High Street developers to make presentation at Dunwoody Homeowners Association meeting

1. The developers will continue to destroy the beautiful suburbs of Atlanta. These unforgiving and massive projects are unnecessary and not needed. The political and zoning process is incredibly flawed in favor of developers that will continue to build larger and larger projects. Government is run by people who continue to appease the wealthy and powerful in the communities. The City of Dunwoody does not need this project.

   1. How is it destroying the suburbs? The development is actually in an urban center near MARTA and perimeter mall. There is nothing suburban about this location. Nothing beautiful about the current vacant location. This project would greatly enhance the area. Sure, the government is for the people, and I like the project.

2. Jon, the area is suburban-it is a suburban commercial district consistent with a suburban area/town/city. This is what makes Dunwoody attractive and popular as folks have continually moved here for past 30 years due to the way it is and not so it can be ripped and turned into midtown. We didn’t want or need state farm. The high density projects are supported by few. We don’t need or want monstrosity projects like this. Development should be consistent with surroundings rather than plopping a midtown project anywhere a developer wants. Some of these developers could me from high density areas so they naturally think everything should be like where they came from. There is no law that says one should develop every sq inch of land and also place high density upon that land. If you want midtown, then go to midtown and don’t bring midtown to suburbs. The best zip codes in the US maintain strict zoning with setbacks and density limitations resulting in highly desirable locations. Continued high development will render the area unpassable and undesirable and result in excess cut through traffic through area suburbs

   1. Why not just say it outright… You want the city to forcefully restrict units of housing being developed so that it restricts the supply in the market, where you believe demand will be permanent and as such you will see a big payout in the form of skyrocketing home prices.

      But what is hilarious is your statement is patently false. Dense development only happens in the most desirable of locations. It is no mistake that the price per sq ft for a home/condo/apartment in Midtown, Ansley Park, Inman Park, Buckhead, Old Fourth Ward are higher than Dunwoody/Sandy Springs.

      Midtown price per sq ft is $277 (Buckhead is $273) while Dunwoody is $181 and $161 in Sandy Springs. (According to Zillow)

   2. I will stay in Dunwoody, thanks. If you don’t like change, then you are welcome to move as well. Last I checked Midtown has higher values than Dunwoody. Density doesn’t seem to be hurting them. Check out Ansley Park (Single family homes) in Midtown. Many studies show that dense areas with transit have less traffic conditions. If you allow people to live where they work, then people will not be driving into Dunwoody from other Atlanta regions. The perimeter center office/work space far outweighs residential space.

3. Jon probably does not live near this planned monstrosity. If he did, he would understand the complexities of unbridled growth that has corrupted our political and zoning processes. At 5:30 pm, it requires a 30-45 minute drive to travel from Roswell Road to Ashford Dunwoody Road before anymore developments come online. That is more than enough reason to not build, despite it being near MARTA. Only a handful of people will utilize MARTA because ATL is a car town. All of the occupants of this development will own a car or two, as will the employees of the retail establishments, as well as the hotel occupants with rental cars. This development continues the nightmare of unbridled growth that has come to define Atlanta.

   1. I live in Dunwoody, but in a single family home – away from the Perimeter Center so it has little affect on me at all. I understand urbanism, zoning, and the political process quite well. Thanks

4. I’ve lived and worked in the Dunwoody/Perimeter area for 35 years and am very excited about this development and it’s location. The vacant lot across from the Dunwoody MARTA Station has been an eyesore since the early 80s. The other properties are very old and are served by surface level parking. Until recently there was no residential living in the area and this looks like an ideal live/work development that is also served by MARTA. No traditional Dunwoody neighborhoods are being impacted and it keeps high density development close to the mall and 285. It looks like a win-win for the Dunwoody/Perimeter area.

5. I am against high density simply because the area is suburban and not midtown. Has nothing to do with restricting dwellings so as to keep home prices high. Home prices do well due to the area being suburban and good schools, a downtown, 2 lane not 4 lane roads. And because folks are moving to Atlanta, demand for homes increases. Developers will always want to do their thing esp if they came from high density areas. The hexagon building was purchased by developers from Australia who are originally from Hong Kong – guess what-they are proposing a 5 building monstrosity on Mt Vernon Rd. They see that as harmless since Hong Kong has high density everywhere. This developer of high st is from Boston, a more dense area. Our goal should be to have development consistent with being a suburban oasis and not to place midtown in Dunwoody just because a few want to. If you want density move to dtown, or move to buckhead. There is no law that says that every suburban oasis should have midtown buildings plopped in it. Jim, just because there is a vacant lot doesn’t mean it should turn into midtown as if that is the only alternative. You obviously don’t mind it since you lived in dunwoody for 35 years and loved it the way it is so now you think it should be transformed. You enjoyed suburbia for 35 years and got a nice run up in your home price due to all of us who payed much more for homes than you did to have a piece of suburbia. We want to enjoy suburbia just as you did and not have it transformed to midtown. This density is inappropriate

6. It’s true, when I interviewed for my first job a the Southern Company I remember looking out the window of 64 Perimeter Center seeing cows grazing on what is now the Ravinia development. Perimeter Mall was one story and was anchored by Rich’s and Penny’s department stores with no food court. I thought Dunwoody was unaffordable but managed to buy my first home in 1988 in Heathwood and enjoyed the undeveloped property that would eventually become Ashford Chase and the Walmart Shopping Center on Ashford Dunwoody Rd that was at the end of the street. I did sell that house this year for a hefty profit and still live in Dunwoody. For me, what makes Dunwoody great is being able to live AND work in the same community. I don’t want to live in the suburbs and commute to other areas of Atlanta. I want to live and in a work in the Dunwoody/Perimeter area. Keep the density in the area around the mall and MARTA. Let people buy homes in traditional Dunwoody neighborhoods once they’ve become established.

7. There are at least three key players in this matter – the developer, city council and the DHA.

   Seeing that the property is apparently already zoned for the developer’s requirements this should make for a good show.

   Get out the popcorn!

   1. Actually, Paul, you’re wrong. There is no brewing conflict worthy of popcorn and the “key players” have already played their parts. No big show, nothing to complain or argue about.

      City council has nothing to say on this because all required approvals were issued in 2007 before incorporation. GID Developers are not asking for additional SLUPs or variances so they can pull their permits and break ground today.
      DHA and GID mutually negotiated the proportion of owner occupied to renter occupied units that same year and that legal agreement is in force with no objections from either side.
      The presentation last night talked about short and long term planning for each element of the project. Questions were answered. Video was streamed on facebook but use your earbuds as the sound was recorded from the back of the room but you can hear the questions loud and clear.

      The only “good show” involved was the powerpoint slideshow given by the VP of Development for GID. Sorry you missed it.

      1. Adrienne, Where on facebook can I find the video you mentioned in your post?

         1. Here’s a direct link to the video.
            Disclaimer: I don’t know Reporter Newspaper’s policy on posting links but I’ll suppose we’ll find out….

            https://www.facebook.com/sdocpublishing/videos/10210615351370685/

            1. Thanks! I’m watching it now.

      2. I am and was aware of the approvals. I’m very surprised the DHA didn’t come up with something new to complain about.

         1. The only person complaining is you. Projecting your unhappiness onto DHA or anyone else doesn’t change that. I hope you find some peace without complaint some day.

            1. I guess you’re disappointed not everybody is a big fan of the DHA.

8. Pingback: Huge development in Dunwoody | NBCA Land Use & Zoning Committee

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