Time to keep an eye on the area south of Atlanta still ITP

[Mike H. Jones]

I'm referring to the areas in and adjacent to Arthur Langford Parkway up until Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as well as adjacent areas. While this area has seemed to be neglected for years to cater to the city region of Atlanta, with all of the recent developments underway in Atlanta, development is reaching a lot of key areas still within 15-20 minutes of the city.

This area is comprised of Southwest Atlanta, East Point, College Park ITP, and Hapeville.

Just recently, East Point has announced it's plan to develop it's own Beltline, which will be referred to as the East Point Path. The project planning has been underway and the construction is expected to start within the next year or so. Some phase of the construction has already started (area where Southwest Atlanta and East Point meet). 

The areas near #11 and #10 is where East Point meets Atlanta, specifically Campbellton Road, which has been slated for growth, beautification, and Beltline expansion. The areas near #15 and #16, is where Camp Creek Parkway currently lies, and is near the neighboorhood Princeton Lakes, a sub division in Atlanta (almost sub city at this point) which has just been voted one of the country's hottest areas. The area near #8 is Downtown College Park, which is a healthy area of South Atlanta ITP (lets refer to it as that), and is adjacent to Hapeville, which is expected to be a prime real estate location due to proximity and amenities.

Here is a link to the master plan: http://www.eastpointcity.org/wp-content/uploads/20...

Just recently, there was a groundbreaking announcement that the City of College Park ITP would be breaking ground on a new convention center which will host the Atlanta Hawk's G League Team, concerts, graduations, conferences, and everything in between. This will be called the  Gateway Center at College Park. This arena is already located within the Georgia International Convention Center, which has had favorable opinions since it's opening, and hosts a range of amenities from hotels, to transit, to business space, to airport parking, to restaurants (few at this time however).  This arena is expected to be finished in Fall 2019. The overall GICC isn't finished development plans yet either, just FYI.

The Aerotropolis Atlanta wait is no more. It is finally coming into fruition as we speak. 

Now there a ton of plans with this one, but to summarize, the Board/investors want to make the area more walkable from the Airport to Camp Creek Marketplace.  There are plans for restaurants, shops, recreation, multi use trail paths, beautification, easing of traffic, more residential units, more business centers and the area hopes to attract those who enjoy living in the city, but also want a sense of space and greenery. I really think Camp Creek Parkway will lead a lot of changes and transform this side of metro Atlanta. Think midtown Atlanta meets Southwest Fulton.

Last but certainly not least...the AeroATL Greenway

Once just a thought, the AeroATL Greenway has picked up steam after the forwarding of the Atlanta Beltline, and in now in the midst of a $200k planning phase (not sure if the design phase is underway yet). The Greenway will essentially connect the areas closely bordering the perimeter with each other, as well as with the Atlanta Beltline itself.

The plan is to encourage more interconnectivity within metro Atlanta, specifically including the areas within 5-10 minutes of the airport. Think of it as the Atlanta Beltline's younger bigger brother. 

Now this is just an overview of what I've been researching over the weeks, but more is definitely soon to come. I see this area as having enormous potential. Massive potential. Eventually, I expect residents of Atlanta ITP and surround areas to not have to use a car to get from the bit more northern and eastern parts of the City of Atlanta to the Aerotropolis/Airport area. I see new technology being tried within the areas that have a lot of building potential. 

Also, just to mention, crime has gone down 20%-35% in the past 2-3 years alone within the  target area, and cameras have been installed to encourage and maintain public safety as we begin to experience a more walkable, enjoyable Atlanta metro

In saying all of this, it may be time to start checking out those other areas within the South Atlanta metro that have been neglected/avoided for so long. I expect the real estate markets in the City of East Point, College Park ITP, Hapeville, and Southwest Atlanta (city) to all drastically look different in 4/5 years time. Prices are still reasonable within the College Park, East Point, and Atlanta surrounding areas. I would take a strong look at what happens with this area over the next few years. If everything goes according to plan, I think we have the East Coasts first futuristic city.

[Mike H. Jones]

320-acre development set to take off by airport 

"The city of College Park is launching a $500 million-plus mixed-use development on 320 acres, with potential to create thousands of jobs and representing a major step in making the region’s “Aerotropolis” vision of concentrated development around Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport a reality.

The development site is on the north side of Camp Creek Parkway, west of Interstate 85 and Hartsfield-Jackson and across from the Georgia International Convention Center. About 250 acres are developable, with the remainder including the city’s nine-hole golf course and green space.

There is enough land available to accommodate Amazon.com Inc.’s proposed HQ2, which requires 100 acres and 8 million square feet. The project was not ready in time to be included on the list of suggested sites Atlanta and Georgia submitted to the online retail giant in 2017, but nonetheless the welcome mat is out if the Amazon advance team should choose to return.

At least one other corporate headquarters is interested.

The project can also connect to the Atlanta Beltline through the extension of existing trails and completion of trail projects already underway in the Aerotropolis area.

sked for a low estimate of jobs potentially created, Jones cited 3,500-5,000. The mayor thought 5,000-plus was conservative.

The project will include 4 million square feet of office, including corporate office, international headquarters, laboratories, medical and medical office; 1,000 keys of hospitality; 600,000 square feet of retail and entertainment, including street front retail, neighborhood shopping centers, freestanding retail, restaurants and entertainment; and 1,000 units of residential including townhomes, single-family, senior housing and multi-family, with price points from $200,000 to $400,000.

The development’s amenities will include multiple public spaces, multi-use nature trails connected to a regional trail system, and autonomous electric shuttle vehicles connecting the development with the Atlanta Hawks’ G-League arena, GICC and the airport. College Park has a grant to build a bridge from the GICC over Camp Creek Parkway to a walking path to the MARTA station. A transit study includes looking at extending the Skytrain to the development, and throughout Aerotropolis."

Article originally from Bizjournals (locked for membership via the site)

I'm excited to see what this becomes. The steam coming too Atlanta is too much to wait on development imo. I believe the development will be along/between Hershel Rd and the airport parking opposite the GICC. Huge news nonetheless. I remember reading something about it back in February, but figured it was only hearsay at the time. This article checks out though, read a lot of the same stuff in the previous article.

The mixed used development, office space, restaurant and shopping space and recreation space should bring a lot of attraction to this area. The much needed housing that is planned for the development will be the icing on the cake imo. Can't wait to read more and see what comes from this.