The Cobb Board of Commissioners gave the CID the green light Tuesday to move forward with hiring a consultant to design such a plan.
Commissioner Bob Ott expects 1,100 apartment units will be built in the heart of the Cumberland district over the next couple years.
“We’re bringing in 1,100 apartments, so that’s going to have a more than likely positive ripple effect on the area,” Ott said.
County leaders could wait for development to unfold naturally and see what comes of it, Ott said.
“Or you sit down ahead of time with some of the property owners and business owners and say, ‘Where do we want to be as we move forward with continuing to improve the area or grow the area or stuff like that,’ because if you think about it, it’s a pretty significant change that’s getting ready to happen with the 1,100 apartments,” he said.
For some time, developers like CID board member Barry Teague have been eyeing the parking lot sprawl that surrounds areas like Cumberland Mall and the 50-acre Akers Mill Square. Teague has said ideally the mall’s parking lot would be developed into housing, with parking moved into decks as was done at Perimeter Mall.
A study is needed to tell them how to go about such development, CID Chairman Tad Leithead said.
“We have a vision for enhanced density, but we absolutely don’t know the details, and we haven’t studied zoning categories required,” Leithead said.
The consultant, who will be chosen through a request for qualifications process, will be paid for by the CID, although the cost and timeline remain unknown at this point, Leithead said.
So far Ott has completed master plans for the Johnson Ferry Corridor, the Powers Ferry Corridor and Vinings. They have each taken more than a year to complete, but have been worth the effort, Ott said.
“The three hottest areas in District 2 are where the three plans are,” Ott said. “The reason I think that they’re so successful is it tells the development community exactly what the community is interested in having there, and it gives them a guideline as to how to work with the community; because one of the big unknowns for a developer is ‘We have this great idea, well, what’s the community reaction going to be?’”
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Housing that will generate long term viable and meaningful growth for an area is NOT apartments.
Cobb has lacked visionaries. This is why Perimeter Center is sought after. Guess you guys saw the mixed use announcement for Abernathy/400 corner. Highrise, office,condos,hotel. And look at Avalon & Town Brookhaven.
The growth is North Fulton, 400 & the I-85 corridor.
Smyrna is holding Cobb County back. It's a disgrace to such a prime location. Look what gets the mayor excited, the ground breaking of a Krispy Creme, Del Taco & Auto Zone (and on a highly traveled, visable location).
Smyrna should be dissolved and taken over by UNincorporated Cobb. That would the only hope.
This is a giant mess!
There are 3 right exit lanes and most are trying to get into 2 left turn lanes to Spring Road, Smyrna.
Traffic blocks the northbound Cobb Parkway traffic.
The CID planted a few trees in the median. The median should be torn out & add a new left turn lane. Synchronize the lights there would be helpful. It wouldn't hurt, either, is Smyrna Police would get to that intersection at rush hour, to help commuters,.. like they do around Abernathy in Sandy Springs.
But to actually solve the issue & bring the area UP to quality standards, the left turning traffic should be forced up one more block and make that section of Spring ONE WAY eastbound only. A one way loop.
This MUST be fixed if the density is going to increase. This area can't handle existing traffic now!!
Density is great. Apartments are not great.
Around this place apartments sprawl just as much as the tract home McMansions on fifth acres, so how do they create density?
Who knows maybe they mean apartment towers. I guess that would not be so bad as long as all comers and goers are videotaped at all times so we know who is leaving right before cars are broken into each time.