Atlanta’s Zoning Review Board denied approval recently of a proposed $55 million building in Old Fourth Ward. A 165,000-square-foot office building at 525 North envisioned to echo Old Fourth Ward landmarks such as the former Sears, Roebuck & Co. warehouse on Ponce de Leon Avenue. The new building is also meant to capture the vibe of cool urban projects in other cities, including the headquarters for The Gap Inc. in San Francisco.
The structure would replace a cluster of dilapidated homes along North Avenue.
The Zoning Review Board didn’t appear to be in favor of the project from teh start. In June, it imposed a 60-day deferral to make a decision about the development.
The concerns appear to be about uncertainty with what the developers will build in their second phase of 525 North, which sits on about two acres a block from Boulevard. Right now, the complete plans for the second phase haven’t been submitted, though another office building or condo project has been discussed as a possibility.
Some Old Fourth Ward residents have also objected to the plans for the project . Even though 525 North is set to replace delipidated homes, many say the neighborhood should stick to developing more single-family homes along North Avenue.
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