Wheels turning on transit hub at downtown ‘gulch'

By Rachel Tobin

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Georgia Department of Transportation is getting the wheels moving on a transit hub in the "gulch" area of downtown Atlanta that has been talked about for years.

The DOT’s process has become the buzz of Atlanta’s development community.

According to the DOT website and a press release, the agency will meet with potential master developers from Nov. 8 to 10 about the proposed transit hub to help DOT as it prepares its request for proposals.

Dubbed the “multi-modal passenger terminal” by the agency, it would create a hub in the area known as the "gulch" on the west side of Five Points for existing and future transportation networks.

DOT envisions that it would be used by all types of transit, including MARTA rail and bus systems, regional express bus systems and the Georgia railroad network. It also could accommodate future high speed and light rail and streetcars.

The DOT also hopes it will be a catalyst for one of the largest “transit oriented developments,” or TOD, projects in the country.

Though not much is currently known about the project, the DOT hopes that by using a master developer in a public-private partnership, revenue generated by the development can help pay for the transit hub.

On Dec. 1, DOT will issue a request for proposals for a master developer: the developers are expected to propose ways to make the project viable. The agency expects to choose a master developer by May 1.

John Vick, managing director of Jones Lang LaSalle, a real estate services firm with a large Atlanta office, has been keeping tabs on the project. He specializes in land use redevelopment and reuse.

“This would be a very significant project for Atlanta and the metropolitan area,” Vick said. “Many of the major local and regional developers will be interested in the project, as well as numerous national developers.”

“The project has strong interest from Georgia-based, national and international developers,” said Selena Helms, project manager for DOT. One well-known development firm that will meet with the DOT in November is Atlanta-based Cousins Properties, spokesman Cameron Golden confirmed.

A key issue, Vick said, is funding.

“I think that the developers will be very interested to learn exactly what the state expects them to bring [in terms of funding], and what the financing opportunities are that will be connected to the project, both public and private.”

A.J. Robinson, president of Central Atlanta Progress, said the project’s “time is finally coming. We are very pleased to see heightened interest" from local and national developers.