The Medlock Area Neighborhood Association website has an excellent report a June 27th meeting with Selig, which includes design concepts and some other general updates on the redevelopment of Suburban Plaza.
Stu
J_T
J_T
Keith F
DecaturCyn
No Decaf
David.
There's a Parking Lo…
CFS
CFS
Decatur Metro
Bo
Trish
Cubalibre
M1
And you can see the first car crash in the parking lot!
Nice! WalMart is much smaller than I anticipated!!
AND in a little forest!
“Walmart goes here” pointing at trees is a little sick.
That looks like crap.
Looks like a suburban strip mall with alot of black top parking.
Well, it is called Suburban Plaza.
+1
+1
I think it’s a definite improvement over the look of what is currently there.
lemonade ist verboten
A book store? What’s that?
It’s not real.
This would be a huge improvement over the current conditions, I say bring on the development!
No
No!!!! Just a tacky strip mall with blacktop to devastate local business. If you want WalMart, go to Memorial drive.
“Just a tacky strip mall with blacktop to devastate local business”
***********************************************************************
As opposed to what’s there now?
OK, I’m just going to stay out of this discussion. I will distract myself from the frenzy by stealing my neighbors “Stop Walmart” signs…
+1! Thanks for the laugh!
I can’t see where the Memorial Drive WM “devastated” local businesses. There sure are plenty in its vicinity. And, WM would have little impact on downtown Decatur businesses – there’s no direct competition.
Although I’m no fan of Walmart, this one’s going in an existing strip mall. We’re all hypocrites (I’m counting myself as well here) if we’d have preferred Target or even Trader Joes (think of the health food store at N Decatur and Clairmont!) Along those same lines, here’s a link about how Amazon’s planning on taking them all down. http://www.slate.com/articles/business/small_business/2012/07/amazon_same_day_delivery_how_the_e_commerce_giant_will_destroy_local_retail_.html
We need to stop fighting individual stores and instead advocate for broader policies that would ensure fair wages, decent working conditions, health care (this one’s partially taken care of!), sick days and paid parental leave to employees of all businesses.
(steps down from soapbox)
Hear, hear!
Yeah, that’s right. Health care is partially taken care of because finally it’s being taken over and controlled by one huge, centrally run organization that can bring efficiency to the process and reduce the cost for every one….oh, wait.
It’s the PARTIAL that is the problem.
Keith: What is the point of comparing the organization of the American health care delivery system (which should have a goal of public health) to a for-profit private business which, sadely to me, has a single goal, make as much profit as possible for the owner? Oh, I get it.
+1 x a million!
I try to be a conscientious consumer but I still need to buy paper towels, toilet paper, cat litter, etc. And while I am an avid Target shopper, I know that they donated a lot of money to a group fighting against same-sex marriage — and I am a supporter of same-sex marriage. So, what’s a shopper to do?
My point is that we all make trade-offs when it comes to consumerism so instead of fighting amongst ourselves, why don’t we work together to make things better across the board, just like Glennwood Girl has advocated?
You do have a choice. And you should exercise that right. Don’t spend money with people who turn around and use it to support causes you disagree with. It’s that simple. And it works — ex: Target is backpedaling:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-06-01/target-gay-marriage-t-shirts/55336140/1
And if you want a tacky strip mall with blacktop that’s already been devastated by other local businesses, just go to Suburban Plaza now!
What a huge improvement. I look forward to seeing this project develop further.
+1
Is there a list of retailers in this space other than Walmart?
Looks like Ansley Mall. Maybe it will come with two more grocery stores.
Folks – it ain’t ever going to be a tree-filled eden, or an architectural tour de force, so we may as well enjoy the modest sprucing up. I like it.
I think it looks great! Glad to see that spot getting a face lift!
Have you been to the Memorial WalMart? I envision a lot of empty retail space that’s too expensive for the current retailers
This is a much stronger retail market. I think they will do very well. Might compete with Emory Point for example
Where are all the empty stores around the Memorial Drive WM?
“The redevelopment at SP….. will have a unique look as they attempt to blend the many different architectural styles found in the Decatur area. ASD began this design process by studying the architecture of the surrounding areas (which varies greatly). They identified the following as dominant styles in the area: Modern-retro Industrial, American Traditional, Modern Deco, Urban Chic, and Italianate Classical. ASD then began creating a plan for SP that attempts to incorporate design elements from all of these styles.”
That’s really how the professionals approach a project like this? No wonder so many commercial developments are so unappealing (when they’re not downright hideous). OTOH, it’s not as if we’re losing an architectural gem. The best we can probably hope for is that the facade is scaled for humans, and that they use lots of trees and planters all over the place and xeriscape it.
Oh smalltowngal, you’re just being grumpy! :0)
(I promise you that you can hope for more– ASD and Selig are contemplating some dang cool treatments for it!)
It’s not to be denied that I have my grumpy moments, but this is not one of them.
Gotta get you to hoping, so I did some poking around. Here’s a clip with Roberto Paredes, the architect who’s designing the re-do, talking about the project that inspired the Selig folks to bring him in. Maybe hearing how thoughtful he is in his approach will do the trick:
http://www.uliatlantaawards.com/2011-project-winners/shops-around-lenox-development-of-excellence-winner/
OK, what they’re saying in that clip sounds just fine. It is not what I was referring to above (which probably came from a press release). I think Cat is probably right, that they were told to try to please everyone and at least, offend no one. (BTW, I hope the notion of “Decatur Funky,” whatever that is, dies an early and quiet death.) I stand by my opinion that approaching a project by trying to incorporate elements of everything around it does not promise a happy result. But maybe that’s just what they’re saying, and not what they’re really doing.
A press release? I can’t even get credit for my writing skills? Tough crowd.
Theresa – You’re just so darned good you could be a professional writer! :0)
smalltowngal- That’s how Roberto listed the styles before starting his presentation. Yeah, I can see it’d be kinda “uh…okay” just to read it and try to visualize it. We also had the benefit of seeing photos he’d taken of businesses around Decatur (mostly) to accompany his description of how the design might be influenced– think more along the lines of drawing from interesting aspects rather than full blown architectural styles. “Decatur Funky” served its purpose in giving Selig a feel for what the community wants (not cookie cutter), and ASD will definitely deliver. You’ll see! :0)
BTW, Theresa and I were also at yesterday’s meeting between Selig and Good Growth Dekalb. We had all hoped that the GGD reps would come in and focus on giving their ideas for the project and having any concerns other than Walmart addressed. (Since Walmart is a signed tenant, GGD knew when Selig agreed to the meeting that Walmart was off the table.) Unfortunately, GGD opted to stick to NO Walmart, and passed on their one opportunity to share their ideas.
That is not at all surprising. GGD: they’re consistent if nothing else.
And GGD is focusing on the WM thing, which they have no chance of winning, while ignoring the issues of YDFM expansion and the Race-Trac station, both of which require rezoning and therefore, both of which they actually could influence.
Also, I think one of the early concerns was that the redevelopment “fit” with the neighborhoods around it. I seem to remember a “Decatur funky” description (whatever that is). Bottom line, seems the designers were probably not told “give us prairie style” or “go crazy, wow us with your creativity.” More likely they were told “try to please everyone, look around and see what’s there and what elements might work together.”
And somewhere in the back of their heads they were probably thinking “what do people who clamor for Trader Joe’s like, architecturally speaking?” I googled for Trader Joe’s images and they pretty much look like whatever suburban strip mall they are in.
I know the little caption already points out that the “books” sign is a placeholder, but I am willing to bet my Revolution Donuts Kickstarter reward that there will not be a chain bookstore in that space.
B&N is not spending money on new bricks and mortar these days.
What local businesses will this “devastate”? It will be easier to get into and out of Ace hardware than this mall, and I don’t expect Ace will lose much business to Walmart. What other businesses will be threatened by this redevelopment?
That perspective view is racist…it’s only filled with white people.
They superimposed the Druid Hills neighborhood people over it by mistake.
Just wait until you see the final plans for the Walmart. The ones where they decide they can’t do a underground parking deck and guess what? They need more parking and a bigger store!
BTW those aren’t white people they’re Walmartians! Muwaaahaaaaaaaaaa!
Soon everywhere will look the same! Everywhere will be Walmartians! Puny humans behold the future!
That ain’t Walmartians. Too drab! Ghosts, maybe, of 1960′s shoppers wondering where Belk went.
+1. The cars look a little dated too. I could swear I see a 1985ish Toyota Tercel Wagon in there. So it all fits in. Suburban Plaza has always had a faded, dated-but-not-dated-enough-to-be-retro feel to it. I’ve always been perversely fond of it for that reason. It’s the anti-Johns Creek. I like a bowling alley that has………bowling, when you take the kids, not all sorts of electronic tag games, roller skating, strobe lights, and bouncy thingys. The only negative experience I’ve had with it is the time that my elderly neighbor’s wallet was pick pocketed and thrown on top of whatever grocery store was in there at the time. And there was a murder sometime around 1992.
Without the underground parking, they’d have to come back for another zoning variance.
IN other NIMBY news…the FAMILY DOLLAR sign has gone up!!
I guess it’s really happening.
Anyone know why the construction on it seems to stalled for a few months?
Let the gnashing of teeth begin.
Walmart. Wal-mart. Wal-Mart. Has anyone else noticed it’s Wal*Mart?
The company refers to itself as Walmart.
As opposed to what Good Growth DeKalb and other NIMBYists refer to it as…
You got all three possible and/or former iterations but you picked the least correct one. The corporation is Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. The company used to be branded Wal*Mart but it’s now just plain old Walmart.
Basing my view on their trucks’ graphics. I spent an unusual amount of time of the road over the Independence Day Holiday.
Picking the least correct one is somewhat satisfying.
How is this an improvement? Give it five years, and it’s just another grimy strip center.
Do your part to support the CCP (Chinese Communist Party).
Shop at Walmart.
Your tax dollars are already doing their part. That’s not a Walmart specific issue.
Made in China: Lawmakers outraged over U.S. outfits
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-georgia-sports/2012/07/13/made-in-china-lawmakers-outraged-over-u-s-uniforms/
You know… i love to ice skate and play hockey… it would be fantasic if a ice rink were built out in this complex… Why should the northern subs have all the fun!
An ice skating rink would be awesome. You don’t have to be any good at ice skating to have tons of fun. But it is a drag to have to drive all the way up to Alpharetta to skate.
However, there’s some reason that no big ice skating or roller rinks or bowling alleys are in town. It’s either insufficient demand and/or cost of space. Ditto for lack of childrens shoe stores like Coggins.
This can only be an improvement–WalMart and all. By the way, a lot of those empty retail spaces on memorial Drive were empty before WM ever was built. I don’t think this will have any affect on Decatur businesses, but it will bring jobs and dollars into the local economy, and give those of us who live here more choices. None of the grocery stores that had been there survived–they were terrible. Would I have preferred something like an EarthFare? You bet. With a Trader Joe’s at 8th & Monroe, having one here was very unlikely. I get a kick out of people who don’t want WM because of traffic but would have been happy with a Hobby Lobby or a Target. HUH? How would that ameliorate traffic concerns? One woman at a meeting hollered that WM buys everything in China. Ever see anything made in the USA in Hobby Lobby? If you do, let me know–promise not to hold my breath. Not much in Target either. Every item I looked at in the Georgia Aquarium gift shop was made in China, and so was everything I looked at in the gift shop at the State Botanical Garden near Athens. So Wal-Mart bashing bcz it buys goods in China is silly. (Besides, you better hope somebody’s buying goods in China, bcz it’s China that’s buying our debt!)). And I think the design is a heckuvan improvement over the current state of affairs.
I actually made a point of noting vacant places on Memorial near WM the other day when I went to Aldi (built since WM) and noted very few.