Microsoft expansion (Atlanta, Hapeville, Nashville: apartments, renting, how much)

[architect77]

Now is the time to designate and modify a few East-West streets or thoroughfares to reach this new development hot spot from midtown, downtown, etc. besides riding on a future light rail line.

Look at Howell Mill, nothing has been done as years of development projects have made it almost a city unto itself.

The area around Chattahoochee Ave intersection is untenable. It has the worst throughput of any intersection, and what does QT do? build a big station right smack dab in the middle to make it even worse.

They need to build a couple of new ways to traverse that area quickly if for nothing more than for trucks carrying freight and food, etc.

Now is when the shovels should be digging, and no left turn phases should be in any of it either.

[cparker73]

Originally Posted by architect77

Now is the time to designate and modify a few East-West streets or thoroughfares to reach this new development hot spot from midtown, downtown, etc. besides riding on a future light rail line.

Look at Howell Mill, nothing has been done as years of development projects have made it almost a city unto itself.

The area around Chattahoochee Ave intersection is untenable. It has the worst throughput of any intersection, and what does QT do? build a big station right smack dab in the middle to make it even worse.

They need to build a couple of new ways to traverse that area quickly if for nothing more than for trucks carrying freight and food, etc.

Now is when the shovels should be digging, and no left turn phases should be in any of it either.

Now would also be the time to look at enlarging the Bankhead Marta station and building an extension to Cumberland/Battery Park.

Also, Hollowell can't be the only access point into the Microsoft campus. There needs to be a new road off of Marietta Blvd. near the County Animal Services building that will relieve pressure from the Marietta/Hollowell intersection. I can already imagine the stream of cars from the S. Atlanta Road corridor from Smyrna into the city.

The other fix I would pursue is the abandoned bridge used for photo shoots at the intersection of Hollowell and Northside to connect with Marietta St. and potentially Tech Pkwy., which would give Microsoft a literal mainline connection into the talent at Georgia Tech that is drawing them to Atlanta in the first place.

[MattCW]

The Bankhead station is already planned to be enlarged to accommodate 8-car trains. I believe the work is supposed to be done by 2023 or 2025 I can't remember which.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by aries4118

Grove Park
https://goo.gl/maps/SENrJLmKaAJR7ibk8

Grove Park
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grove_Park,_Atlanta

Rockdale
https://goo.gl/maps/mLGLvxao1ANAfZ9b7

Knight Park
https://goo.gl/maps/H4QbHwecHJmZfUHv5

Knight Park
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight...Howell_Station

Bankhead
https://goo.gl/maps/14TAuotXpWKvUrgy5

Bankhead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bankhead,_Atlanta

West Highlands
https://goo.gl/maps/yEjzMpZtpjyVanHy7

Westside Reservoir Park
https://goo.gl/maps/pkPZRUhophXo21qTA

Westside Reservoir Park
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westside_Reservoir_Park


Overview of Area: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neighb...estern_Atlanta

Atlanta: Microsoft East Coast Hub—with a Map
https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/...egion-hub.html

[hilltop180]

This was good news for Atlanta. I live in Mableton so not too far so should help my property values. This is a good step in Atlanta becoming more of a tech sector.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by architect77

Now is the time to designate and modify a few East-West streets or thoroughfares to reach this new development hot spot from midtown, downtown, etc. besides riding on a future light rail line.

Look at Howell Mill, nothing has been done as years of development projects have made it almost a city unto itself.

The area around Chattahoochee Ave intersection is untenable. It has the worst throughput of any intersection, and what does QT do? build a big station right smack dab in the middle to make it even worse.

They need to build a couple of new ways to traverse that area quickly if for nothing more than for trucks carrying freight and food, etc.

Now is when the shovels should be digging, and no left turn phases should be in any of it either.

I've long thought the Westside could be built up and add a lot of density. One reason is there is space to improve the arterial network. They need to work on that.

[demonta4]

Originally Posted by cparker73

Now would also be the time to look at enlarging the Bankhead Marta station and building an extension to Cumberland/Battery Park.

Also, Hollowell can't be the only access point into the Microsoft campus. There needs to be a new road off of Marietta Blvd. near the County Animal Services building that will relieve pressure from the Marietta/Hollowell intersection. I can already imagine the stream of cars from the S. Atlanta Road corridor from Smyrna into the city.

The other fix I would pursue is the abandoned bridge used for photo shoots at the intersection of Hollowell and Northside to connect with Marietta St. and potentially Tech Pkwy., which would give Microsoft a literal mainline connection into the talent at Georgia Tech that is drawing them to Atlanta in the first place.

Tech in general could use a ton more connections to the Westside for both cars and pedestrians. The issue with the bridge connection to Marrietta is that development is in the way to connect it all the way to Tech Pkwy. Georgia Tech would need to redevelop their properties along Marietta (which I'm totally in favor of).

[MattCW]

I doubt we'll ever see that bridge used as a vehicle connection, but I would 100% support that becoming a pedestrian only bridge with a spiral down to Means st. I wish the Westside Connector had a better connection to DLH. Maybe that new massive development north of DLH will have better connection between the trail and road.

[architect77]

West midtown is the next big growth area, but have y'all ever driven on some of the "paved streets" over there?

A muddy, rutty, dirt road full of tree roots would be smoother.

I'd never seen anything like it over there.

I believe that sometimes decisions are based solely looking at maps without learning about an area.

I wonder if any of the CEOs of companies that moved their HQs here have any regrets because I contend that they don't yet know fully about how the state and city of Atlanta perform on average compared to where they left.

I say all that because just like with Ponce and Old Fourth Ward, the ambiance might not change even with the development and though I don't know it well, I would say the West side has some ambiance that's not good and might not ever change.

[demonta4]

Originally Posted by architect77

West midtown is the next big growth area, but have y'all ever driven on some of the "paved streets" over there?

A muddy, rutty, dirt road full of tree roots would be smoother.

I'd never seen anything like it over there.

I believe that sometimes decisions are based solely looking at maps without learning about an area.

I wonder if any of the CEOs of companies that moved their HQs here have any regrets because I contend that they don't yet know fully about how the state and city of Atlanta perform on average compared to where they left.

I say all that because just like with Ponce and Old Fourth Ward, the ambiance might not change even with the development and though I don't know it well, I would say the West side has some ambiance that's not good and might not ever change.

The ambiance of O4W has most certainly changed even with the remaining low income residents still on Boulevard. When developing in any city with extreme poverty and income inequality present, crime is going to be an issue (unless you want NYPD style policing with random stops and profiling of minorities). The issue is our terrible public infrastructure in Georgia as a whole. We don’t spend efficiently enough in areas that matter like healthcare for those with mental issues, homeless facilities, public schools in low income areas, improving regional universities and community colleges, and public transportation. These issues won’t change unless leadership in our state changes. Microsoft knows all of this so they apparently don’t see it as a concern compared to the benefits of the lower costs of business here.