The food hall project proposed for downtown Marietta has passed its first test of what will likely be many in its development process.
The historic preservation commission voted 8 to 0 at its Monday meeting to allow the proposed Marietta Square Market to move forward in a centuries-old part of town, according to a city spokeswoman.
One of the nine board members was absent.
Developers hope to create an 18,000-square-foot mixed-use complex with all types of eateries and vendors in the style of popular Atlanta hangouts Krog Street and Ponce City markets.
This project would be inside the historic Marietta Station buildings at 68 N. Marietta Parkway NW.
No other city board or the county commission has yet seen formal presentations about the effort. That means developers still have to submit zoning and construction paperwork.
The next step for the project is getting placed on the draft agenda of the City Council during a work session Thursday.
The project could be discussed that night and moved to a regular council meeting on April 12, a city spokeswoman said.
Consultation with and approval from the historic board was needed considering the space dates back to 1892.
Sketches show plans for the development include putting a vendor inside a restored 1922 curved side streetcar similar to those that ran from Marietta to Atlanta in the 1930s and ‘40s.
A spokesman for one of the developers previously said that the plan is to have 363 parking spots (with various rules) for the food hall.
Of those parking spaces, 57 would be new spots for Marietta Station.
Developers listed on its application to the city a completion date of March 31, 2018.
Here’s a type of business inside Krog Street Market in Atlanta that would likely be similar to those at the proposed Marietta Square Market:
