3 Ocak 2013 Perşembe

EDENS acquires Buckhead Marketplace center

To contact us Click HERE
EDENS acquired Buckhead Marketplace, the location of Whole Foodsmarket on West Paces Ferry Road, for an undisclosed sum, bringing its Atlantaportfolio to nine centers, according to a report by the Atlanta BusinessChronicle.

The 70,251-square-foot Buckhead Marketplaceis across West Paces Ferry Road from the St. Regis Hotel and also includes, inaddition to Whole Foods, Atlanta’s only North Face store and Van Michael Salon.
EDENS’ Atlanta portfolio includes Lenox Marketplacein Buckhead, the recently redeveloped Whole Foods anchored Merchants Walk in EastCobb, and Toco Hills.
CBRE’s National Retail Investment Grouprepresented Morton Realty Co. in the sale of Buckhead Market Place, accordingto the Business Chronicle article. 

Can't we all just get along?

To contact us Click HERE
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Holiday and stuffed themselves! I traveled to NC and was the center of attention at the holiday family gathering. Everyone loved me and said what a great dog I was ... Heck Yeah! :)

I was exhausted after all the travel, and when I got home I was ready to just hang with my buddy Pickles. Here we are on a lazy, dreary Sunday morning. awwwwwww now why can't we all just get along like this... side by side and squishy faced!?

I hope you all are geared up for the holiday season. Please be safe if you are traveling, and enjoy your friends and family! I know I will!!

AND Don't forget to book your holiday pet care needs with Buckhead Pet Pals - the sooner you book the better! :)

Ciao for now!
Rocky

I'm a lucky boy

To contact us Click HERE

Hey Everybody -

  I'm a lucky dog you know.  During the school year and I'm at home during the day without any human company, I have my best buddy Mr. Pickles to hang out and play with.  And we really do play together.  My girls think its really funny to watch us playing, I just know its a ton of fun.  And in the summer time my brother and sister are home to hang with me, which makes me that happiest.

And on the occasion, I tell mom in the morning that I'm coming to the office with her.  That's where I get to see Catherine, Tiffany and play with Mr. Bill and my huge dog bone.  I mean, it really doesn't get any better than that.

Here's a pic of me and Mr. Pickles together.  Somedays when I come back from my midday walk with Laurie, Mr. P is hanging out on my bed waiting for me.  He might pretend like he doesn't enjoy me licking his head, but I know he loves it.

Hope all of you have as many great adventures during your days as I do!  And if you need a midday walk during the day like me, tell your humans to call Buckhead Pet Pals - they can help!

Peace out -
Rocky


Milton's and Dinner & a Cause

To contact us Click HERE
Welcome to Milton's Cuisine and Cocktails

Have you ever been to a place that while you were still there, you were already excited about your NEXT visit?  That’s how it was for me yesterday when we tried Milton’s Cuisine and Cocktails in Historic Crabapple for the very first time.  When we arrived, we were seated in one of the rooms of this 150 year old farmhouse.  The rich wood that adorned the floors and ceiling was a true testament of what was to come.  The food, like the wood, was a combination of old and new.  It delivered those southern favorite comfort foods, like fried okra, mac and cheese , and fried green tomatoes, yet gave a new twist. 

Pan Seared Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes

Once we were seated at our table, We were greeted by our waiter who not only fulfilled his duty as our server, but did so with pride.  He told us the origin of the Broadwell farmhouse, the history of the chef, Boyd Rose, and the garden in the back which delivered fresh ingredients for each and every dish.  We decided on the fried green tomato stack with goat cheese and tomato puree, as our appetizer.  Since our little one was getting restless, I decided to take her for a walk around the outdoor patio, which would definitely be a great option for your dining experience, weather permitting.  As our waiter opened the door to the patio, he suggested we walk back behind the small, red barn to checkout the garden.  So, that is exactly what we did.  When we got back there, we saw the diagram pointing out where everything had been planted.  There happened to be someone working in the garden, who was happy to point out the squash blossoms, cobs of corn on the stalk, partially grown watermelon, and tomatoes of every variety.  Not only was it a great lesson, it built excitement for our upcoming fair, and was an experience we will not soon forget.

Out Back at Milton's Milton's Acre. A Story in the Making.

We arrived back at our table to tell of our adventure only to notice our tomato stack had arrived (and had been partially eaten thanks to our dining companion who self admittedly had no will power when the dish arrived).  It was a culinary delight.  It had a basil infused olive oil that gave it a flavor that two fried green tomato connoisseurs could only dream of consuming.  Not much later, our entrees arrived, consisting of Grilled Cilantro-Basil Marinated Chicken Breast with roasted garlic spinach, asparagus, and grilled vegetable ratatouille plus the daily pasta feature which was linguine with chicken, andouille sausage, corn, tomatoes, saffron and basil.  The chicken was tender and juicy.  The Cilantro and Basil marinade added the perfect flavor combo.  The vegetables definitely delivered that fresh, local, home-grown taste...you can't beat that!  The pasta was NOT covered with a sauce that took away from the flavor of the vegetables and herbs, but instead was finished with a luster of butter that highlighted their essence.  As I savored every bite, I found myself looking forward to the next visit, wondering what I would order then, and anticipating the reaction of my friends and family as I introduce them to my new favorite.  If you are looking for a meal that is filled with a combination of nutritious vegetables, but that will indulge your cravings for your southern favorites, then head to Milton’s in Historic Crabapple.


To make your visit to Milton’s (or a large variety of other Atlanta area restaurants) a more Knowtable experience, go to the Dinner & a Cause website for more information about purchasing a card that benefits Children of Conservation and gives you a 20% discount for your entire table at over 80 participating restaurants.  Act fast!  Although you can use the card as many times as you would like until August 31, 2011, that is when the offer ends. 


What is "Children of Conservation" Project?

“In 2009, the Children of Conservation project established a scholarship program to help provide an otherwise unattainable education to the children of wildlife sanctuary workers in Africa.  Since public funding for schooling in many third world countries ends at the 2nd grade, many bright and intelligent children grow up illiterate and unable to advance their station in life. Our program focuses on educating children who learn the value of conservation every day from their sanctuary employed parents. Another aspect of the project is the benefit provided to the soldiers of conservation (the parents). The end result is better care for the animals and a culture where the future leaders come from a background of conservation.”       - www.StumpeFoundation.org

This is the first year for this fundraiser, so help them spread the word in anyway you can!

*Milton's Photos courtesy of Studio 7 Photography

Mayor Reed's Centers of Hope Project

To contact us Click HERE
Location: Thomasville Recreation Center                    1835 Henry Thomas Drive                    Atlanta, Ga 30315Description: Volunteer opportunities involve working with children in the after school program at the Thomasville Recreation Center. Positions available include volunteer tutors, gym volunteers, volunteer dance instructor, volunteer music instructor, volunteer drama instructor, teen program volunteer, and general volunteers. Volunteers are needed anytime between 2:30-6pm M, T, W, Th, and F.Contact: Phoebe Kann                 Volunteer Coordinator/AmeriCorps VISTA                 pkann@handsonatlanta.org                 (404) 979-2771Website: iamatlanta.org

2 Ocak 2013 Çarşamba

Crane breaks, leaving Macy’s Great Tree dangling

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TheMacy’s Great Tree was drooping sadly over the side of the building  Wednesday after a crane broke while loweringthe Christmas tree from atop the department store at Lenox Square mall,according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

This photo from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
shows the Macy's Great Tree drooping over the
side of the roof of the store with the broken crane.
Thehuge crane apparently buckled near the top, leaving the tree dangling over thethree-story glass façade along the north side of the Macy’s store the AJCreported. Pieces of the tree and at least one of the large ornaments fell ontoan awning below, and a large pane of glass on the third floor was shattered.
AnAtlanta police spokeswoman said there were no reports of injuries. Lenox Squaresecurity blocked off the north parking lot of the mall, and asked news media toleave the property.
LateWednesday morning, a second crane was brought in to make another attempt atremoving the tree, according to the AJC.
Theincident was the second mishap in as many holiday seasons involving the Macy’stree.
In 2011, the trunk of a 60-footwhite pine tree cracked before it could be hoisted to the top of the store anda back-up tree had to be cut down and delivered.
For thefull AJC report, go here.

Lillian Miles Lewis, wife or Rep. John Lewis, dies at 73

To contact us Click HERE
LillianMiles Lewis, the wife, friend and political adviser of U.S. Rep. John Lewisdied Monday at Emory University Hospital. She was 73.

LillianLewis apparently had been ill for an extended period of time but encouraged herhusband to continue with his career, representing Atlanta and Buckhead in theU.S. House of Representatives.
Rep. John Lewis and wife Lillian Miles Lewis in earlier days.
Photo from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lewismet her future husband when he was already a civil rights legend, and sheplayed a key role in his transition to a career in politics, according to anews obituary that appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
LillianLewis, whose father owned a small contracting business, attended Los AngelesHigh School with the late Johnny Cochran and received an undergraduate degreein English from then-California State College at Los Angeles and a master’sdegree in library science at the University of Southern California.
Shedeveloped a lifelong interest in Africa when she taught in a student program inNigeria in 1960, returning later as a Peace Corps volunteer to teach for twoyears in Yaba, Nigeria.
It wasafter taking a job as a librarian at Atlanta University that she met herhusband at a 1967 New Year’s Eve party.
She andJohn Lewis began a courtship, often double-dating with Julian and Alice Bond,movement friends who would become bitter rivals when Bond and Lewis opposedeach other in a 1986 congressional race.
TheLewises were married in 1968.
Mrs.Lewis is survived by her husband and her son, John-Miles Lewis. 
To read the full AJC obituary, go here.


Can't we all just get along?

To contact us Click HERE
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Holiday and stuffed themselves! I traveled to NC and was the center of attention at the holiday family gathering. Everyone loved me and said what a great dog I was ... Heck Yeah! :)

I was exhausted after all the travel, and when I got home I was ready to just hang with my buddy Pickles. Here we are on a lazy, dreary Sunday morning. awwwwwww now why can't we all just get along like this... side by side and squishy faced!?

I hope you all are geared up for the holiday season. Please be safe if you are traveling, and enjoy your friends and family! I know I will!!

AND Don't forget to book your holiday pet care needs with Buckhead Pet Pals - the sooner you book the better! :)

Ciao for now!
Rocky

I'm a lucky boy

To contact us Click HERE

Hey Everybody -

  I'm a lucky dog you know.  During the school year and I'm at home during the day without any human company, I have my best buddy Mr. Pickles to hang out and play with.  And we really do play together.  My girls think its really funny to watch us playing, I just know its a ton of fun.  And in the summer time my brother and sister are home to hang with me, which makes me that happiest.

And on the occasion, I tell mom in the morning that I'm coming to the office with her.  That's where I get to see Catherine, Tiffany and play with Mr. Bill and my huge dog bone.  I mean, it really doesn't get any better than that.

Here's a pic of me and Mr. Pickles together.  Somedays when I come back from my midday walk with Laurie, Mr. P is hanging out on my bed waiting for me.  He might pretend like he doesn't enjoy me licking his head, but I know he loves it.

Hope all of you have as many great adventures during your days as I do!  And if you need a midday walk during the day like me, tell your humans to call Buckhead Pet Pals - they can help!

Peace out -
Rocky


Milton's and Dinner & a Cause

To contact us Click HERE
Welcome to Milton's Cuisine and Cocktails

Have you ever been to a place that while you were still there, you were already excited about your NEXT visit?  That’s how it was for me yesterday when we tried Milton’s Cuisine and Cocktails in Historic Crabapple for the very first time.  When we arrived, we were seated in one of the rooms of this 150 year old farmhouse.  The rich wood that adorned the floors and ceiling was a true testament of what was to come.  The food, like the wood, was a combination of old and new.  It delivered those southern favorite comfort foods, like fried okra, mac and cheese , and fried green tomatoes, yet gave a new twist. 

Pan Seared Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes

Once we were seated at our table, We were greeted by our waiter who not only fulfilled his duty as our server, but did so with pride.  He told us the origin of the Broadwell farmhouse, the history of the chef, Boyd Rose, and the garden in the back which delivered fresh ingredients for each and every dish.  We decided on the fried green tomato stack with goat cheese and tomato puree, as our appetizer.  Since our little one was getting restless, I decided to take her for a walk around the outdoor patio, which would definitely be a great option for your dining experience, weather permitting.  As our waiter opened the door to the patio, he suggested we walk back behind the small, red barn to checkout the garden.  So, that is exactly what we did.  When we got back there, we saw the diagram pointing out where everything had been planted.  There happened to be someone working in the garden, who was happy to point out the squash blossoms, cobs of corn on the stalk, partially grown watermelon, and tomatoes of every variety.  Not only was it a great lesson, it built excitement for our upcoming fair, and was an experience we will not soon forget.

Out Back at Milton's Milton's Acre. A Story in the Making.

We arrived back at our table to tell of our adventure only to notice our tomato stack had arrived (and had been partially eaten thanks to our dining companion who self admittedly had no will power when the dish arrived).  It was a culinary delight.  It had a basil infused olive oil that gave it a flavor that two fried green tomato connoisseurs could only dream of consuming.  Not much later, our entrees arrived, consisting of Grilled Cilantro-Basil Marinated Chicken Breast with roasted garlic spinach, asparagus, and grilled vegetable ratatouille plus the daily pasta feature which was linguine with chicken, andouille sausage, corn, tomatoes, saffron and basil.  The chicken was tender and juicy.  The Cilantro and Basil marinade added the perfect flavor combo.  The vegetables definitely delivered that fresh, local, home-grown taste...you can't beat that!  The pasta was NOT covered with a sauce that took away from the flavor of the vegetables and herbs, but instead was finished with a luster of butter that highlighted their essence.  As I savored every bite, I found myself looking forward to the next visit, wondering what I would order then, and anticipating the reaction of my friends and family as I introduce them to my new favorite.  If you are looking for a meal that is filled with a combination of nutritious vegetables, but that will indulge your cravings for your southern favorites, then head to Milton’s in Historic Crabapple.


To make your visit to Milton’s (or a large variety of other Atlanta area restaurants) a more Knowtable experience, go to the Dinner & a Cause website for more information about purchasing a card that benefits Children of Conservation and gives you a 20% discount for your entire table at over 80 participating restaurants.  Act fast!  Although you can use the card as many times as you would like until August 31, 2011, that is when the offer ends. 


What is "Children of Conservation" Project?

“In 2009, the Children of Conservation project established a scholarship program to help provide an otherwise unattainable education to the children of wildlife sanctuary workers in Africa.  Since public funding for schooling in many third world countries ends at the 2nd grade, many bright and intelligent children grow up illiterate and unable to advance their station in life. Our program focuses on educating children who learn the value of conservation every day from their sanctuary employed parents. Another aspect of the project is the benefit provided to the soldiers of conservation (the parents). The end result is better care for the animals and a culture where the future leaders come from a background of conservation.”       - www.StumpeFoundation.org

This is the first year for this fundraiser, so help them spread the word in anyway you can!

*Milton's Photos courtesy of Studio 7 Photography

1 Ocak 2013 Salı

Developers for high-rise apartments to replace Dante’s restaurant urged to make more plan changes

To contact us Click HERE
Inmid-November, Atlantic Realty Partners announced it had entered into anagreement to acquire and redevelop the site where Dante’s Down the Hatchrestaurant is currently located at 3380 Peachtree Road and plans to build a10-story, 219-unit luxury apartment building on the site. 

BuckheadView was first to report the story, although AtlanticRealty Partners had taken its plans before the Development Review Committee forSPI-12 (special public interest district) in the first week of November, beforethe company had submitted any plans to the city for approval of a specialadministrative permit.   
The initial architectural renderings shown to SPI-12's DRC
At thatpre-application meeting in November, the DRC recommended a number of changesthe developers might consider to the initial plans and Atlantic Realty Partnersreturned at the DRC’s Dec. 5 meeting confident it had addressed all the itemson the DRC’s punch list.
But,after Atlantic Realty Partners senior director of development Ben Curran andhis team finished going over the changes they had made to the initial plans,they left the meeting with a new punch list of items the committee wanted tosee addressed for the project on the 2-acre parcel across from Lenox Square.
Thehigh-rise tower, which is expected to break ground in the spring of 2013, willbe located in the heart of Buckhead’s business and shopping district adjacentto the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and the new Del Frisco Grille. 
Aerial view of the location for the 10-story apartment building
(cener of photo where white low-rise structure is shown) is
next to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and new Del Frisco
Grille, at left in the aerial photo. 
Theinitial punch list from the DRC in November, included making the back of thebuilding—essentially the parking deck—a more interesting back door to theproperty off of the ally so that it ties into the Community ImprovementDistrict’s new pedestrian circulation plan for that area.
DRCmember Denise Starling explained to the development team that the CID isworking to create “an awesome pedestrian space” back there to tie into thenew MARTA pedestrian bridge that crosses GA 400 from Stratford Road to TowerPlace and connect to the Buckhead rail station. 
Thecommittee suggested making the bottom level of the parking desk moreinteresting to promote that ally off Stratford Road as a pedestrian walkway.But that was just some of the suggested changes.
So, Atlantic Realty Partners’ design team returned to theDRC in December to outline the modifications made to the development as aresult of the comments received by the committee in the prior meeting.  Thosemodifications were:
Atlantic Realty Partners' senior director of development, Ben
Curran (standing), explains to DRC members at the December
meeting the changes made since November suggestions. 
  • Pedestrian circulation opportunities have been added to theeastern side of the site as well as the rear.
  • A crosswalk has been added across the back parking lot tofacilitate pedestrian flow to the future greenspace should it be developed.
  • The lower level park deck has been aligned and adjusted toincorporate a knock out wall to provide for future connectivity to the streetnetwork proposed in the Buckhead CID’s pedestrian circulation study should itoccur with the redevelopment of the Lenox Towers Property to the east.
  • A new sidewalk has been incorporated to provide connectivityto Stratford Road and the northern concourse of the Buckhead MARTA station.
  • Bike parking will be incorporated to exceed requirementsgiving the connectivity to the PATH GA 400 multiuse trail.
  • Public art will be incorporated on the Peachtree frontage toactivate the front space.
  • The main roof will be a white roof and the amenity lid willincorporate planters and green roof components.
  • The alley on the east side of the building will be coveredby a proposed wing wall.
  • The back of the parking deck will be “greened” using plantmaterials that grow up the structure from the ground level.
  • The plaza area on the front of the building has beenexpanded to the width of the building.
  • Incorporation of a dog walk into the eastern side of thesite providing both upper and lower level connectivity.

 The DRC seemed appreciative of the efforts the company hadmade to address its recommendations from the November meeting, but felt therestill was more that could be done.
The committee noted the importance of providing active useson the Peachtree frontage and recommended the front of the building beactivated more significantly than was proposed:Create a more direct visual connection to the front doorthrough the incorporation of an awning or open colonnade or similararchitectural feature;
  • Create a direct connection to the proposed cyber café;
  • Activate the proposed “wing wall” with public art and orarticulation of the architecture; and,
  • Provide connectivity with adjacent Mandarin property toextent feasible.

The committee’s report recommended the developer address thesides of the parking deck fronting Peachtree Road with architectural featuresthat mirror the building design and break the scale of the structure.
Above is a site plan graphic that the development team showed to
DRC members at the December meeting. View is from Peachtree Road. 
The committee also recommended the developer address therear parking deck to ensure it does not “turn its back” to the pedestrianactivity that will be present due to the MARTA access and potential futurepedestrian connectivity plan access.  The DRC said the deck should includea more overtly stated and inviting back door/entryway.
And, the committee recommended working with the adjacentproperty owner to the extent possible to create an inviting pedestrian andbicycle connection to the northern concourse of the Buckhead MARTA station thatis currently under construction treating transit and trail accessibility as asite amenity rather than an afterthought.
The DRC recommended approval of the requested reduction fromthree to two loading spaces.
However, the committee reluctantly approved the variation toallow the active use height requirement to be articulated in the architecturerather than incorporated in the actual space.  The intention of thisrequirement is to facilitate the incorporation of active uses such as retailand restaurants on the street frontage.  The proposed variation will limitthe flexibility of this space in the future should its use be redefined.
The committee also “felt strongly that the proposed design,while technically meeting the zoning requirements and very early in the designprocess, does not yet reflect the intended spirit of the zoning and desiredfuture outcome for the area,” according to the DRC written report. 
The committee said it would like for the applicant torevisit the design to more thoroughly reflect the intentions of the ordinanceand return before the DRC once the design is more fleshed out.

Real estate experts: future is in urban, walkable centers; Economists: economy turn-around in 2014

To contact us Click HERE
The messages gleaned at the2013 Atlanta Real Estate & Economic Forecast program Tuesday at the Grand HyattHotel in Buckhead, could have been that multi-family housing is the only hotcommercial real estate market, creating walkable urban environments is key and theeconomy will turn around in 2014.

For the almost 300commercial real estate developers and brokers who attended, the most interestwas in what four experts in the field had to say about the present and nearfuture of the office market, multi-family housing, retail, hotel and industrialproperties.
Three of the five members of the Bisnow real estate panel were, left to right,
Mark Toro, John Heagy and Jatin Desai
On a panel moderated byWes Hudson, a commercial real estate leader with Cohn Resnick, were John Heagy,senior managing director of Hines; Mark Toro, partner with North AmericanProperties; Gordon Buchmiller, managing partner in Atlanta for Childress KleinProperties, and Jatin Desai, chief investment officer with Peachree HotelGroup.  
The other two members of the real estate panel were, left to
right, Gordon Buchmiller and moderator Wes Hudson. 
The event, put on byBisnow online real estate news service, also featured keynote speeches byRajeev Dhawan, director of Georgia State University’s Economic ForecastingCenter at J Mack Robinson College of Business, and Mark Vitner, managingdirector and senior economist with Wells Fargo Securities.
Heagy, Toro and Buchmillerall agreed that the future emphasis on commercial development centers oncreating urban, transit-oriented, walkable environments with connectivity toliving and work spaces and retail and entertainment opportunities.  
Hines' John Heagy
From an economystandpoint, Heagy pointed out that the lack of job growth in recent years hascertainly affected the office sector. He said he has read that only 16 percentof Georgia employers are planning for an increase jobs in 2013 and 8 percentare planning to cut jobs. The rest, he said will just “sit on the sidelines.
An 8 percent increase injobs is just not enough” to make a major impact, Heagy added.
The Hines executive saidthe hot market areas for office space leasing is around transit stations andareas that provide easy access to housing, retail and restaurants. He saidconnections to all these things is of utmost importance to employers and theiremployees.
“Leasing metrics areimproving in the city, but only mildly,” Heagy told the audience. In order toget to the place where office developers are going to consider building new orrenovating existing properties, he said, rental rates need to get to the mid-$20sto high-$20s and that is without major concessions being offered.
Toro said the strategyat North American Properties goes beyond Atlantic Station, which it purchased,and Avalon in Alpharetta, which it is developing “to virtually everything thatwe are doing.. “It all revolves around transit, walkability and the propensityfor a new generation of Americans to seek a walkable urban environment.”
He pointed out thatAvalon is not near transit, but it is creating a walkable suburbanenvironment.  “The idea is that the 80million or so “echo boomers”—kids in their 20s—are driving decisions.” 
North American Properties' Mark Toro

He suggested people inthe audience should become familiar with the website walkscore.com. He said itis a site these echo boomers are using to find where they want to locate—to rentapartments, work in offices, shop and find entertainment—all within easy walkingdistance.
Toro said that 20-year-oldwho comes here from a real city—who grew up in Chicago and went to college inBoston—doesn’t see getting into a car to go to work. “Atlanta may someday be areal city,” Toro added, but he doesn’t believe it is there now.
He told the audience notto expect to reach these echo boomers with fax machines or even through websites. “We not only have to build what they want, we have to speak theirlanguage.” He said echo boomers communicate through Twitter, Facebook and suchservices through their smart phones. They don’t even go to websites anymore, headded.
Toro said the firstthing North American Properties did when it bought Atlantic station was to “bequiet and listen. We reached out to the community to find out what to do with theAtlantic Station property. In 22 months, we have driven sales up 26 percent,”he explained. “You cannot attribute that to the economy.”
Toro said North AmericanProperties is “using Atlantic Station as an incubator. We have retooled ourentire company around this concept.”
Toro had something tosay about both the retail and multi-family housing markets too.
Childress Klein's Gordon Buchmiller
“The retail business isunder attack,” Toro told the audience of mainly commercial real estatedevelopers and brokers. “Best Buys is Amazon’s showroom. Shoppers go into BestBuys and shoot photos of the products they want with their phones and thenorder the products online.”
Toro did say, however, “Wesee online retailers now coming into brick and mortar….seeking urban intownenvironments for retail stores.”
On the subject ofmulti-family housing development, Toro said, “Everyone in the business shouldjust stop,” suggesting overbuilding may very soon be a reality.
But Buchmiller saw multi-familyhousing as the only hot market. He said there also are some opportunities forspeculative industrial development in smaller Southeast markets, but he doesnot see any office market in the Southeast that is healthy, except possiblyRaleigh.
He said he is worriedabout what foreclosures in the office marketplace might do to lease rates, butthen offered the suggestion there could be some real opportunities forpurchases. “The economy will improve,” Buchmiller said. The question is how itwill affect the properties.  
When asked about thebiggest challenges facing Atlanta, Buchmiller, Toro and Heagy all agreed onthree items: expanding mass transit and spending on transportation needs,cooperation between governmental entities, and getting to Plan B as quickly aspossible after the failure this past summer of the T-SPLOST.
Georgia State University Economist Rajeev Dhawan
Heagy predicted thevarious Community Improvement Districts in the metro Atlanta area “will step upin a big way” to see that some of the major projects are accomplished.
They all agreed thefailure of the T-SPLOST is being used against Atlanta in efforts to attract newbusiness to the area. “Just because we have had successes doesn’t mean we willcontinue to succeed,” Toro said in answer to a question.  
Of the two headlinersfor the Economic Forecast part of Bisnow’s Tuesday program, Dhawan, told those attending thesession to forget 2013 and start planning now for 2014, when the economy willreally begin to turn around,
Vitner, however, wassomewhat more optimistic. He said the first half of 2013 is going to bechallenging. But he is predicting the economy will pick up by mid-year. Vitner saidthere is not a lot of strength in the economy, but it is better than it was ayear ago. He added that the strength seems to be broadening across industries.
Wells Fargo Economist Mark Vitner
One factor Vitner citedwas movement in new home construction. “We have cleared out enoughforeclosures,” he explained, and that “has presented a thrust for new homeconstruction.” He cited as one of the strongest areas for new housing starts inmetro Atlanta an arc that goes from Buckhead to Duluth and back across toMarietta.
Vitner said thatapartment construction has come a long way, but that single-family is stilloff.   
Vitner said mid-Novembershowed the largest drop in small business confidence since 2008 “when the worldwas coming to an end. Small business sees no growth in revenues and is actuallyworried revenues will fall.
He pointed out that theemployment numbers “have a very strong bias in them. We are losing 700,000 jobsa month.” He said seasonal employers add back jobs in the fall, beginning inaround September. “In the springs and summer it is going to look likeemployment has hit a wall again.” 

ARC chairman declares 4 focus priorities are water, transportation, aging population and education

To contact us Click HERE
Atlanta Regional Commission Chairman Tad Leithead told members of theBuckhead Business Association Thursday morning that the ARC’s four focuspriorities are transportation, water, the aging population and education,stating that water supply is the biggest issue facing the region.

ARC Chairman Tad Leithead
Spending long periods of time stalled in traffic can beirritating, he told those attending the weekly breakfast meeting at the CityClub of Buckhead, but not nearly as irritating as getting up in the morning andturning on the faucet and not getting any water.
Leithead said the ARC projects the 10-county Atlanta region will grow from apopulation of 5.5 million to 10 million in the next 30 years and Lake Lanierstruggles now to handle the consumption needs during long drought periods.
“We can’t conserve our way out of a drought,” Leithead said. Fiftytrillion gallons of water a year fall out of the sky in the region each year,but we only capture about 1 trillion gallons, he explained. “We need to at leastdouble the amount that we capture.”
He said reservoirs can be built north of Atlanta, but the permitting andbuilding of a reservoir is a 20-year process.
He said most people have difficulty understanding water shortages whenthey look at the Chattahoochee River and see it is full of water. However, hepointed out that the Army Corps of Engineers controls the flow of water out ofLake Lanier to help the downstream environmental needs. It is hard to believe,but the Corps increases the flow out of the lake during droughts.
Leithead also explained that theregion does a pretty good job of treating “previously used water” and puttingit back into Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River.  But people downstream object to gettingpreviously used and treated water, even though in most cases it is better thanthe water that falls out of the sky, he added.
Liethead speaks at the BBA Weekly Breakfast  at the City Club of Buckhead
The ARC chairman said that, while the region’s water supply is theorganization’s number one focus, providing services for the increasing agingpopulation is number two.
The region now has 750,000 people over the age of 65 and that number isexpected to double to 1.5 million. People are living a lot longer and the needfor tailored services for this aging population is growing, he said.
Leithead explained that when Social Security was started, it was designedto bridge the gap between when people reached the age of 65 and the thenaverage life expectancy, which was 67. It was designed for a two-yearperiod. People on average now live well into their 80s.
ARC Chairman Leithead talks about the needs
of the region's growing aging population.  
He told the story of his 85-year-old mother who just returned from acruise to Alaska. He said the biggest challenge was getting her to the Atlantaairport. Once she was there, the airline helped her get to her flight and thecruise line had all the accommodations to care for her needs.
He used that to illustrate a service need for the aging population—andinfrastructure to pick up elderly people and take them to the airport, or toMARTA, etc. “We need to develop sustainable solutions for these problems,” hetold the audience of business people.
Leithead, who spent 26 years in the commercial real estate business inthe region before taking on the chairmanship of the ARC, explained thatorganization has a board of 39 members, which includes 24 elected officialsfrom the 10 counties and cities within those counties.
The role of the ARC is to bring those representatives together to findsolutions to these regional issues. Transportation is the one issue that isdefined by law as a focus for the ARC. He said that, although education is amajor focus area for the ARC, it does not get directly involved in working withlocal school districts on education issues.
Leithead ran out of time before getting into a discussion of the focus on dealing with transportation issues following the defeat of the T-SPLOSTthis past summer. However, in answering a question from the audience, he didpoint out that the proposed expansion of the Savannah Port facility will resultin tripling the number of trucks going through the Atlanta region every day.
Buckhead Heritage Society Executive Director Erica
Danylchak urged those attending Thursday morning's
BBA meeting to consider sponsorships for Buckhead's
175th Anniversary Celebration that is coming up in 2013.
The sponsorship levels range from $1,000 to $10,000 for
the March 1, 2013 event, which is being planned by  the
Buckhead Business Association and Buckhead Heritage.
For more information go here.  
After the meeting, BuckheadView asked Leithead if he feels the variousCommunity Improvement Districts throughout the Atlanta region—those entitiesthat tax commercial property owners additionally in order to provide localcommunity infrastructure improvements—will have to step up to provide increasedsupport for transportation needs.
For instance, the Buckhead CID provided much of the funding for studiesand design work for the Peachtree Boulevard reconstruction project, as well asnegotiating donations of right-of-way from the property owners along the route.
The Perimeter CIDs have committed $10 million toward the majorinterchange project at GA 400 and I-285, which Gov. Nathan Deal has said is thenumber one road project priority, in hopes of generating additional commitments of funding from the surrounding cities.
Leithead said the problem is, with the tightening economy, it is gettingdifficult to get property owners to give up valuable right-of-way for projectssuch as this. Also, the funds that the CIDs provide can help with studies anddesign work, but are a very small part of the total project cost.
But, he added, that is the type of cooperative efforts it is going totake to get some of these projects competed. 
Leithead, who waselected in December 2009 as chairman of the ARC, also serves as chairman of theCumberland Community Improvement District and is also a board member of the FultonCounty Perimeter Community Improvement District and the North Fulton CommunityImprovement District. 

Car break-in, truck theft and gunshots reported in Mt. Paran-Northside area of Buckhead during one week

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In a one-week period from Dec. 14-20, there were reports of a carbreak-in during a holiday party, the theft of a lawn crew’s truck from in frontof a house and several gunshots being fired, all in north Buckhead, accordingto a Mt. Paran-Northside Citizens Association online report.

The first of the incidents occurred on Dec. 14 between 11 and 11:30 p.m.in the 600 block of W. Conway, when a young woman had the window of her carbroken while she was attending a holiday party with her family.
When Zone 2 Atlanta Policeofficers arrived, the father of the victim said that security had been hired todirect traffic and that guests were advised to park directly across the streetfrom the home in the church parking lot. He said that within a 30 minutewindow, the window on his daughter’s car was broken.
The daughter statedthe suspects never opened the car door because the car alarm was stillactivated and the doors were still locked.
After the daughterperformed a thorough search of the car, she reported that the suspects had openedthe armrest, pulling out cords and papers, but did not see a $5 bill or herGPS. She stated that nothing had been taken from the vehicle.
The police officer wasable to lift quality prints from the driver’s side door. No video surveillancewas available in the church parking lot.
Then on Tuesday, Dec.18, someone stole the truck belong to a yard crew from in front of a house inthe 4200 block of Northside Drive. The report was made to police the next dayby the owner of the home.
The truck was parkedon the street in front of the house with the keys in the ignition. The owner ofthe truck states that he only left the vehicle for approximately 3 to 5 minutesand when he returned, the truck was gone. There was $7,000 of lawn equipment inthe truck. There was no surveillance footage nor did anyone see the suspect(s)stealing the truck.
The next day, a Zone 3Atlanta Police officer spotted the truck, checked the vehicle and the licensetag and was advised that it was reported stolen. The truck was missing theradio and the lawn equipment, but the keys were still inside.
The officer was ableto lift a print off of the driver’s side door. The truck was impounded andPolice continue to investigate.
Then on Thursday, Dec. 20, Atlanta Police receivedseveral reports at approximately 4 a.m. of gun shots—as many as fifteen in arow--heard in the vicinity of Randall Mill, West Conway, Conway Valley, andWest Paces Ferry roads.
Officers weredispatched but found no suspicious activity or persons. If you have anyinformation about this incident or saw anything suspicious, please call 911 andMt. Paran Security.
In the same issueFriday of the Mt. Paran-Northside Citizens Association online newsletter, therewas a report from the neighborhood’s newSecurity Patrol Officer, Sgt. Barry Miller (who starts  Jan. 1), of three accomplishments of his officerson Tuesday, Dec. 18, in other Buckhead communities.
In the first incident, officer Seawellarrested a black male in the 1700 Block of W. Wesley that was stealing mailfrom mailboxes. It was discovered that he had mail from over 25 boxes.
In the secondincident, Sgt. Miller arrested a door-to-door magazine salesman in the 700 Blockof Wilson Rd. after getting a complaint about the man’s refusal to take “no”for an answer. The subject lacked the required solicitation permit issued fromthe city.
The third incidentoccurred at approximately 2:30 a.m., Officer Shultz jumped a black male on abicycle breaking into cars on Brookview Dr. The subject did escape on foot;however, a purse, backpack, and laptop were all recovered.
Sgt. Miller also shared information about an incident that occurred onSaturday, Dec. 15, at approximately 8 a.m.involving a 911 call of 2 white males standing next to a blue car flagging downpassing cars in front of the Lovett School on Paces Ferry Rd.
Officer Seawell wentto the call and saw a white male walking away from a car. As soon as thesubject saw the officer pull up and get out of his vehicle, he tried to get inhis car. The Officer stopped him and asked him his name. He said his name wasBlaine Nichols. Officer Seawell immediately handcuffed the suspect and calledanother unit for assistance.
Blaine Shawn Nicholsis a career criminal who is on parole for auto theft and cocaine possession. Hehas spent most of his life in prison and has been arrested numerous times bySgt. Barry Miller, most recently six weeks ago for fraud on Peachtree BattleAve.
Nichols was checkedfor warrants and officer Seawell found that he had an active warrant for possessionof cocaine. Nichols was charged with fraud (flim flam), no driver’s license,and no tag, since he had taken the tag off the car and put a paper tag on itthat said “tag applied for”. The car was impounded.

Buckhead resident’s IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) buying NYSE Euronext for $8.2 billion

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Buckhead resident Jeffrey C. Sprecher and his company, SandySprings-based IntercontinentalExchange, Inc., suddenly burst onto the stage ofthe well-known yesterday when it was announced they were acquiring NYSEEuronext in an $8.2 billion stock-for-cash transaction.
 Little known by thepublic but a major player in the financial world,IntercontinentalExchange is an operator of global markets and clearing houses. NYSEEuronext is the global equity, equity options and fixed income derivativesmarket operator.
Twelve-year-old IntercontinentalExchange, often simply knownby its stock sticker ICE, will acquire NYSE Euronext’s operations, includingthe 220-year-old New York exchange also known as the Big Board. The combinedcompany will have dual headquarters in Atlanta and New York City. The New YorkStock Exchange will stay on Wall Street.
The transaction is expected to close in the second half2013, subject to regulatory approvals in Europe and the U.S. and approval byshareholders of both companies.
Jeffrey C. Sprecher
Sprecher will continue as chairman and CEO of the combinedcompany and Scott A. Hill as CFO. Duncan L. Niederauer will be president of thecombined company and CEO of NYSE Group. Four members of the NYSE Euronext boardwill be added to the ICE board, which will be expanded to 15 members.
The NYSE holds the stock listing ofsome of the best known companies in the world, including metro Atlanta giantsCoca-Cola, UPS, Home Depot and Delta Air Lines. Beyond stocks, it also operatesa massive futures market for financial vehicles related to interest rates,which ICE has coveted.
ICE operates trading platforms, butunlike the NYSE it does not trade corporate stocks. Much of the trading doneover its networks is of contracts for crude oil, sugar, and other commodities,which affects the price of things such as gasoline and groceries.
ICE was founded in Atlanta in 2000as an electronic exchange to trade energy futures. It employs about 1,100people worldwide, including about 380 in metro Atlanta. It is predicted theAtlanta operation will grow over time.
The Sandy Springs office of ICE arelocated at 2100 Riveredge Parkway Northwest. Thecompany also has offices in London, New York and Chicago, as well as staff inHouston, Singapore, Calgary, Alberta, and Winnipeg, Manitoba.
ICE reported $1.33 billion inrevenue in 2011, and $1.04 billion through the first nine months of this year.The company earns much of its money from the volume of trading on its array ofexchanges.
The New York exchange remains avenerable symbol, but its influence has waned as trading of stocks and otherinvestments has moved to other digital platforms. NYSE’s revenue fromtraditional trading of stocks has declined, and the company has sought mergerpartners and ways to make itself more efficient in recent years.