Indianapolis, Indiana-based Simon Property Group seems to be quietly preparing to begin construction on its long planned apartments at Lenox Square. Originally proposed in 2006, word got out last year that the plans were back on and included two towers with some 750 one, two and three bedroom units.
Permits recently filed with the city of Atlanta seem to indicate that the project has once again changed. A project located at 3393 Peachtree Road (Lenox Square's address) is described as "Lenox Towers Development of a high-rise apartment building with parking deck, private drive, and all SPI required streetscape and hardscape. 35 stories, 440 units."
Interestingly, Lenox Towers already exist. Located across the street from Lenox Square at 3390 and 3400 Peachtree, Lenox Towers were built in 1966 and were Buckhead's first high-rise development. The towers are commercial, not residential, and are not associated in any way with Lenox Square or Simon Property Group.
Also, whereas last year the apartment project was to include two towers, this latest intel seems to suggest just one building, 35 stories tall, with only 440 units.
The residences will be built on a rather small parcel of land adjacent to GA 400, behind Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus. The parcel is home to a former SunTrust ATM and has been used to store construction supplies for the ongoing restaurant and retail additions.
Phipps Plaza is also getting a new development, AC Hotels by Marriott is slated to rise near the corner of Wieuca and Peachtree Roads, behind Nordstrom. AC Hotels are design driven and are most common in Spain where there are over 50 properties.
The hotel at Phipps Plaza will be among the first of the AC brand in North America. The chain is similar to Courtyard by Marriott in being a limited service hotel with no food service or meeting space. The hotel will reportedly be six stories, with two levels of parking, both connected to Phipps Plaza.
The lower level will reportedly offer vehicle connection to the Phipps Plaza parking desk with a walking connection for pedestrians on the upper level.
Last year, it was reported that aloft, a brand from Starwood Hotels, would open on the site, but those plans seem to have been abandoned. Aloft has had its fair share of struggles in the Atlanta market, announcing a number of locations to be built, but having none of them materialize. This week, aloft is slated to open its first Atlanta area hotel downtown, in a converted Days Inn on Baker Street.
19 comments:
I see all this dense development announced (this one, the 10th & Piedmont one) and it makes me think - wow Atlanta wants to be a city, but then I look at the infrastructure. These roads can't handle the traffic they currently have, let alone increased traffic. Yes, they're both walking distance to Marta - but we all know Marta is not a real mass transit system (through no fault of Marta!). Midtown and Buckhead have bad traffic all the time now - weekends included. This will only make matters worse. And don't get me started on the new development in West Midtown (14th & Howell Mill and the huge complex on Huff right behind Taqueria Del Sol). How is Howell Mill going to handle that increased traffic!!
This is an absolutely horrible location for an apartment. On any sunny Saturday trying to get in and out of your home will be an epic task. The two towers across Peachtree on the Dante's site and Novare site are going to compound the problem.
Like the above said, density is good but it is good when done with some sense. The infrastructure cannot handle this traffic flow.
There are other good locations in Buckhead for apartments (that empty lot next to the Marriott on Lenox, for example).
And we're not even talking yet about what Buckhead Atlanta will do to Buckhead traffic. Peachtree Road is already extremely dangerous in that area with 6 lanes of fast moving traffic with no median separation and cars turning left everywhere. I'm amazed I've seen no accidents in the area yet. I can't imagine how much worse traffic will get when Buckhead Atlanta opens. Does anyone actually bother to do a traffic study on the effect of it, or do we just let developers come in and screw up the city??
@AJ - Atlanta is already a city, since the 1830's, in fact.
For developers and broke municipalities with pension obligations, there is never too much density. No building too tall, no development too shortsighted, no infrastructure too inadequate. They will issue permits for anything and everything.
Atlanta is being swamped by wannabe's who can't afford Manhattan.
I say build them all and bring on the gridlock - this will force pedestrian focused and bike-oriented infrastructure improvements.
I say build them all and bring on the gridlock - this will force pedestrian focused and bike-oriented infrastructure improvements.
This only happens in affluent, comparatively lower-density cities.
I'm convinced at this point that the traffic "improvements" to Peachtree from Piedmont to Wieuca have actually made traffic worse. Weekends are just awful.
I work with a few people who have started biking to work and they swear they spend less time to and from ... And obviously less $. Amazing how many cut throughs are available around Buckhead on a bike vs. a car.
I couldn't possibly be less interested in hampering Atlanta's growth in an effort to make it easier to drive around in a car.
I couldn't possibly be less interested in hampering Atlanta's growth in an effort to make it easier to drive around in a car.
Of course we don't want growth hampered, but continual building without proper infrastructure will hamper that growth. I'm not saying the infrastructure improvements needed are more roads.
And @Anti-Ag - thanks, had no idea Atlanta was a city. Let's remember, not everything has to be so literal.
I already avoid going to Lenox because the traffic around it is so bad, this will make it worse! Who comes up with these ideas?!
To Anon #3, if you had bothered to read up on the traffic issue on Peachtree around the new Buckhead Atlanta, you would see that Peachtree is about to be completely revamped from Piedmont down to Sheridan Dr. But no, let's just complain about something instead of instigating change. That's much more effective.
What dense development at Tenth and Piedmont are you referring to, AJ?
@Anon @ 4/1 7:06 - not sure if hyperlinks work, but here is the info: http://midtown.patch.com/groups/business-news/p/494unit-mixeduse-proposed-for-10th-street-hole-in-midtown
It's great if they're making improvements to Peachtree but when will they actually be done? 3 years from now? Buckhead Atlanta is opening this summer and there seems to be no planning for the additional traffic on Peachtree that it will bring. And realistically, how much can they really accomplish??
This is actually not a change in the development. They are still planning 750 units in two towers and this will only be the first phase. The second tower will adjoin this one, on the other side of the parking structure.
Increased density = increased tax revenue = infrastructure improvements.
you would see that Peachtree is about to be completely revamped from Piedmont down to Sheridan Dr.
Peachtree is already a 6 lane road. What "revamping" are they going to do?
@AJ - then I'm puzzled by the meaning of your comment. Is Atlanta somehow not a "real" city? By what definition, and whose?
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