Orlando developer to buy former GM plant in Doraville (Atlanta: 2015, designer)

[Galounger]

The economist in me never could understand how we keep getting developments that induce people to spend money ( retail, apartments) replacing places that once paid thousands of people good incomes (GM Doraville). It doesn't seem to balance out.

I know retail provides jobs as well but we're talking a few low paying cashier and store clerk jobs replacing thousands of some of the highest paying jobs you'll find in the area.

[ElleKaye]

OK, I did a quick read so maybe I missed it, but what are they planning to put there? What I got out of it was they are planning to make it a historic redevelopment and build some residential units nearby. I'm not altogether sure I even know what "historic redevelopment" means. Neverthless, I can't say it sounds like bad news. Good for them if they are able to repurpose the plant for something else. It's better to have something than nothing.

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by Galounger

The economist in me never could understand how we keep getting developments that induce people to spend money ( retail, apartments) replacing places that once paid thousands of people good incomes (GM Doraville). It doesn't seem to balance out.

I know retail provides jobs as well but we're talking a few low paying cashier and store clerk jobs replacing thousands of some of the highest paying jobs you'll find in the area.

the manufacturing jobs have generally been replaced with desk jobs at the companies that relocate here, like telecom companies, insurance companies, payroll companies, etc.

[Galounger]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

the manufacturing jobs have generally been replaced with desk jobs at the companies that relocate here, like telecom companies, insurance companies, payroll companies, etc.

Wow that's reassuring. At the time of it's closing GM had among the highest paid jobs on average of any company in America. In the 90's starting pay was $20 per hour for low level jobs and much much higher for managers and engineers. I have aunts in Ohio and Michigan that retired from GM in the '90s making well over $30/hr with excellent benefits and retirement plans. These jobs have been replaced by telecom jobs? I would hate to have to live off the pay they generally provide.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by Galounger

The economist in me never could understand how we keep getting developments that induce people to spend money ( retail, apartments) replacing places that once paid thousands of people good incomes (GM Doraville). It doesn't seem to balance out.

I know retail provides jobs as well but we're talking a few low paying cashier and store clerk jobs replacing thousands of some of the highest paying jobs you'll find in the area.

I think it is unlikely another company would come in and go through a major renovation project to make that site work for them.

If the factory stayed in business there wouldn't be a huge redevelopment push, but it did close and is just rotting empty space.

Most new companies moving to the area are operating in cheaper exurban/rural spaces on very large industrial sites with more room to custom build their operations from scratch. (ie caterpillar in Athens, Kia in West Point, etc...) Those types of large industrial sites are on larger pieces of property, have room for future expansion, and didn't have the limitations of working in a renovated space with no expansion room.

Even locally most smaller industrial plants seem to be operating in places like Gwinnett, Clayton, South Cobb or Fulton Industrial more often. They have rapidly grown in the amount of square footage of industrial space. Many of the places that seem to require a heavy presence of engineers seem to be opening up in North Fulton and Gwinnett, like many Siemens subsidiaries.

But economically speaking what our city (ITP) areas need more of are dense residential areas to meet the demand of our fast growing professional services market with easier access to the city's core and Perimeter Center. This is why there is a boom in high-end apartments and before the recession/housing collapse there was a boom in condos. Those are well paying jobs too. At the moment ITP there are only about 750,000 residents. At current zoning, including Beltline, and vacant intown properties in the traditionally more impoverished neighborhoods we'd be lucky to get that number too much over 1,000,000. So there is a useful demand to be met.

My real concern has more to do with maintaining access to jobs for all types of demographics. Industrial purposes are being pushed away from the cities typical transit areas. Of course this is nothing new, but it could lower job accessibility to some people.

[jsvh]

GM project to be something totally new for region - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Sounds like the developer has big plans. Something more than Atlantic Station, but a whole new transit-connected district that is its own sub-market not unlike the scale of Perimeter of Cumberland.

[cqholt]

Doraville GM plant redevelopment gains momentum - Atlanta Business Chronicle
The city has updated its zoning for mixed use.

[arjay57]

Sounds like Doraville is on fire.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Sounds like Doraville is on fire.

And has plenty of elbow room.

[arjay57]

They do, cq. Let's hope they are smart about preserving it.