With Avondale Publix a No Go, Could the Grocery Store Surface Elsewhere?
Decatur Metro | January 21, 2011From Patch…
Chances are “slim to none” that Century Retail will develop a mixed-use shopping development in Avondale Estates, said city commissioner Michael Payne during the Jan. 19 work session at Avondale city hall.
Florida-based Century Retail was slated to develop the four-block area between Avondale Road and Franklin Street, from the Peach State Federal Credit Union to the old Ray’s TV Shop near Center Street. Those plans have been at a standstill while Century reorganizes under Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.
The city is considering cancelling the development agreement with Century and may look to do so at its upcoming regular commission meeting on Jan. 24.
If Publix is still interested in a location in this general area, it seems like it could be a potentially great anchor store for the unbuilt Avondale MARTA Station development or perhaps even a bit further north at the vacant DeVry property. And before you scoff at my mixed-use daydreams, remember that Publix has already shown an open-mind to higher density development with its GA Tech and Atlantic Station locations – not to mentioned this lower-density, unbuilt Century Retail development.
Latest from Decaturish
Century Retail was the ones behind the failed Publix mixed-use development on Spring and S Atlanta Rd in Smyrna. A huge eye sore because they started it and stopped after a month. Lucky the Avondale one didn’t end up with some cement decorations.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Smyrna,+ga&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Smyrna,+Cobb,+Georgia&gl=us&ll=33.881265,-84.51138&spn=0.002797,0.004136&t=h&z=18
The publix at North and Piedmont is also somewhat high density- though smaller store as a result.
I like the idea of having it in the East Decatur Station area. The current AT&T parking lot would be a good location. That’s a huge space.
I agree with a Jon – It would be a better use of the space!
Oops. I scoffed before I got to your last sentence. I then suspended scoffing until I had finished reading it.
You’re such a scofflaw.
The middle-of-field DeVry site is not comparable to GA Tech and Atlantic Station. /scoff/scoff/
I’d love to see the Decatur Y move to the DeVry space and spread out!
To clarify, the only change is that Century is going to officially lose the contract they had with the city of Avondale Estates to develop the property. Now that the city has also acquired the old Mill property, it’s putting together a new package to court developers for the space. Mixed-use north of Avondale is not dead, it’s just on life support.
Please note I am not an official representative of the city and most of this is paraphrased from the email they sent to residents regarding the change.
To clarify Marcus’ comment, the city did not acquire the mill property as in it is now the legal owner. Rather it annexed the portion of the mill property that was not already part of the city. The mill owners still own the property I believe. They also created a zoning overlay district which allows for certain mixed used development. If able to be combined with the century property, there is a lot that could be done here.