Brian Vanderhoff's North Fulton Real Estate Blog

The City of Alpharetta has indefinitely suspended its downtown redevelopment project known as Alpharetta City Center.

“The changing economic climate and other variables have significantly altered the City Center Project,” stated Alpharetta Mayor Arthur Letchas. “While we do believe that Alpharetta City Center will in the future be a viable project that provides mutual benefits to the citizens of Alpharetta, the City, and the private sector, that viability cannot be realized as things now stand.”
Alpharetta officials met with Al Holbrook, principal of Solomon Holdings, the developer that was selected as the City’s partner on the project, to discuss the situation. After the meeting, Holbrook indicated his agreement with the decision. “Solomon is in agreement that the City Center project should be placed on hold due to economic conditions and the timing of the marketplace today,” Holbrook stated.

Following a series of public information meetings on the project, Alpharetta City Council agreed in April to continue consideration of the project. In preparation for a possible August vote to place a bond referendum on the November ballot, they directed staff to prepare additional traffic studies, an updated commercial market analysis, and a revised financial feasibility analysis. Staff was also directed to negotiate key terms of the business relationship between the City and Solomon Holdings.

It was those negotiations that brought, at least for now, a halt to the project.
“The City’s original intent was to identify and secure a development partner who could bring experience and equity to bear on the project to create a mutually beneficial business relationship, Letchas explained.” It is now apparent that, due to factors beyond the control of the City of Alpharetta or Solomon Holdings, that intent cannot be realized at this time.”

City officials were quick to indicate that the decision is not an indication of a lack of commitment to the future of Downtown Alpharetta or of any dissatisfaction with Solomon Holdings or Holbrook. “This decision is a factor of the current economy,” Letchas stated. “It is simply a result of where the market is right now.”

When asked if his Alpharetta-based company would consider issuing a new proposal if the City revisits the project in the future, Holbrook said, “We believe that this development is critical to the future progress and long-term success of the city; therefore, we will continue to champion its final positive outcome.”

“Projects like this are complex, involving a lot of variables that have to align for a deal to work,” says Letchas. “The timing has to be right for that to happen. I have no doubt that the time for City Center will come.”

Labels: city center, city of alpharetta, Downtown Alpharetta, postponed

Saturdays from April 18 to mid-October

8am - 12:30pm

The Alpharetta Farmers Market has taken root downtown in the Alpharetta Historic District. Bring the whole family to shop for local produce, herbs, honey and more. Have a relaxing morning by eating at local restaurants and shopping downtown.

Mission: Provide fresh, local items directly from farmers and producers.

Dates and Hours: Every Saturday from April 18 through October from 8am to 12:30pm. Note: The market may be temporarily displaced Saturday, August 1 due to the 57th Annual Old Soldiers Day Parade.

Location: The market takes place on Old Roswell Street in Downtown Alpharetta. Take Highway 9 west on Old Milton Parkway (right if heading South on Hwy 9 or left if heading North on Hwy 9), right on Roswell Street and then right on Old Roswell Street. Free downtown parking on your left.

Weather: We’re open rain or shine!

Want to join the market, or meet our vendors: Go to www.alpharettafarmersmarket.com.

Labels: alpharetta farmers market, city of alpharetta, Downtown Alpharetta

Alpharetta's Town Center is moving again. The City Council saw a new plan for the public-private partnership that would put the new city hall among new retail, office and residential space downtown.

It just won't be where they thought it would be. The plan had been to redevelop the entire block encompassing the City Hall site, Eagle Gym, and the shopping center and house just south of the city-owned property, about 7 acres in all.

The idea is to create a downtown with ambiance, vitality and personality and create signature city hall for the 21st century. That is where the private part of the partnership, the Solomon Group, comes in. The county owns about half the land, but wants the Solomon Group to develop the entire project. That would produce some savings for the taxpayers in defraying some of the costs of the city's part of the project and at the same time produce stores, offices and townhomes/condos built by Solomon Group to revitalize the city's downtown.

But there has been a snag. The Solomon Group was unable to come to terms with the property owners on the south side of the project. According to Community Development Director Diana Wheeler, the largest parcel of the some 3 acres needed for the project was owned by a group of partners who could never come to a consensus to sell the property.

At a workshop Aug. 11, City Council heard the new proposal.

T the Solomon Group and city planners got to thinking instead of building the City Center along the X-axis (north-south) along Main Street (Ga. 9), why not build it along the Y-axis (east-west) along Academy Street? Under the new plan, city hall would be set back from Main Street with a long, green mall in front. On either side of the mall facing inward would be two office-retail buildings.
To replace the land lost to the project next door, the Solomon Group recommended using city property at the southeast corner of Haynes Bridge Road and Academy Street. This did not please council members much because that parcel had been planned to be a small park.

William H. Foley, president of Foley Design Associates, is the architect from Solomon who presented the new option to City Council. Council members agreed to the plan only as a starting point in a new direction.

Councilman Jim Paine spoke for many on the council when he said he was "not thrilled" with the idea of turning the proposed Haynes Bridge park into a "courtyard" for a new condominium development. One part of the original plan Paine would like brought back was the idea of allowing residential living above the retail on the ground floor.

Wheeler said the acceptance of a plan for a city hall with a town green on Main Street has given Solomon Group its marching orders. The attraction of the plan is that it no longer depends on the acquisition of private property, always a sticking point in the past.

Councilman John Monson said he did not like the plan as submitted but he agreed it was the right direction. He said he just wanted a better plan.

"This is our one shot to this right for our grandkids," Monson said.

City Administrator Bob Regus said the plan was still evolving and would continue to do so until it looked right to council.

"Remember, 120 days ago the project did not look like it does now. I think in another 120 days the project won't look like the one we have now," he said.

After the meeting, council members disagreed with the notion that they were starting over from scratch.

"We're not at square 1," said Councilman Doug DeRito. "We have a good first step we've taken, and we know a lot more about what we want and what we can do. We have come a long way since Barry [the first developer's] proposal."

Monson agreed.

"Now that we have a site plan, the next steps will come more quickly," he said.

Labels: Alpharetta, alpharettas town center, Downtown Alpharetta, new city hall

A local developer broke ground on the first residential-retail mixed use development featuring the city's Historic Downtown overlay. Alpharetta Lofts will be a mixed-used residential and retail project near the corner of Milton Avenue and Canton Street.

Real Development plans 36 residential lofts in the top three stories of the planned building, with the ground floor devoted to retail. All of the lofts and the retail condo space is offered for sale through Power Realty Partners. Several units already were under contract even before the recent groundbreaking.

The project is near Milton Center (Old Milton High) and its historic log cabin.

Rob Forrest said it took him three years to bring the project from a concept to the groundbreaking. He worked with Alpharetta's Community Development staff to make his project meet the requirements of the Historic Downtown zoning designation and his potential buyers.

He said this project is the first mixed-use development in downtown Alpharetta. It containes 36 residential lofts and plans for four retail condos on the ground floor.

The building is a rectangle with a three-story open-air atrium. That allows Alpharetta Lofts to have ground floor, gated, covered parking. The atrium's floor – at the second story of the building – will include landscaping and a clubhouse. An elevator and stairs provide access to the upper stories.

Private balconies are available in many of the residential units. Other features include hardwood floors, sound abatement insulation, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops.

Labels: alpharetta lofts, canton street, Downtown Alpharetta, lofts, milton center, mitlon avenue, real development

18th Annual Taste of Alpharetta

Old Milton Parkway at Wills Park
Thursday, May 15, 2008 5:00 PM

The largest “Taste of” festival in the South celebrates its 18th year! Dine at over 70 restaurants in one unforgettable night that’s become an annual tradition for 70,000 families, foodies and festival-goers. Sample delicious appetizers, entrees and desserts, experience the new Culinary Arts area featuring chef’s competition, cooking demonstrations and exhibits. Bring a blanket to the new concert lawn for live jazz, rock and contemporary music. Play at the Kids Zone or Fun Zone for older kids. Party with12 metro radio stations. Visit the new Community Corner. Time Frame: 5-10pm. Free admission and parking.

Info: www.alpharetta.ga.us or (678) 297- 6000, ext. 1006.

Labels: Downtown Alpharetta, Taste of Alpharetta, Wills Park