Midtown, Ansley Park leaders irked over potential Colony Square ‘land grab’ (Atlanta: neighborhood, restaurants)

[LynnHarris1]

North American Properties’s Colony Square project could soon take over a small slice of city parkland, and some neighbors are still up in arms about how the developer is handling the situation.

NAP is trying to gain city approval for an encroachment permit that would allow the development to use an 18-foot-wide arc of land bordering the Peachtree Circle at 15th Street Triangle as an outdoor dining and patio area for the ground-floor retail component of a planned office building.

The tiny park in Midtown, a stone’s throw from the Ansley Park border, already serves the community as a public space to sit and eat or hang out. Some neighbors don’t understand why NAP needs to privatize part of the city parkland to create more seating space..."

FULL STORY: https://atlanta.curbed.com/2019/5/3/...s-encroachment

SOURCE: Curbed Atlanta

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by LynnHarris1

Some neighbors don’t understand why NAP needs to privatize part of the city parkland to create more seating space..."

Well, there's an easy answer why: to create a space for patrons of those restaurants to sit outside and be served, without having to juggle space with those just hanging out. Also, can a restaurant serve on public property? Whether that's a good or bad reason is for each person to decide.

Street View Of The Spot

Looking at the drawings in the curbed article, they are looking to take the sidewalk area that has the sandwich board with the arrow on it, and the planter area to the left. The facade of the building follows the curved curb to the right. So, they aren't taking any of the existing public seating area away, but would be taking out some trees. I don't know enough about the dynamics of the area to have an opinion on whether this would be a truly bad thing.

[LTCM]

If you want an 18 ft wide seating area don't develop a 0 ft setback building .

Can someone answer me this:
Are they looking to get a permit to set up tables and serve food on piblic land, like they do on the marietta square? A process where the time, size, and layout is regulated by the permit.
Or are they looking to take private ownership of the land?

[MattCW]

What is the benefit vs. loss here? If the park is packed enough throughout the day or at times that the 18ft arc is critical, then I'd side with the neighborhood. But if not, then could the use of the arc actually encourage greater use of the public space?

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by LTCM

If you want an 18 ft wide seating area don't develop a 0 ft setback building .

Can someone answer me this:
Are they looking to get a permit to set up tables and serve food on piblic land, like they do on the marietta square? A process where the time, size, and layout is regulated by the permit.
Or are they looking to take private ownership of the land?

The "he-said, she-said" nature of the conflict between the parties makes it very hard to discern.
If this involves the removal of that row of mature trees, I say Stop Right There.

[LTCM]

Originally Posted by Iconographer

The "he-said, she-said" nature of the conflict between the parties makes it very hard to discern.
If this involves the removal of that row of mature trees, I say Stop Right There.

Yea, that seems reasonable.

[bryantm3]

let alone the 18' strip; that building hugs the border too tightly, almost like taking possession of the park with a design cue, cornering it off. they are basically trying to use the park as a front door. i think people like this park because it's not in the center of things. it's a place to relax and watch the birds. this is antithetical to what people enjoy about the park.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

let alone the 18' strip; that building hugs the border too tightly, almost like taking possession of the park with a design cue, cornering it off. they are basically trying to use the park as a front door. i think people like this park because it's not in the center of things. it's a place to relax and watch the birds. this is antithetical to what people enjoy about the park.

Mmm-hmm.

[cqholt]

This is a non-issue, only brought up because of rich people who have too much time on their hands.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by cqholt

This is a non-issue, only brought up because of rich people who have too much time on their hands.

Well, das vadanya to you too, Karl.