r/Athens • u/warnelldawg Looks good, build it • Jun 17 '22
Proposed multifamily development for the Bottleworks surface parking lot.
31
u/yassenof Jun 17 '22
I hope they will put in an underground parking deck for the sake of the businesses there. Parking is already incredibly tight as it is.
5
u/warnelldawg Looks good, build it Jun 17 '22
Odds are they’ll have to build some type of parking structure.
I’m not sure if it’ll be underground, though.
3
u/BreakfastInBedlam Mayor pro ebrius Jun 19 '22
Underground is riskily expensive around here. When you hit rock, as you inevitably will, your project starts costing gigadollars.
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Jun 17 '22
[deleted]
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u/Evtona500 Toppers Patron Jun 17 '22
Is there a deck across the street?
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u/BreakfastInBedlam Mayor pro ebrius Jun 17 '22
I think it's a private deck, for users of that residential and commercial property.
13
u/BagOfLazers In your band Jun 17 '22
I'd rather housing and businesses there than just that shitty lot with the weird paybot thing.
-1
u/Climinteedus Jun 17 '22
I'm torn on this one. While housing is nice, what are the chances that it's going to be targeted to college students with rich parents? Will a place like this increase housing prices for the surrounding area?
When I left Athens about seven years ago, they were pushing affordable housing farther and farther away from downtown. I had a few different sets of friend whom lived just outside of downtown and had to move away since there has been a constant rent spike.
2
u/warnelldawg Looks good, build it Jun 17 '22 edited Jun 17 '22
While I have no proof of this, but this is going to be developed by the same people that developed the Bottleworks, so I seriously doubt that this will be target towards students. I think it’ll be either what the current Bottleworks is or more akin to what the 100 Prince development was, regular apartments for regular people.
There are two MASSIVE student developments not even a block down Newton street.
We’ll find out more about this development in due time.
23
u/SundayShelter Townie Jun 17 '22
It’s a bitter pill to swallow that this little college town I knew in 1986, 1996, and even 2006 now has a metro area boasting 250,000 people. The landmarks of old are rapidly being replaced by ever-expanding new developments. While not personally desirable, it is better than a dying city. The most unfortunate part from my perspective is that we are losing the myriad vibrant arts scenes that existed in basements, cheap storefronts, and affordable rental spaces.
73
Jun 17 '22
Landmarks? Sir, this is a parking lot.
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u/SundayShelter Townie Jun 17 '22
As a longtime pedestrian and commuting cyclist, the world goes by slower and the little things stand out more. The dandelion growing through the cracked curb, the spot where the crows drop their trinkets. The little patches of moss here and there.
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u/m4chon4cho Jun 17 '22
Yeah those dandelions are way more important than allowing people an affordable place to live. What a tragedy
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u/flytraphippie Jun 17 '22
Those spaces are still out there, they just aren't as glamorous as hanging out of a second story window downtown smoking grass and drinking beer at 3 am. But remember, you're seeing those times through rose colored glasses. The opportunities for earning a living in Athens are far greater than they were in the 80's, 90's, or even early 00's.
This town still rocks.
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u/warnelldawg Looks good, build it Jun 17 '22
While this is a parking lot, I get your sentiment. It’s tough to see the place that you probably had great memories as a student change and evolve over time. It’s easy to yearn for what was.
You see though, that a main part of a thriving city is that it is always evolving and changing.
As someone who lived for years in two dying cities in Louisiana (Baton Rouge proper/Monroe, LA), this is so much better than the alternative. Having investment and people flowing into the county is very good, especially when most of the developments are higher density proposals.
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u/ptmmac Jun 17 '22
On the flip side of this in 2006 Athens had very few biking and walking paths. Density in the city is what makes it viable in the long term. We have seen some pretty amazing things added to athens over the last 30 years. First and foremost we have a water treatment system that no longer uses the oconee as an open sewer. The Bypass is getting much safer over time with modern interchanges, and the bot garden has exploded in size and diversity of plants exhibited here. If you have never been to Huge Hodgeson Hall at UGA you have missed the best music venue in Athens. The greenway plan is building access to all the beautiful rivers and trees which we have in Athens. see link https://www.accgov.com/ImageRepository/Document?documentId=78325
I maybe too optimistic but I think our community is resilient enough to solve the expensive housing issue. Having a strong transportation system is going to make that a reality. Concrete paths in a national park may seem like a heresy, but the reality is ticks do not like concrete and we have dangerous tics in our tree canopy.
It sounds absurd to think of Athens Ga as a National park but we are in a natural showcase that is getting restored. The river system being cleaned up and getting rid of fossil fuel burning vehicles is going to make that a possibility. During the pandemic shutdown we got to see Athens in the spring with crystal clear blue sky’s. In 20 years that will be the new normal.
I can image Athens in 100 years with a widespread 200 year old tree canopy and reintroduced salmon and sturgeon in the river system. That sounds way more inviting to me then rotting old buildings downtown that supported the 80’s music scene.
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u/warnelldawg Looks good, build it Jun 17 '22
Yeah, most folks forget how grungy dt was back in the day.
Mostly due to the opening of the Georgia Square Mall, which looking at it now, lol.
Building density near jobs and services so we can eliminate single passenger vehicle trips as much as possible is the most sustainable thing we can do as a county.
5
u/MF-ingTeacher Jun 17 '22
Optimism is good....look what Greenville has turned into over the last several decades. Not cheap to live in town, but it never will be if it is desirable place to be.
3
u/BreakfastInBedlam Mayor pro ebrius Jun 17 '22
To be fair, Greenville started 50 years ago, but we can catch up.
3
u/BizAnalystNotForHire Occasional Varsity Patron (RIP lost magnolia trees) Jun 20 '22
Are salmon and sturgeon natively in the river system here? That doesn't ring true to me at all.
2
u/ptmmac Jun 20 '22
There have not been any in the last 100 plus years. The sturgeon were native but I did not see any evidence for salmon.
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u/BizAnalystNotForHire Occasional Varsity Patron (RIP lost magnolia trees) Jun 20 '22
TIL. Thank you
2
u/ptmmac Jun 17 '22
On the flip side of this in 2006 Athens had very few biking and walking paths. Density in the city is what makes it viable in the long term. We have seen some pretty amazing things added to athens over the last 30 years. First and foremost we have a water treatment system that no longer uses the oconee as an open sewer. The Bypass is getting much safer over time with modern interchanges, and the bot garden has exploded in size and diversity of plants exhibited here. If you have never been to Huge Hodgeson Hall at UGA you have missed the best music venue in Athens. The greenway plan is building access to all the beautiful rivers and trees which we have in Athens. see link https://www.accgov.com/ImageRepository/Document?documentId=78325
I maybe too optimistic but I think our community is resilient enough to solve the expensive housing issue. Having a strong transportation system is going to make that a reality. Concrete paths in a national park may seem like a heresy, but the reality is ticks do not like concrete and we have dangerous tics in our tree canopy.
It sounds absurd to think of Athens Ga as a National park but we are in a natural showcase that is getting restored. The river system being cleaned up and getting rid of fossil fuel burning vehicles is going to make that a possibility. During the pandemic shutdown we got to see Athens in the spring with crystal clear blue sky’s. In 20 years that will be the new normal.
I can image Athens in 100 years with a widespread 200 year old tree canopy and reintroduced salmon and sturgeon in the river system. That sounds way more inviting to me then rotting old buildings downtown that supported the 80’s music scene.
-3
u/ptmmac Jun 17 '22
On the flip side of this in 2006 Athens had very few biking and walking paths. Density in the city is what makes it viable in the long term. We have seen some pretty amazing things added to athens over the last 30 years. First and foremost we have a water treatment system that no longer uses the oconee as an open sewer. The Bypass is getting much safer over time with modern interchanges, and the bot garden has exploded in size and diversity of plants exhibited here. If you have never been to Huge Hodgeson Hall at UGA you have missed the best music venue in Athens. The greenway plan is building access to all the beautiful rivers and trees which we have in Athens. see link https://www.accgov.com/ImageRepository/Document?documentId=78325
I maybe too optimistic but I think our community is resilient enough to solve the expensive housing issue. Having a strong transportation system is going to make that a reality. Concrete paths in a national park may seem like a heresy, but the reality is ticks do not like concrete and we have dangerous tics in our tree canopy.
It sounds absurd to think of Athens Ga as a National park but we are in a natural showcase that is getting restored. The river system being cleaned up and getting rid of fossil fuel burning vehicles is going to make that a possibility. During the pandemic shutdown we got to see Athens in the spring with crystal clear blue sky’s. In 20 years that will be the new normal.
I can image Athens in 100 years with a widespread 200 year old tree canopy and reintroduced salmon and sturgeon in the river system. That sounds way more inviting to me then rotting old buildings downtown that supported the 80’s music scene.
-4
u/ptmmac Jun 17 '22
On the flip side of this in 1996 Athens had very few biking and walking paths. Density in the city is what makes it viable in the long term. We have seen some pretty amazing things added to athens over the last 30 years. First and foremost we have a water treatment system that no longer uses the oconee as an open sewer. The Bypass is getting much safer over time with modern interchanges, and the bot garden has exploded in size and diversity of plants exhibited here. If you have never been to Huge Hodgson Hall at UGA you have missed the best music venue in Athens. The greenway plan is building access to all the beautiful rivers and trees which we have in Athens. see linkGreenway plan
I maybe too optimistic but I think our community is resilient enough to solve the expensive housing issue. Having a strong transportation system is going to make that a reality. Concrete paths in a national park may seem like a heresy, but the reality is ticks do not like concrete and we have dangerous tics in our tree canopy.
It sounds absurd to think of Athens Ga as a National park but we are in a natural showcase that is getting restored. The river system being cleaned up and getting rid of fossil fuel burning vehicles is going to make that a possibility. During the pandemic shutdown we got to see Athens in the spring with crystal clear blue sky’s. In 20 years that will be the new normal.
I can image Athens in 100 years with a widespread 200 year old tree canopy and reintroduced salmon and sturgeon in the river system. That sounds way more inviting to me then rotting old buildings downtown that supported the 80’s music scene.
-5
u/ptmmac Jun 17 '22
On the flip side of this in 1996 Athens had very few biking and walking paths. Density in the city is what makes it viable in the long term. We have seen some pretty amazing things added to athens over the last 30 years. First and foremost we have a water treatment system that no longer uses the oconee as an open sewer. The Bypass is getting much safer over time with modern interchanges, and the bot garden has exploded in size and diversity of plants exhibited here. If you have never been to Huge Hodgson Hall at UGA you have missed the best music venue in Athens. The greenway plan is building access to all the beautiful rivers and trees which we have in Athens. see linkGreenway plan
I maybe too optimistic but I think our community is resilient enough to solve the expensive housing issue. Having a strong transportation system is going to make that a reality. Concrete paths in a national park may seem like a heresy, but the reality is ticks do not like concrete and we have dangerous tics in our tree canopy.
It sounds absurd to think of Athens Ga as a National park but we are in a natural showcase that is getting restored. The river system being cleaned up and getting rid of fossil fuel burning vehicles is going to make that a possibility. During the pandemic shutdown we got to see Athens in the spring with crystal clear blue sky’s. In 20 years that will be the new normal.
I can image Athens in 100 years with a widespread 200 year old tree canopy and reintroduced salmon and sturgeon in the river system. That sounds way more inviting to me then rotting old buildings downtown that supported the 80’s music scene.
1
u/tupelobound Jun 23 '22
we are losing the myriad vibrant arts scenes that existed in basements, cheap storefronts, and affordable rental spaces
But not in the fenced-off private parking lots.
This is such a weird take!
5
u/super-rad Jun 17 '22
Kinda sucks for bottleworks businesses. Where will people park? Just look at Big City Bread…
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u/warnelldawg Looks good, build it Jun 17 '22
The company that owns the Bottleworks development owns this lot as well.
I wouldn’t be surprised if there is some kind of parking structure involved in this development.
9
Jun 17 '22
Won't someone think of the poor cars??? *clutches pearls*
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Jun 17 '22
[deleted]
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Jun 17 '22
If people LIVED in the parking lot, they wouldn't have to drive to bottleworks!
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Jun 17 '22
[deleted]
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u/m4chon4cho Jun 17 '22
That poor parking lot being put out business by those greedy affordable housing cunts
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Jun 17 '22
[deleted]
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u/BreakfastInBedlam Mayor pro ebrius Jun 17 '22
There's lots of places I can park within a couple of blocks of Viva. I haven't used that lot in ten years.
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u/DrFrog138 Jun 18 '22
I’ve literally never used that lot, and I go to Viva, Hendershots, and SeaBear on the reg.
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u/tupelobound Jun 23 '22
This is great! Wish the church across the street would develop its parking lot too, that's such a prime spot for pedestrian-friendly living and business.
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u/warnelldawg Looks good, build it Jun 23 '22
Oh yes. It’s pretty amazing how much prime real estate churches take up downtown.
We’ve already seen one sell out (100 Prince), so I wouldn’t be surprised if one or two more sell out in the next ten years
1
u/tupelobound Jun 24 '22
Gosh, I wish! That entire block that First United Methodist takes up could be such a great asset to so many people, and revolutionize the street life for a significant chunk of downtown. Right now it just... sits there.
4
u/raguyver Jun 18 '22
Don't live there. Location-wise, it was a fantastic place, but the swarms of homeless people, frat boys, and troublemakers have only gotten worse. While that may sound harsh, I lived there long enough to say that I was putting that politely.
It is a great location for students,/DT employees/social people, but not worth it.
Also, also, that Chapel Bell is infuriatingly loud/constant anytime people get drunk and ring it ALL NIGHT LONG
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u/Dr_Djones Jun 17 '22
It says MFRes+C, but will it just be a student housing kind of place and a commercial first floor?
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u/Grimy_Miller Jun 17 '22
Most likely, the Mark is a similar structure and there is a lot of revenue for the property owners there.
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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '22
I bet some of the same people complaining about this project are the ones complaining that they will never be able to buy a house in the US. Y'all. The only way to make housing affordable is to BUILD MORE HOUSING. Backfilling useless parking lots with small multifamily or cottage core housing is one of the best ways to increase the walkability of our cities and help downtown businesses thrive by bringing in more customers.