In Decatur I prefer using the classic Atlanta horseshoe with open courtyard model from the 20’s. There’s a perfect example on the east end of Ponce just past downtown.

Briarhill on Briarcliff is also a good postwar design. It’s the white complex just north of the by-way.

Both will probably still be there when the Artisan and all it’s ilk are just a distant memory.

Sounds like any project here is doomed to failure to some!

The developers and our illustrious leaders aren’t always right.

I would also bet that the occupancy rate in these mixed use developments is far lower then in existing single story structures. They’re really designed and priced for chains as opposed to individual business. You know, the kind that make Decatur great.
These complexes are almost completely devoid of any character. They maximize footprint and space. Think of a Best Buy store but for people.

As for the change in context for Montgomery, my feelings are a bit more mixed. As newbie said, I’m not a huge fan of the “wall effect” either. I think more has to be done to repair the abrupt change in context caused by sloppy urban renewal “planning” that put C2 right next to R60. I think courtyards are a good first step. I’d also love for the max height to be 2 stories along Montgomery…but that’s not the setback requirement. As for the rest of this development (not shown), its going to take a brilliant architect to come up with something that is sympathetic to both neighboring R60 and a modern/postmodern high-rise. I don’t know how anything can ever look good tucked infront of a 10 story building on Ponce.

We all have different priorities and tastes. Some are more willing to achieve higher densities at the expense of look. Others are more willing to put restrictions on density in order to get a better aesthetic. The goal is to come to some sort of compromise that still is attractive enough to whomever is giving the developer this loan to take the “risk”.

Now people say, If the 315 project could only include the boutique hotel , we’d have an alternative to that awful Holiday Inn . This boutique hotel will be clean and wonderful , it will be a draw for lots of new visitors to downtown. Why will this time be different ?

All these new retail shops and restaurants were supposed to get plenty of business from buyers of the new condos along Ponce and there would be significant consumer traffic coming ,too, from nearby homeowners.

Filling up the available office space with workers from Emory and later students from Devry and Atlanta College of Art would bring much needed daytime business to the shops and restaurants. Didn’t quite happen that way.

Now the plan is for the apartments in the 315 Ponce project to fill with tennants paying $1,200 – $1,400 per month for a one bedroom unit. They will drive to work elsewhere everyday , making room in the parking deck for the office building occupants. Then these new residents will come back home in the early evening and walk over to spend lots of money in the shops and restaurants. How can everyone be so sure that this time the projections will be on track ?

If past history is a valid predictor, this might not work out as planned.

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