Real Estate

Last week, e-commerce giant Amazon surprised us when it announced it’s in the market for “HQ2,” a second North American headquarters. In its request for proposals, Amazon said it wanted its second headquarters to be the “equal” of its Seattle base of operations.

Today, an autonomous car will drive from Georgia Tech to Ponce City Market, as part of a joint pilot project, and guided by a network of sensors, Wi-Fi hotspots, GPS receivers and other technology installed along the route.

Legislation allowing breweries and distilleries to sell directly to consumers recently went into effect, loosening regulations requiring them to distribute products through wholesalers.

The city of Atlanta has partnered with Georgia Tech to design, implement and study Smart City initiative: the North Avenue Smart Corridor Project, approved by the Atlanta City Council in a recent meeting.

Me last night: “Alexa, order me more Scrub Daddy sponges.” Also me: “Where does all my money go?”

For the latest real estate trends, insights and forecasts, look no further than the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) 2017 Fall Meeting. Set for Oct. 23-26 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the meeting will explore a wide range of issues such as: housing affordability, gentrification and social equity, technology advancements, and retail challenges.

Earlier this year, Urban Realty Partners and RAF Capital announced plans for an extensive overhaul of the former Atlanta Stockade – a 121-year-old prison complex in Glenwood Park. GlenCastle, as it’s now known, consists of three historic loft buildings and is being leased by Colliers and Cross-Town Realty.

In unsurprising news, a new survey from Village Green found renters are becoming more amenity-driven, especially if those amenities make residences feel like true homes. Other findings include 58 percent of renters read reviews of communities and 65 percent use renting websites to research properties before visiting communities.

As an avid online shopper, I was immediately interested in learning about ASOS’ search for warehouse space on the East Coast. The UK-based company recently announced that it chose Georgia for its $40 million fulfillment center.

This week, The Daily – Alpharetta’s newest dining concept – announced its first two tenants for the development. Biscuit Love and King of Pops Bar will open in the development in May of next year.

Last weekend, Columbia Residential and partners provided more than 1,200 students with backpacks and school supplies at its third annual Back to School Bash, Lei’d Back Luau. The event took place at Carver High School and featured food and prize giveaways, free haircuts and surprise guests such as Georgia Aquarium characters, Carver’s drumline and Atlanta Drum Academy.

When visiting my husband’s family in New Orleans, we take for granted how nice it is to walk down Magazine Street – wine in hand – while patronizing local shops. Sure, we could just be in a restaurant or bar, but we love to take in the neighborhood and have those chance encounters with friends that we get from walking down the street.

Ponce City Market has played a major role in the revitalization of Old Fourth Ward. Its tenants – ranging from Candlefish and Karoo to Hop’s Chicken and Minero – offer visitors and employees varying options in shopping, dining and entertainment.

For the fifth consecutive year, Georgia’s expected to outperform the nation in population growth, job creation and the rate of real estate expansion, according to a recent Urban Land article. The article goes on to cite the Fortune 500 companies locating innovation centers in the Atlanta region to be near the Georgia Tech talent pool.

ULI Atlanta recently announced Bob Voyles, principal at Seven Oaks Company, as its new Chairperson. Bob has worked in Atlanta commercial real estate for 37 years and served on the boards of the Perimeter CID, Cumberland CID and many more.

“Good bones” is something you hear on an episode of “Fixer Upper,” but it’s also how Kellen Minor, principal at ai3, describes his latest project: Stockyards Atlanta. With the five buildings, which used to be reserved for livestock, but will soon be reserved for diners, office tenants and bowlers, Kellen said they wanted to be as authentic as possible.

The AJC reports a German development firm has acquired several buildings Downtown. What’s the impact?

Roof decks are the No. 1 amenity Atlanta renters seek, according to a recent Curbed Atlanta article, followed by dog grooming areas and quartz countertops.

Not to be left behind by their Atlanta sports team counterparts, the Atlanta Hawks are getting an updated home. Last week, the Atlanta City Council approved an agreement with the Hawks to initiate an approximately $193 million overhaul of Philips Arena. This deal will keep the team downtown into the 2040s.

Transit-oriented developments (TODs) are good for the economy, traffic and perhaps, even waistlines. Across the country, the growing number of TODs has spurred projects in markets of all sizes. According to a recent New York Times article, “Office buildings with access to transit are outshining those without.”

One year ago, when The Atlanta 100 broke the news that historic Mimosa Hall was for sale, we mentioned we…

I’ve now had the opportunity to see the Braves win and Billy Joel crush it at SunTrust Park. A lifelong fan of both, I was thrilled to go to opening weekend and first concert at the new stadium.

Last week, co-working space Industrious announced it would lease 19,000 square feet in West Midtown’s Stockyards, which is planning for a summer opening. It will be its fourth Atlanta location.

Apartments and office buildings are popping up everywhere, and developers are looking for ways to create a sense of place for residents and tenants. The old lobbies aren’t cutting it; what’s next?

Most parents want their children’s lives to be better than their own. What does it take to give them that opportunity? In Ashley Jackson’s story, it started with quality affordable housing.

Georgia Advanced Technology Ventures (GATV) selected S.J. Collins Enterprises, through a nation-wide search, for a $140 million development at 14th Street and Howell Mill Road.

Earlier this year, Memorial Drive Corridor Executive for Central Atlanta Progress Greg Giuffrida told Curbed Atlanta a bit more about the rapidly transforming Memorial Drive. He discussed challenges, opportunities and successes.

As I was growing up in a (read: very) small town in Alabama, the term “wellness” wasn’t used. We didn’t hear about walkability or connecting to your environment, and our local hospital wasn’t focused on being a part of our community.

I’ve heard two different takes on what makes a new development successful: when retail is in place first and when residential is in place first. Fortunately for RocaPoint Partners’ HALCYON development, they’re both taking shape.

Birmingham’s Coca-Cola Bottling Company, UNITED, recently closed on its purchase of the metro Atlanta territory. The acquisition includes Athens, Dublin, Gainesville, Jasper, Lawrenceville, Macon and metro Atlanta.