On Friday afternoon Atlantic Residential, which is interested in redeveloping Sprayberry Crossing, released new details of a mixed-use project that includes nearly 400 residential units and 30,000 square feet of commercial space.
The revisions came after the developer recently met with citizen leaders who made suggestions. A four-page PDF released Friday is attached here, and here’s an overview of the specifics:
- 12,000 square feet of neighborhood retail
- 15,000 square feet of co-working space
- 195 apartment units
- 140 senior apartment units
- 62 townhomes
Atlantic Residential is saying that of the 195 conventional apartment units, 75 percent will be one-bedroom and 25 percent two-bedroom.
The proposal includes 3- and 4-story buildings, with commercial activity on the ground floor and three floors of rental living space above. The townhomes would be three stories.
According to an aerial rendering of the proposal (below; click here for a larger view), the apartments would be in the front of the 15-acre property on the south side of Sandy Plains Road, just east of East Piedmont Road, with the townhomes in the back. Another 6,000 square feet of residential amenities would be included.
The senior living building would be on the eastern side of the property, along with 8,000 square feet of related amenities.
Joe Glancy of Sprayberry Crossing Action, a group of citizens pushing to rebuild the blighted property, said the developers “are ready to meet with the community at any time.” He said a community meeting would not take place until after the fall Cobb County School District break in late September. The group he helped, the Sprayberry Crossing Action Facebook page, which now numbers 5,000 people, has an active comments section.
Here’s also what he said:
“As always, I ask that everyone continue to be respectful in their dialogue and discussion. This page provides an opportunity to express you opinion, not to drown out or belittle so else’s. We have a really good history of respectful dialogue and expect that will continue. This is a wonderful community and I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it.”
Those opposed to apartments at the Sprayberry Crossing site recently created their own Facebook group.
The developer said the co-working space would be developed by Work at Thrive, which has facilities in Roswell, Milton, Alpharetta and soon in Canton. The senior apartments would be built by Evoq Town Flats and would be 1- and 2-bedrooms for those age 55 and older. Atlantic Residential would be building the 195 other apartments, and the townhome developer is still to be determined.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Residential brochure:
“While this project will not have the scale and impact of well-known mixed use projects like Avalon or Ponce City Market, it will be designed to be sustainable for the long-term and to be a spark for the redevelopment of adjoining and nearby properties that currently are not achieving their full potential for the community.“
We”ll update this story with more reactions and details when they become available.
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The apartment dominates the development in a way that cheapens the attempt at tasteful mixed use. Kind of in the same way the Commission did with the introduction of a storage facility at the corner of Sandy a Plains and Shallowford (former Mtn View Elementary).
Condos would be a better draw for young people. But that area cannot handle as many cars as the number of units they have planned. If there was more retail shops and restaurants vs residential, the traffic would spread out, not as concentrated during rush hour.
I have no problem with upscale condominiums for purchase. We already have 5 potential or zoned “senior marketed” residential properties within 5-7 miles of the area. This area of East Cobb County is already the most affordable entry point into East Cobb county for single family homes. Most of us had to “wait” for our first home purchase until we could afford it as we were building credit or saving money for a down payment or both. I am willing to hold out until the right developer is interested if these folks “walk away.” The blight has been there for a long time- not willing to “settle or rush into less than” just to “get it done.” When mistakes are made- it usually requires much, to get beyond it. Some mistakes or errors in judgement, end up with permanent consequences. For the current community, it seems like a facelift for the immediate. Long term-gravity/time still takes its toll. Once that happens- you still can only work with what you got. (Also, No mention of anticipated rental or purchase pricing for property units as planned.) A lot easier to work with an individual homeowner to spruce up the residence than an entire complex. Properties are bought, developed and then sold off again, to new ownership/management all the time. If the current developer is receptive to upscale condominiums for the residential portion-there is no need to include apartments. That indicates to the current existing community that a new owner plans to be here for at least a while and as an owner, is a vote of confidence that they will keep their new property nice. Properties well maintained benefit all of us. Plenty of money to be made for return on the investment. I too, once lived in a nice apartment based on what I could afford in Smyrna in Cobb County till I was able to buy my single family home in East Cobb. There are already apartment options in Cobb County for those that prefer or need that option if it is for an interim lifestyle choice. Respectfully, I would vote to decline the current plan.
Sandy Plains Rd is a major rush hour cut through. It can’t handle any more traffic.
Andy, you idiot. You must be a developer.
We need development this that poor people can’t afford. Keeps them far away.
“Redevelopment of adjoining and nearby properties that currently are not achieving their full potential for the community.“ equals greed. The developer doesn’t care what stress and hardship it will cause the surrounding area. The developer is looking to make as money as possible at our expense.
No impact like other developments? 1000 more vehicles and no impact on the traffic nightmare. Go there during rush hour, it is hell. You can tell that the rich investors/developers only care about 1 thing, greed.
I thought this was mixed use but it turns out mostly apartments. Is this the future of Sandy plains and East Cobb you want? And it looks like joe is going to continue to censor his Facebook page postings if they don’t meet his “respectful” criteria. removing negative comments about this behemoth apartment complex with a some senior unit units.
Residents should be cautious…..recent apartment projects elsewhere in Cobb have included low-income housing commitments to qualify under Federal law for bond financing with interest tax-exempt from Federal income tax.
The neighbors were asked to be open since it was a rough property with a cemetery in the middle, the stigma of having a small area that was a cleaned/contaminated site, and a band of outparcels surrounding it. Then I see this. The cemetery is gone. The stigma of supersite is offset by economic development incentives. The band of outparcels is dwarfed as 3-story building turns to (surprise) a 4-story goliath. So, they strip away the challenges and extract our souls in payment. Retail makes up less than 10% of mixed-use project. Over 250 new units dumping kids into Sprayberry? #NoSprayberryApartments #Ashamed #ShameShameShame