3 Comments on 10th and Monroe re-zoning

Ben K on Thu, 6th Aug 2009 1:56 pm


thanks for the linkage!

Patrick on Tue, 8th Sep 2009 7:41 pm


Sorry to be posting on this a month after the fact, but I just came across it. Sure, the Midtown highrises make for a great view, but I don’t think a single one of those borders the park. Some are even blocks away. In my experiences, the best urban green spaces provide a broad divide between the noise and commotion of the urban world and the green spaces which are supposed to provide a respite. The two that immediately come to mind – NYC’s Central Park and Chicago’s Grant Park – make use of both large avenues and broad walkways to create this divide.

Now, from what I have seen of the proposed redevelopment, there is no such divide here. In fact, it appears that the mid rises here would abut the park. I agree that something great can be done with this space. However, I don’t think great has to encompass high density just because it can be shoehorned in. Right now, people don’t use this corner of the park because it is next to an ugly, dusty parking lot. However, I don’t think people will use this corner of the park when it falls under the constant shade of a 10 story condo building, either.

Jeanne Bonner on Wed, 9th Sep 2009 8:11 am


Patrick, it’s never too late to post, particularly when the issues are still on the table as is the case here. Thanks for your message!

You raise some good points, and it’s true there are broad boulevards between Central Park in NYC and the buildings.

BUT after you get over that one-avenue divide, there are no buildings around Central Park that are one-story. Indeed, there are very, VERY few one-story buildings in Manhattan. There are many, many high-rise buildings around Central Park, if for no other reason than rich people like to buy condos in them to gain access to the most incredible views!

In fact, Central Park is completely surrounded by high-rise buildings all along Central Park West, Fifth Ave, 59th Street — all the streets that border Central Park. Completely surrounded. Closer than the buildings you mention on the other side of Piedmont Park.

Now of course, we will NEVER have that level of density for many many reasons so there’s no need to fear it in Atlanta — it’s not coming.

When it comes to density, and I’m only speaking for me, I would be happy even if we just replaced all the one-story buildings at 10th and Monroe with three-story buildings. That would be an improvement.

Same thing in Virginia-Highland, which we like to think is dense but is really just a collection of one-story buildings that in a city make little sense.

And, if I understand correctly, the Beltline is saying “up to eight stories.” So maybe we wind up with a four-story building.

I don’t want to make it sound like these issues are easy. But we are all the way on the other end of the scale of density

I think I will need to do a little more research on density, but here’s my amateur read on it: because there is not enough density (read: no three or four-story buildings, etc) in many parts of the city, there is not enough foot traffic to sustain a whole host of businesses. And so either businesses don’t open, or businesses open, and then close, and then buildings are vacant, and then something else fills the space, finds there’s not enough foot traffic and so on…

Also, isn’t it more efficient and environmental to build a multi-story building?

If I had to choose, I would go with the eight-story building throwing some shade on Piedmont Park, over a suburban, asphalt-filled development.

Hope to hear back from you, Patrick.

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