Reynoldstown apartment controversy (Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Roswell: apartment complex, rent, condominium)

[arjay57]

How do folks on the east side feel about this?

Sounds to me like Cathy Woolard is raising some valid points.

I have also wondered what some of these apartments that have been built are going to look 20 years from now.

“We know what this rezoning application portends — more poorly constructed, high-priced apartments designed without consideration of the impact on the city, the neighborhood, or Atlanta Beltline users,” Woolard writes. “The building interface with the Beltline corridor needs to be more than a back-door entrance for residents of the building to enjoy, and the quality of the building needs to exceed the projected 20-year life cycle that the developer has stated to neighborhood leaders.”

Beltline apartment proposal in Reynoldstown is alarming, former councilmember says - Curbed Atlanta

Pay Attention to Reynoldstown

[David1502]

Originally Posted by arjay57

How do folks on the east side feel about this?

Sounds to me like Cathy Woolard is raising some valid points.

I have also wondered what some of these apartments that have been built are going to look 20 years from now.

I agree completely. There is serious overbuilding of apartments throughout Metro Atlanta and this will lead to many of these complexes being forced to lower their rents in the future the next time we face a recession. Reduced rent will lead to decreased maintenance and these apartments will join the many other existing older apartments which are eyesores in their respective communities.


There are numerous examples of corridors of apartment communities which have seen better days - Buford Highway, Franklin Rd. in Marietta, Roswell Rd. in Sandy Springs, and too many older complexes in Smyrna to count. The majority of these were marketed as luxury apartments when they opened and got high rents for a few years, but as time went on, the management failed to keep up the property and thus we see what they are today.


Why should city and county governments believe that this pattern will not continue today and in the future?


Instead, they should encourage more condominium development because it will enable people to actually own something and not perpetually throw their money away in rent.


What is going to happen when these millennials just out of college decide in the next 10 years that they are tired of paying close to $20,000 a year in rent with nothing to show for it and choose to own? There aren't enough condominium properties being constructed to fill this need. Also, as the millennials decide to marry and form families of their own, there aren't enough two to three bedroom apartments available to meet their demand even if they choose to continue renting.


Fortunately, Cathy Woolard is taking a long term perspective on the explosion of construction of apartments.

[jsvh]

While I don't personally like some of the suburban design characteristics, we need to stop putting up barriers to new development. Those are exactly what is constraining supply and causing housing prices to increase so much.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by David1502

I agree completely. There is serious overbuilding of apartments throughout Metro Atlanta and this will lead to many of these complexes being forced to lower their rents in the future the next time we face a recession. Reduced rent will lead to decreased maintenance and these apartments will join the many other existing older apartments which are eyesores in their respective communities.


There are numerous examples of corridors of apartment communities which have seen better days - Buford Highway, Franklin Rd. in Marietta, Roswell Rd. in Sandy Springs, and too many older complexes in Smyrna to count. The majority of these were marketed as luxury apartments when they opened and got high rents for a few years, but as time went on, the management failed to keep up the property and thus we see what they are today.


Why should city and county governments believe that this pattern will not continue today and in the future?


Instead, they should encourage more condominium development because it will enable people to actually own something and not perpetually throw their money away in rent.


What is going to happen when these millennials just out of college decide in the next 10 years that they are tired of paying close to $20,000 a year in rent with nothing to show for it and choose to own? There aren't enough condominium properties being constructed to fill this need. Also, as the millennials decide to marry and form families of their own, there aren't enough two to three bedroom apartments available to meet their demand even if they choose to continue renting.


Fortunately, Cathy Woolard is taking a long term perspective on the explosion of construction of apartments.

In fairness, some of the very high-end apartments are being built with the potential to convert into condos down the road.

[cqholt]

Here's an current apartment complex, built using mostly wood, that's Phase 2 will be

condo-style residential apartment homes

First look: Modera Morningside
Of course not everyone wants or can own, but there is demand for luxury apartments.

[JPD]

I was opposed to this on the grounds that it's too big for the neighborhood. Now that I know they're intentionally building it to be a slum in 20 years I'm even more opposed to it.

The Beltline (am I allowed to use that word?) folks threatened the neighborhood when they opposed it. They said, accept this development, or we might not route the Beltline through your neighborhood. To which the neighborhood replied "Who cares? We like this stretch of abandoned railway as it is."

[cqholt]

Woolard has no chance of winning. She has been out of Atlanta politics too long and many new residents do not know who she is.

[jsvh]

Restrictions to force developments to be "affordable".

Restrictions to force developments to be built as high end condos.

Restrictions to force developments to cater to drivers (min parking requirements, etc).

Restrictions to force developments to provide for bikers / EVs / green buildings.

Restrictions to force developments to not be too tall.

Restrictions to force developments to be set back from the street.

Restrictions to force developments to not have too much floor area.

Restrictions to force developments to go through lengthy 1yr+ approval process.

Restrictions to force developments to pay hefty impact fees and other costs.

Restrictions to force developments to build sidewalk / roads / infrastructure for the municipality.


Is it really any surprise we are facing a housing supply shortage and skyrocketing prices in actual slums and high-end buildings alike?

What about we just let developers build what people want and can afford to live in (beyond basic structural / fire regulations)?

[brown_dog_us]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Is it really any surprise we are facing a housing supply shortage and skyrocketing prices in actual slums and high-end buildings alike?

It probably still feels like Atlanta has an apartment shortage, but there is so much building going on that in the near future rents will flat line or decrease.

[mattee01]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Restrictions to force developments to be "affordable".

Restrictions to force developments to be built as high end condos.

Restrictions to force developments to cater to drivers (min parking requirements, etc).

Restrictions to force developments to provide for bikers / EVs / green buildings.

Restrictions to force developments to not be too tall.

Restrictions to force developments to be set back from the street.

Restrictions to force developments to not have too much floor area.

Restrictions to force developments to go through lengthy 1yr+ approval process.

Restrictions to force developments to pay hefty impact fees and other costs.

Restrictions to force developments to build sidewalk / roads / infrastructure for the municipality.


Is it really any surprise we are facing a housing supply shortage and skyrocketing prices in actual slums and high-end buildings alike?

What about we just let developers build what people want and can afford to live in (beyond basic structural / fire regulations)?

Indeed. Atlanta is facing a very serious affordability crisis. At least in the cases of many other large cities they have higher minimum wages and salaries in general. Atlanta can not say the same. When its almost impossible to find something under 800 a month thats not a slum or 20 miles out, its time to make some changes.

Speaking of which where do any of the GA candidatss up for election this year stand on this...or are they still talking out the side of their mouths?