How will Atlanta Braves move impact downtown and Cobb?

Question

As Atlantans certainly heard, the Braves are moving from south of downtown to just outside the perimeter on I-75, Smyrna. The move is only 5 miles, but it's going to reshape the affected areas.

Who wants to share how they thing things will change?

Here's my guess.

55 acres that close to downtown is very significant.  The areas nearby are inexpensive as well.  Old 4th Ward, Grant Park are nearby so I'm guessing we'll see another Atlantic Station.  Conversely, I think it will take some time to play out.  I could also see 10 years of degradation.

The Smyrna/Marrietta area is going to be hugely impacted.  I think it will encourage more commercial development in the area.  However, I imagine the commuters to and thru the area will not enjoy the new location.   Growth north or along the I-75 corridor, I bet will slow.

What do you think?

Rick

Michaela G. · Answer

I don't know the area in Smyrna, so I don't know what will develop there.

I do know the area around the stadium, since I lived and worked around Grant Park since '91.

Yes, the neighborhoods around there aren't so great. But just up the road is Grant Park, which is sort of like an island. No grocery stores, but right next to I-20. And many people drive down Georgia Avenue to get to I-75/85, right past the stadium. The values in GP are 300-400K.

They tried to get businesses going around the stadium before the Olympics in '96, but it never took off, because only during Braves games is when there were customers - so, who can survive that way?

In the early/mid 2000's there was a ton of new construction in the area around the stadium. A lot of newish 2-story homes. Many turned out to be mortgage fraud. But, while the values went down when all the banks wanted to wash their hands off them, they're still standing and it has changed Peoplestown. It's no longer this primarily run down little neighborhood. But there is a criminal element that still lives in some of the older homes.

So, now back to the stadium - if there really are plans to create a new middle-income development, then that could really change things. Peoplestown would have this development on one end and Grant Park on the other. It will push GP development more and more towards that area then until they meet in the middle (years down the road).

On the other side of that development there's Mechanicsville, which has changed tremendously in the past 6-7 years. I hardly recognized it, when I moved back to ATL in '11. Lots of new construction. lofts, etc.Mechanicsville would only further improve by new development.

With the potential of every-day traffic of people, it would give the opportunity for businesses to fill up some of the store fronts. If the development is residential, how long do you think it'll be until there are dry-cleaner, insurance agent, restaurant?

Then there is the Beltline. It will run along the outer edge of Peoplestown, Grant Park, Mechanicsville, Pittsburgh. Yes, it might be a few years, but parks are being built now and development is fanning outwards from those, towards the Turner stadium.

A lot depends on the promised new development, but if it happens, I think it can be fantastic

Ali Boone · Answer

I don't know that one! Where is it? Atkins Park was always my fave restaurant in general right there, but they changed some of the recipes (I think) and it wasn't as good. My house there is in Afton Downs, right off Spring and Holly. I miss that house!

Rick Baggenstoss · Answer

@Ali Boone Yeah, I imagine Smyrna will get much cooler.  The best BBQ joint in greater Atlanta stands to win the most from the move (Heirloom BBQ).

Ali Boone · Answer

There have been long on-going commercial plans for the Turner Field area already Rick. Dating back years ago, they went away with the economy tank, but they are back on the table now. Those things are like to happen regardless of whether the Braves stay there or not. Whether they are there will just determine the size of the project.

I love it if it moves to Smyrna. a) because I don't live there to deal with traffic and b) because my old house is RIGHT there so I have a bit of an excitement for property values :)

Bernard Carpenter · Answer

@Rick Baggenstoss  and @Joel Owens while it will be very convenient for me to see a Braves game in the future, I hate to see a major attraction like the Braves leave the center city of Atlanta. You have to admire the Atlanta Falcons for their commitment to building a new stadium near where they were before. I hope the Falcons and the city follow through on their promises to support the areas around the stadium. I don't mind going into the city to see a play or a game or anything - matter of fact I sometimes attend one of the churches that is having to move to make way for the new Falcons stadium.

Rick Baggenstoss · Answer

@Bernard Carpenter My wife used to work at the Weather Channel which is right there.  Home Depot HQ is very close by.  Because of the vendors that cater to Home Depot and the sheer size of Home Depot, that will be a significant move.

The new, pending location is much more central to the fan base and the corporate base.  For that reason, I think the Braves will do better from fans and corporations in the new location.

@Joel Owens I've heard it's not done too, but it's a helluva negotiating tactic.  I suspect it's pretty much done.  For the reasons above, the Braves are well served in the new location.  The downtown location hurts the City of Atlanta, but as you know the City is only a fraction of the city.

Without a billionaire owner vested in the City, I don't see the decision being reversed to serve the greater good (of the City vs. the city.)

I'm thinking the way you are that the local area will get worse before it gets better.  It will take a huge development or many years before the nearby area improves enough to be mediocre.

Rick

Joel Owens · Answer

It's not a completed deal yet.

Cobb still has to figure out how to fund their portion of the deal.

For the Braves it was about a lease to expire on an old building that would cost hundreds of millions to upgrade to where they wanted. Atlanta cried they were poor and had little funds to help.

The Braves said c-ya we will move elsewhere and inject capital where we do not put in all the money and get a brand new product. If you think governments are cheap then you have never met the Braves. Charge you a trillion dollars for one drink and then complain how they are not making money. We would always go to the Bullpen to eat across the street. A little higher than regular places by a few bucks but not crazy like in the stadium.

A dejected Atlanta mayor has said they are on standby if the deal falls through. Apparently they thought the Braves had no other options but they were sorely wrong. That area around there is rougher and if the stadium shuts down look for it to get much worse before it gets better.

Cobb is only 30 minutes from me versus about an hour for Turner field so I would go more. Most fans with money do not like going to Atlanta anyways for the games. They will actually increase customers being in Cobb.

Bernard Carpenter · Answer

@Rick Baggenstoss as someone who lives in Cobb County I think the Braves move is exciting! I know a lot of die hard Braves fans who can't wait. I will certainly go to more games after the move.

One report yesterday said real estate agencies have already been flooded with calls from investors about the area. The area was already doing well and property values should continue to rise with this news. I used to live and work in the area where the new stadium is going to be built - the only concern is traffic has been a bear for 20 years. The transportation authorities have 3 more years to figure it out.

Bernard