Roswell Town Center... It Needs to go

This is the seventh post in a series of posts this December that will chronicle the 25 things we would most like to see in Roswell. None of these are actually happening... at least in the way we'd like them to. Please enjoy and have a happy holidays!

 

I do understand that it has had a recent resurgence in leasing with the Aurora Cineplex and a couple other tenants.  However, that doesn't change the fact that the 'Town Center' is an aging strip center based on a 1970's-80's business model of locating big-box retail at the can't-miss intersection.  Additionally across Holcomb Bridge from our Town Center is the aptly named Roswell Village.  Neither of these places even closely resemble a true town center or village.  About the only redeeming quality of that intersection is Stoney River's legendary steaks.  Maybe we should do something about that.

If I had my way, The entire area at the intersection of 9 and Holcomb Bridge/Crossville would be completely re-done with the creation of a neighborhood node.  I would line the two main roads in office/retail that is brought up to the street and radiate a mix of uses including a strong residential piece.  A key would be to make it a regional transit hub that would provide express service to MARTA (or ARTSY, see previous post).  

We might even be able to incorporate a major employer or two in the area and also keep the entertainment businesses that are currently there.  The possibilities are endless for that area but it it's current form, it's a relic of a development pattern that on life support.  The sooner we realize this and start looking at alternatives, the better.

Bring Real Businesses & Jobs to Roswell

This is the sixth post in a series of posts this December that will chronicle the 25 things we would most like to see in Roswell. None of these are actually happening... at least in the way we'd like them to. Please enjoy and have a happy holidays!

Sure, we have business here and we do have jobs. We have the Find It All Roswell program to encourage residents to spend their dollars in their city.

But really... Roswell is the job void between the Perimeter area to our south and Alpharetta to our north. We missed the boat on a huge opportunity to build this city's tax base in the 90's but you can't blame the city for not seeing it coming. In a way, it's nice to not be Alpharetta. That city will quickly find that it can't sustain itself. This will happen when business start moving back closer to the region center as they chase the talent. That talent overwhelmingly prefers walkable, mixed-use, transit oriented development over the boring sprawl that they grew up in.

So, right now is the time to begin courting real businesses by livening up our city core even more. Dunwoody and Sandy Springs will always have a little edge on that front because they are closer in and a lot of infrastructure is already in place. Plus, I don't think we want that type of development here in Roswell. Towers are just vertical cul-de-sacs and we don't need any more of those either horizontal or vertical. Alpharetta has committed itself to the sprawl pattern and as referenced above will have its issues.

Roswell on the other hand actually has a real center with some appropriately sized blocks that could create a great mixed-use environment in the future. This type of environment is exactly what will attract the future creative college grads that our economy will thrive on. So, it is critical that we commit ourselves as a community to build in a more sustainable, mixed-use pattern around the core of our city to attract new businesses.

Now, there are some ideas out there to bring real business to the core of our city. I can't give much detail but I have heard of some very large, very interesting opportunities to bring big companies to Roswell in the core of the city. This could create an employment center that would drive the smart, new urbanist development that will be successful in the future.

Let's hope we start making the right decisions and that we put appropriate incentives and deals together to bring in great businesses.

Apologies for the Delays...

I want to apologize to the readers for the delays in the Christmas Wish List.  I spent the last week studying for my CNU-A certification through the Congress for the New Urbanism and didn't have the time to post.  We'll be catching up this weekend so keep checking back for some interesting (hopefully) wish list items this weekend.

Build the Boutique Hotel on the Square

 This is the fifth post in a series of posts this December that will chronicle the 25 things we would most like to see in Roswell. None of these are actually happening... at least in the way we'd like them to. Please enjoy and have a happy holidays!

I have to say that I think this is one of the best ideas out there for revitalization in the heart of Roswell and not just because I live about 300 feet away from the proposed location.  It was approved in mid-2008 but due to the economy, it never got off the ground.  It's a beautifully designed property that could be a game changer in Roswell.

The local synergies that would be realized if this were to come to fruition would be incredible.  They would come in the form or a more coherent location for our special events lodging.  There are weddings, proms, holiday parties and all kinds of other events that go on right in the heart of Roswell every weekend but the only lodging is out by 400.  The ability for hotel guests to walk to our destinations and to events would be great.  Not to mention, this project would give them the ability to enjoy our beautiful heritage and scenery instead of bunking at a chain hotel next to the freeway.

From an urbanism standpoint, it would help complete the square which badly needs to tighten up its sense of enclosure.  If you've been to both Marietta's square and our square, you'll know what I mean.

The price tag on this project was put at about $70M back around 2008 which is hefty.  To put it into perspective, that is roughly equivalent to the price of the Atlanta Streetcar.  So, I don't think this one is going to happen anytime soon.  But, I do hope the idea stays out there.

images: TalMar Development

A Truly Regional Transportation System in Atlanta

This is the fourth post in a series of posts this December that will chronicle the 25 things we would most like to see in Roswell. None of these are actually happening... at least in the way we'd like them to. Please enjoy and have a happy holidays!

So, I could go on an on about this one but we'll keep it short.  I'd like to see a truly regional transit system.  It's starting to look possible with all of the wrangling around the MARTA exclusion in HB277.  So, who knows?  Maybe this wish will come true.

Here's my idea.  Dismantle MARTA... Rename the whole thing Atlanta Regional Transit System... ARTSY for short..  

Tie the whole thing together with a theme around the arts and engage local business, schools, and citizens to participate.  I envision something similar to Art on the Beltline except on a MUCH larger scale.  Buses & Trains would be wrapped with artwork instead of advertisements.  Stations  stops would be uniquely artistic.  Local schools would have contests to design a bus, train or station and winners would actually get their designs put into use.

I think a rebranded, refocused regional system would do a lot to change the image/stigma of the current system and ridership would likely begin to increase relatively quickly.  However a strong TOD approach would be needed to bring the system up to date and make us competitive with other major metros in the US.  

image: Citizens for Progressive Transit

Redesign South Atlanta Street ASAP

This is the third post in a series of posts this December that will chronicle the 25 things we would most like to see in Roswell. None of these are actually happening... at least in the way we'd like them to. Please enjoy and have a happy holidays!

So, we have a great plan for South Atlanta Street. I guess there are just other priorities. Those reversible lanes are dangerous and the sidewalks down to the river are woefully inadequate. Do we need someone to die before the city takes action on this area? If I had my way, this would be one of the top priorities.

Additionally, as a major gateway to our city, the aesthetics should really be improved.

Actually Implement the. DPZ Master Plan

This is the second post in a series of posts this December that will chronicle the 25 things we would most like to see in Roswell.  None of these are actually happening... at least in the way we'd like them to.  Please enjoy and have a happy holidays! 

We all know what happens with master plans… The community gets excited, people participate and get excited about the future of their community. Then, once the planners are gone, the draft just sits on a shelf and collects dust. This isn’t exactly the case but due to the fact that development and changes in land use patterns move at glacial speed, the community feels that nothing is happening.

What we need to do is actually commit to investing in the infrastructure upgrades that are outlined in our new master plan. Then create incentive and reward systems that will spur the development that we are looking for. Additionally, people need to lose their fear of ‘density’ but that’s a side conversation that I’ll reserve for another day.

My point is that too many master plans end up being dreams instead of actually being implemented. So, the second item on my Christmas wish would be to actually implement the hypothetical DPZ master plan on an accelerated schedule.

A DPZ Master Plan for Roswell

This is the first post in a series of posts this December that will chronicle the 25 things we would most like to see in Roswell. None of these are actually happening... at least in the way we'd like them to. Please enjoy and have a happy holidays!

Now, don’t get me wrong, I like the Imagine Roswell 2030 process. I think as many of us as possible should participate and I think we will get a decent master plan out of it. However, we need a company that specializes in new urbanist and smart growth planning to come in and organize a master plan that will give us the tools to grow into a truly sustainable community over the next 20 years and beyond. We need to further invest in our city center, reduce the amount of placeless sprawl, create more diverse communities, restructure our land-use policies to be more efficient and continue to embrace our built heritage. The company that the city is currently working with , POND|ECOS, has experience in the Atlanta area and are doing some interesting projects that are environmentally progressive. I’m optimistic but the jury is still out.

Now, when you look at DPZ (Duany Plater-Zyperk), they are simply the best in the game (although their website could use a little work). The company was founded by husband and wife partners Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, pioneers of New Urbanism and Smart growth. Sure other companies come close but none have the New Urbanist and Smart Growth street cred that DPZ has. If you are not familiar with DPZ, they have authored more New Urbanist plans than any other company and they essentially created the Smart Code and they designed Seaside. Need I say more? The ideas and logic that they could bring to the table for improving Roswell would be incredible.

Compare POND|ECOS to DPZ, and there is no contest. DPZ is a firm that has done plans and/or codes for cities like Miami, Baton Rouge, Fort Meyers, Naples, Downtown LA, Sarasota, West Palm Beach… you get the drift. Now, I’m not saying that POND|ECOS can’t get the job done but if we truly want to differentiate ourselves from the rest of North Fulton, we should be looking in another direction for our planning. If we don’t we’ll end up just like the rest of the suburban cities in and around Atlanta.

Now, don’t take this as a railing of POND|ECOS because it’s not. It’s my personal wish for the best there is to offer for Roswell.

Now here’s my take on the pros and cons:

Pros

• Experience – DPZ planners come with unparalleled experience Place Making - Exceptional plans that accomplish the ultimate goal of place making

Cons

• Price – I’m sure DPZ is crazy expensive

The New Urban Roswell Christmas Wishlist

So, we wanted to get into the spirit of the holidays here at New Urban Roswell and could think of no better way to do so than to share our Roswell Wish List with our readers. Over the next 25 days, we will be posting an item from our wish list daily. As you know, we don’t usually post that frequently but we’re excited for this and our list has grown to include a lot of items. It reminds me of what I used to send to Santa each year except that a kid would find this stuff really, really boring. Not this kid though!!

The coming posts are ideas, not necessarily our own, that we think would be great for Roswell and in some cases the region. We hope you enjoy and have a happy holidays!

High Speed Bus Plan - The Onion Style

This was too hysterical to resist. Enjoy!

Obama Replaces Costly High-Speed Rail Plan With High-Speed Bus Plan