106 positions on forum
January 31, 2012, 12:42 PM
I feel that this proposal is wrong for Alpharetta. Let me tell you why.
This is basically Atlantic Station and feels too "urban" of an idea for Alpharetta. There is almost no green space in the entire development. It has everything in it that Alpharetta already has: a theater, hotels, retail, and town homes. Or you can go 15 miles north to the Avenues Forsyth for probably the exact same retail stores. I am not a fan of town homes to begin with...I think Alpharetta is more suited to single family homes because most people who live or want to live in Alpharetta are families. Further more we do NOT need another light on Old Milton Parkway just for this development...completely unnecessary and Old Milton already has traffic issues.
If you ask me the only good idea on the entire plan is opening up Westside Parkway all the way to Webb Bridge Rd.
Joe Conway Inside Alpharetta
January 31, 2012, 12:23 PM
This is okay for a starting point, but there are some big changes that need to be made before I can support it.
If the project was not on the major road leading into downtown it would be fine. But being what will likely become the first public impression of people coming into the older portion of Alpharetta, it would be nice to see some greater and greener creativity on the part of the planners. I know budget realities have to come to bear, but there are far too many resident- and visitor-friendly designs for this type of development already in place in the metro area. It would be sad for Alpharetta to settle for following a dying style, rather than taking the opportunity to set trends and welcome people to the city in a more desirable fashion.
Jill Jones Inside Alpharetta
January 31, 2012, 11:57 AM
This is okay, but I have a few suggestions or concerns.
Unless I'm missing something this looks more like a residential development instead of what I thought was going to be upscale shopping and entertainment/restaurants.
January 31, 2012, 11:54 AM
This is okay, but I have a few suggestions or concerns.
The apartments need to be taken out. They bring crime and bad elements. Otherwise this is a great capitalist effort--need to keep oppressive govt out of their business.
January 31, 2012, 11:47 AM
This is okay for a starting point, but there are some big changes that need to be made before I can support it.
More pervious open greenspace. Place parking underground behind the store fronts. I want to sit outside at a cafe and look out onto grass, trees and native flora. I don't want to look at cars parked on asphalt. Parking lots are clear-cut asphalt heat generating and water-polluting/retaining deserts. Would like to see use of native flora & grasses for storm water runoff, patches of green to include trees. At my corporate offices in Pleasanton, CA – they have one “green” natural space for every 2-3 car parking spaces. The runoff / ditch area is covered with native grasses for natural filtration. Roswell recently did an all natural storm water runoff in a newly-built public parking lot behind Canton Street. Specify MAXIMUM automobile parking spaces instead of minimum. Provide pedestrian walkways to access the building entrances (starting from the sidewalks at the road). Safely walk – or ride a bike – from the road entrance to the front door. Have recycling receptacles in public spaces, in front of retail shops, bus stops, etc. Provide bike lanes and bike trails to access the development.
Claudia Zehnder Inside Alpharetta
January 31, 2012, 11:31 AM
I feel that this proposal is wrong for Alpharetta. Let me tell you why.
There is a significance to a corner in architecture. Please make sure the corner of Old Milton Parkway and GA 400 is a visual delight for anyone driving on GA 400. Putting a parking structure there will not attract many to leave the highway. I am missing a 3d rendering of this development and the requirements from the developer in order to “maybe” understand what this architect was thinking.
January 31, 2012, 11:26 AM
This is okay for a starting point, but there are some big changes that need to be made before I can support it.
This is just another outdoor mall with some office and residential similar to that near Perimeter Mall. Very little green space and a horrendous eyesore for nearby neighborhoods. Needs to be redesigned to emphasize green space, put parking underground, several walking green streets and pedestrian/bike pathways and some real creativity.
Also it is only a short walk from the new downtown Alpharetta area and should be made easily accessible by some of the back streets that need redevelopment and tied into a comprehensive plan to make Alpharetta a warm, green inviting area so that people can walk from Wills Park, to downtown to this entire district easily, comfortably and surrounded by a park like setting without being trapped by major roadways.
January 31, 2012, 11:25 AM
I like the plan as presented and believe it will be a great addition to the community.
Karen Falkenberg Inside Alpharetta
January 31, 2012, 11:13 AM
I feel that this proposal is wrong for Alpharetta. Let me tell you why.
Many today have already voiced my concerns. Say NO to more of the SAME.
This is a hideous plan with way, way, too much concrete. It is not unique nor pedestrian friendly. We already have areas in Alpharetta that are like this and they are under used (as noted by other comments). I see that the office space built in the Milton Park complex on North Point Parkway south of Kimball Bridge Road is nearly empty. Why would we build more space like this? I am a big fan of mixed use development and mixed income housing but who would want to live there in this massive asphalt hell? We already have lots of empty housing so these units would compete with those.
We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to make great use of this large parcel of property; having yet another paved over acreage with commercial buildings is NOT WHAT WE NEED. We need more green space. Build a PARK that can accommodate a variety of uses. Some day your grandkids and great grandkids will thank you for the opportunity to have a park. I doubt anyone in the future will thank you for another movie theatre, another set of office buildings and yet another set of buildings to buy "stuff" that can be purchased anywhere.
Be visionary. Be good to the people of Alpharetta and the generations to come. Build a wonderful park. Save the environment. What is Alpharetta? A place to shop? Can't this property be used to support other aspects of life in a great city?
Thanks for asking for our input.
January 31, 2012, 10:50 AM
I feel that this proposal is wrong for Alpharetta. Let me tell you why.
Go look at The Forum in norcross - peachtree corners to see what is better. This is just another strip mall or crabapple mess. We don't need more empty strip malls or empty townhouses. I'd rather leave it a vacant lot. Green space!!!
Open City Hall is not a certified voting system or ballot box. As with any public comment process, participation in Open City Hall is voluntary. The positions in this record are not necessarily representative of the whole population, nor do they reflect the opinions of any government agency or elected officials.
I feel that this proposal is wrong for Alpharetta. Let me tell you why.
This is basically Atlantic Station and feels too "urban" of an idea for Alpharetta. There is almost no green space in the entire development. It has everything in it that Alpharetta already has: a theater, hotels, retail, and town homes. Or you can go 15 miles north to the Avenues Forsyth for probably the exact same retail stores. I am not a fan of town homes to begin with...I think Alpharetta is more suited to single family homes because most people who live or want to live in Alpharetta are families. Further more we do NOT need another light on Old Milton Parkway just for this development...completely unnecessary and Old Milton already has traffic issues.
If you ask me the only good idea on the entire plan is opening up Westside Parkway all the way to Webb Bridge Rd.