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

Peach Bites

Urban areas see revival in housing construction
USA Today - USA
This article details the renaissance of sorts that has been occurring in the hearts of many urban areas. It's not rocket surgery and most people have noted the trend but I tought it was about time that an official in the metro area made a statement like this: "Demographics have really changed," says Dan Reuter, land use chief at the Atlanta Regional Commission. "People are waiting longer to get married, longer to have children, and once children are grown up, we're living longer." Now, that is newsworthy.

MARTA in tough straits as revenue, ridership dip
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
Another story about the spike in ridership on MARTA last year during the gas crunch. It obviously serves the city when the people need it but what is the region doing to make the residents of the metro area realize that need when gas isn't expensive. Shortening the time of a bus ride down from double that of a car trip would be a goood start.

Atlanta's Environmental Efforts Profiled at Montreal Trade Show
Global Atlanta
City officials explained the city's sustainability initiatives and the beltline. Lynette Young, executive director of the private group, Sustainable Atlanta, discussed Atlanta's progress on asthma initiatives and work being done to reduce the city's carbon footprint. Joe Basista, commissioner of Atlanta's Public Works Department, also discussed an exciting new project that will issue recycling rebates to city residents for recycling.

Peach Bites

Atlanta has been busy since our last readings post. Catch up with some of the more notable stories below.


Overbuilt? (AJC) - Metro Atlanta ranks third worst in the nation in empty homes. Wow! Only Las Vegas and Detroit rank higher in the numbers of vacant rental properties and single family homes on the market currently. Notable Quote: "Intown Atlanta had more than 6,000 new unsold condo units at the end of 2008, and only 645 new units sold the entire year, Haddow & Co. says."

Stimulus Package Breakdown (AJC) - Info below taken directly from the AJC:

• Transit - More than $1.01 billion for highways and bridges; $168 million for transit capital grants
• Energy - Will be determined by legislative action and efforts by private companies and homeowners to apply for credits and grants, but $97.8 million is included for weatherization.
• Education - $420 million for Title I schools; $333 million for special education; some of the $1.28 billion the state will receive in fiscal stabilization funds will also go to education, specifically for modernization and renovation.
• Unemployed & Poor - Estimated $220 million in additional unemployment insurance trust fund dollars.

Atlanta Receives Poor Marks for Park Space (AJC) - Atlanta is still one of the worst cities in the nation when it comes to parks. The report indicates that the main cause is lack of spending on parks. While surrounding counties' citizens have taken it upon themselves to pay taxes, $264M in Cherokee, Cobb & Gwinnett, the City of Atlanta has been mired in infrastructure issues for the better part of the decade. The beltline will go a long way to improve the city's standing but we all know the issues there. Notable Quote: "Apparently, it takes green to be green." State of Atlanta's Parks (Park Pride .pdf)

Peach Bites

The American Planning Association’s National Planning Excellence Award for Implementation goes to the Atlanta Regional Commission's Livable Centers Iniative (AJC Planning.org)

Supreme Court Won't Hear Georgia Water Wars Case (Atlanta Business Chronicle)

The McMansion Trend in Housing is Slowing (Christian Science Monitor)

Time To Reboot America - Op Ed by Thomas Friedman (NY Times)

The 22-Mile LifePreserver - Almost a decade after it was first proposed, the BeltLine still offers promise - or potential pitfalls? (Next American City)

The Streets of Buckhead - LEED Silver & Brownfield Cleanup

This isn't necessarily new news but given that I spent soo much time and money in the Buckhead Village in the late 90's and early 00's, I felt obligated to write about it.  Man I spent so much money there.  About the only bars left that I would have frequented are East Andrews and Moon Dog's (although there are a few less memorable others).  Buckhead has done a complete 180 from the times when the area embraced a party district that was one of the nations most popular and oft notorious spots for nightlife.

From 2001 to 2003, the crowd declined in civility and in number until the massive crowds were gone.  Buckhead had decided that it was time for a change and about a year ago pretty much the whole buckhead village area was razed and a new era for Buckhead started.  This was because the vision of lifelong area resident Ben Carter was ready to be realized.  The Streets of Buckhead is as the developer Ben Carter Properties says;

...is the southern address for European style, in the heart of Atlanta's cosmopolitan Buckhead neighborhood. A unique collection of boutiques and restaurants, formerly found only along the world's most exclusive promenades, joins high-rise estate residences, amenities and entertainment in a true world class mixed-use community destined to set new standards for luxury and service.

I wouldn't say that the idea behind the development is the greenest ideology but the fact that they are pursuing LEED Silver certification and are dedicated to cleaning up contaminants around the area is a definite step in the right direction.  Below are some of the more environmentally friendly aspects of the development:

• Groundwater recycling to use where valuable potable water is not needed thus reducing the demand on Atlanta's already strained drinking water resources
• Low flow plumbing to reduce water consumption
• Environmentally friendly interior finishes
• Alternative transit options such as shuttles to MARTA, designated parking for alternative fuel vehicles and car/van pools as well as bicycle parking/storage
• Reducing energy use by 21 percent versus comparable developments.

All of this is great and will serve as an example for other developments in the area but my personal favorite is the cleanup of approximately 300,000 cubic yards of soil.  This cleanup was done under the Georgia Brownfields program.  This shows the commitment of the developer to the area and project.  They didn't necessarily have to do this but they chose to because it was the right thing to do. 

We won't be enjoying the finished product until Mid 2010 due to a slow real estate market but from what we can tell, it will be well worth the wait.  Thank you to Ben Carter for thinking of the environment in your efforts to build our city.

SkyHill Townhomes: Sustainable Development in Midtown

Unfortunatley, we have a house on the market in Charlotte right now.  If we were in the market for a place here in Atlanta, we would probably be looking near downtown and we would undoubtedly take a peek at one of the proposed 12 townhomes in SkyHill on North near Ponce de Leon.  These townhomes are definitley planned with sustainabiltiy and the environment in mind.  Some of the more impressive features are:

- Green Roof - Well, kind of.. the homes are equipped with a rooftop gardening system. You don't find very many of these around.

- Walkability - SkyHill is close to dining, shopping, nightlife and transit.  What more can you ask for?

- Infill - Using previously developed land rather than greenfield development on the fringes is always a plus.

One more thing, they look great.  Architect Derek Seiling of Kuo Diedrich Architecture has done a great job planning a project that will improve community, neighborhood asthetics and hopefully the environment in the Midtown area.

photo courtesy of Dwellmodern.com

Energy Efficient Mortgages

If you are in the market for a new home, you might want to consider an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM).  Many lenders are now offering EEMs which will lend buyers extra money in order to make efficiency upgrades when making a home purchase.  Whether you are retrofitting an older home with efficient upgrades or putting the newest technology into a new home, efficiency upgrades will often save you more over the long run than they will cost up front.  If you amortize out the cost of a new furnace or AC system over the course of 30 years, you may be paying an extra $20/month and your savings could amount to double that.  It is almost a no brainer.

In order to qualify, a home typically needs a certified energy audit.  The audit will point out cost effective areas of improvement that will provide a positive return over time.  In the case of a home that is already efficient, the audit will prove that the home is already efficient and this will potentially enable the lender to stretch the debt to income qualifying ratio. 

References

US DOE -- Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy - Financing an Energy Efficient Home

Mother Earth Living - Energy Efficient Mortages Make Home Improvement Affordable