Constructing the future
July 23 — It’s Cathy from Rough Draft with my weekly newsletter on Dunwoody. If there is a construction slowdown, this town hasn’t heard about it. Right now, we’ve got several commercial proposals in the mix that has residents angry and others angry at the angry people. In not-so-shocking news, most of the vitriol can be found on Facebook.
But there’s good in the world in the form of neighbors breaking bread with people doing the hard work in the city, and a wine enthusiast bringing a Napa experience to Dunwoody.
📆 August will be interesting. Thanks for reading,
Cathy
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Apartments, hotels, or condos?
🏢 After previously deferring a proposal to expand the permitted uses at a site at the corner of Ashford Dunwoody Road and 84 Perimeter Center East, the Dunwoody Planning Commission on Aug. 12 will consider the plan again with some big modifications.
At its July 8 meeting, the panel heard from attorney Dan Webb, representing the applicant, JSJ Perimeter LLC, about a fourth iteration for the 2.86-acre site, which used to be the site of a bank.
“The applicant requests to amend the site plan and conditions to provide flexibility in the use for the 14-story building to be either age-restricted multi-family housing (as currently approved), for-sale, non-age-restricted condominiums, or a hotel,” according to a staff memo.
In addition, JSJ, also wants to build a 4,700-square-foot quick-service restaurant with drive-though lanes (possibly Chicago-based Partillo’s), a two-story 10,000-square-foot retail building, and a parking deck.
That’s quite a departure from the previous iterations for the site, which has been in the “development” phase for 15 years. JSJ also wants to build the parking deck in phases, with the first three layers first and the others added later, while the deck remains open. The presence of gravity, IMHO, could be a major factor in this idea being a complete disaster, but attorney Dan Webb, representing the developer, said it’s doable.
🅿️ Here’s the story about the site and its many proposed uses.
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Let’s just simmer down
🥊 A proposal that will be in front of the Dunwoody City Council at its August 11 meeting about low-income senior housing has everyone in a tizzy on both sides. A developer is seeking a zoning change in order to allow the construction of about 200 apartments on Ashford Dunwoody Road on a site that currently houses LifeSouth Community Blood Bank.
Citing traffic congestion, the density of the project, and other factors, opponents spoke against it at the Dunwoody Planning Commission’s July 8, but the measure passed 4-1.
Now it’s onto the council, where there will be a public hearing, and I’m thinking staff should print a lot of comment cards in anticipation. The opponents are also circulating a petition, laying out the reasoning behind the drive to defeat the rezoning, while other groups are encouraging proponents to email their council members to voice their support.
👓 More information from the planning commission meeting can be found here.
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Paving it forward at Ashford Chase
🥞 Dunwoody Communications Director Jennifer Boettcher alerted me to this sweet story. When street paving started this week in the Ashford Chase neighborhood, affected residents, instead of complaining about the inconvenience, pitched in to treat the 15-crew team to breakfast each day.
With temps this week hovering in the 90s, I imagine pouring hot asphalt is certainly not on anyone’s bucket list, so it must have been refreshing to see some smiling faces and good food to start the day.
🚧 Here’s the city’s paving schedule – maybe the idea will inspire some acts of kindness for the crews when they hit your neighborhood.
A trip to Napa without the airfare
🍷 Dunwoody resident Jackie Edmundson, an avid wine lover, has launched a new venture that she calls “her personal passion project,” a one-night-only wine and art experience at the Donald-Bannister Farm.
The Aviary: First Flight, to be held Saturday, July 26, will bring together five wines from Napa’s VGS Chateau Potelle—including its 100-point Zinfandel — “paired with chef-designed bites that elevate the tasting journey,” according to a release from Edmundson.
“We’re also showcasing original artwork by local artist Linda Pozzobon, with the full visual experience curated by Denise Jackson of Town + Culture,” Edmundson said. “”As someone who cares deeply about the future of Dunwoody — and how we build connection within it — this project has been my way of bringing something truly special to life in our city,”
Fun fact: Evidence that the vintners have a good sense of humor and lack pretension, VGS stands for “Very Good…..(fill in the blank).
🍇 Read more about the night and how to buy tickets here.
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