the RFP, which was issued on Oct. 2, the chosen developer will be the one determined to be best able “to create an economic anchor that drives demand for new development in the immediate area, generates new jobs and tax-paying activities while simultaneously facilitating the long-term integration of Atlanta’s Downtown business district and surrounding neighborhoods.”

Bottoms said the bids will be evaluated and scored based on the requirements within the RFP.

Still, it remains unclear just who will have the final say on the Turner Field sale.

Fulton County and Atlanta leaders have yet to agree on whether the Atlanta City Council and Fulton County Commission must approve the sale.

Reed has said the recreation authority alone has the power to approve a development deal. Fulton County Chairman John Eaves disagrees, saying the county owns property at the ballpark and therefore has a vote.

Still rooting for GSU and it's preservation of Turner Field and AFCS site.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Turner Field Bidders
Turner Field bidders released | www.ajc.com
3 groups submitted bids for Turner Field. GSU being the most recognizable.

Still rooting for GSU and it's preservation of Turner Field and AFCS site.

Looks like GSU is a lock. One the AJC couldn't get ahold of and the other couldn't/wouldn't explain their financing. Georgia St. seems to be the only credible bid. Maybe the others got discouraged by Mayor Reed who made it clear which he wanted.

Noteworthy that GSU isn't committed to converting Turner Field to a football stadium. They are also considering a football stadium on the north end and making Turner Field mixed use. Can't see how that would be a financially viable alternative. Its one thing to convert a warehouse to mixed use. Hard to see an open air baseball stadium becoming one. Probably cheaper to tear it down and start over if they are doing that.

[J2rescue]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Turner Field Bidders
Turner Field bidders released | www.ajc.com
3 groups submitted bids for Turner Field. GSU being the most recognizable.

Still rooting for GSU and it's preservation of Turner Field and AFCS site.

GSU remains far and away the most logical, and viable re-imagination of Turner Field. I don't really understand the opposition from the neighborhood group.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by bu2

Looks like GSU is a lock. One the AJC couldn't get ahold of and the other couldn't/wouldn't explain their financing. Georgia St. seems to be the only credible bid. Maybe the others got discouraged by Mayor Reed who made it clear which he wanted.

Noteworthy that GSU isn't committed to converting Turner Field to a football stadium. They are also considering a football stadium on the north end and making Turner Field mixed use. Can't see how that would be a financially viable alternative. Its one thing to convert a warehouse to mixed use. Hard to see an open air baseball stadium becoming one. Probably cheaper to tear it down and start over if they are doing that.

Part of the RFP requires preservation of Turner Field.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by J2rescue

GSU remains far and away the most logical, and viable re-imagination of Turner Field. I don't really understand the opposition from the neighborhood group.

They are holding out for a Whole Foods.

[jero23]

Originally Posted by cqholt

They are holding out for a Whole Foods.

They need to be holding out for a top-quality Kroger with a full organic foods section instead. Most residents in those area would be more satisfied with Kroger or Publix versus a Whole Foods store.

[arjay57]

Will residents actually have a say in the future of Turner Field? - Atlanta Magazine