Jonquil Village Hearing to be Tabled
Several insiders have questioned whether the underground parking and apartments will remain once the final plans are approved for the Smyrna development project.
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Sometime on Friday, the city of Smyrna will post the agenda for next Tuesday’s city council meeting. And when it is, expect the previously posted notice for a public hearing to discuss Branch Capital Properties’ site plan and zoning condition for the once-known Jonquil Village development project to be tabled.
“It’s kind of a big deal,’’ said Councilwoman Teri Anulewicz, who represents Ward 3 where the project will be developed. “There’s a lot at stake and with four new council members, we want to make sure everyone is comfortable with the issue.”
Tuesday’s meeting will be just the second for the four new members – Andrea Blustein, Ron Fennel, Susan Wilkinson and Corkey Welch. It’s possible more than one council meeting could pass before the public hearing comes to fruition according to Anulewicz, who added that she felt “very confident’’ that a final plan will be approved and the site developed.
The question is, just what will the final site plans include? Located at Atlanta and Spring Roads, the original plans for the roughly 14 acres was for a $181 million mixed-use project including 300 luxury condominiums, 160,000 square feet of retail space and 20,000 square feet of office space. But that was back in 2006 and with the downturn in the economy, the new plans will be of a much smaller scale.
Atlanta-based Branch Properties, LLC, which owns two other mixed use development properties in the Smyrna-Vinings area (West Village and Ashbrook Crossing), submitted a zoning application with the city in late 2011.
Those plans have kept the underground parking and detention pond near Spring Rd., but the condos have been replaced by 250 residential apartments. There is more than 77,000 square feet of total building area, with a 45,600 square-foot grocery store that is still believed to be a Publix.
The retail stores, which will be a part of 10.07 acres of shopping area, will no longer have integrated housing. There will be two dedicated entrances on both Spring and Atlanta Roads, with a proposed traffic signal for the Atlanta Road and Church Street intersection.
It is near that intersection where a pair of 5,000 square-foot outlet buildings will be located, with another 2,500 square-foot outlet building near the Atlanta/Spring Road intersection. Also at that corner of the development will be a small .2-acre city park where it is believed the city of Smyrna wants to erect a monument sign indicating an entrance into downtown Smyrna.
You can see the full-size photo of the site plan here.
Several insiders, though, have questioned whether the underground parking and apartments will remain once the final plans are approved.
“There’s density issues, urban design issues, downtown development authority issues,’’ Anulewicz said. “The plans have really changed since this first began several years ago. I might be overly cautious, but we want to get this right.”
How would you feel if residential living wasn’t included in the final Jonquil Village plans? What kind of retail businesses would you like to see move in?
Scott
9:07 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
Please put a Whole Foods there. I promise to spend at least $100/week if you do!
Shun Shifu
9:15 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
I'm with you Scott!! Put a whole foods in. There is a demand for it!!
Amy
9:34 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
You guys need to tell whole foods that. :)
Shun Shifu
9:38 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
I have but that was a while ago. Will request again since this sight could be an option.
Randy W
10:28 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
Expand on the size of Publix and eliminate the Apartments.
Stacy
10:45 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
There's a spot on the Whole Foods website where you can request a store and put in your zip code. I don't believe the demographics have changed enough for them to put one in in Smyrna, but I sure wish I didn't have to drive out to Roswell Rd for one!
Schitzngrins
9:29 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
I think Belmont would be a much better location for either...or both. The area could definitely support them, and it would help boost the are as people look to relocate. Perhaps we should petition instead of leaving individual comments...that would carry more weight.
Amy
11:08 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
Just did requests on Whole Foods and Trader Joes sites.
C.J.
11:55 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
When viewing the site plan, I see a bread-and-butter suburban shopping center with a perfect view of an asphalt parking lot from the street. Unfortunately, the whole thing is likely to be as hideous and sterile as all the rest once the newness wears off. As a result of such seriously low standards when it comes to aesthetics and design, our property values and economic outlook will continue to remain flat.
Sigh.
Miss P
4:33 pm on Thursday, January 12, 2012
I keep looking for the "Like" button.
I agree. In the end, it doesn't look like this will wind up as anything special.
Too bad really.
Edward Gaulrapp
9:01 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
Totally agree - Looks like just another strip mall, we need something better for this location. The design needs much more green space in front.. and how about putting the buildings on Atlanta Rd and putting the parking by the RR Track.. And reduce visible parking by adding parking to the roof of the Publix, like they have done at the Kroger on Atlanta Rd.
Hunt Archbold
1:51 pm on Thursday, January 12, 2012
Jason Hall on our FB page commented: "Looks like a smarter development plan - most of the apartments are next to Spring Rd instead of butted up against the railroad tracks. I never understood the logic of the original site plan with luxury condos stacked against the busy RR tracks. Who would buy a "luxury condo" with a train going past your bedroom window every 45 minutes?
Amy
4:03 pm on Thursday, January 12, 2012
Makes me think of those houses next to the tracks in Vinings... I don't get it either.
justin
2:07 pm on Thursday, January 12, 2012
whole foods.
Beverly Magill Denney
8:59 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
I would like to see residental living ,it gives more the feeling of a village and adds vitality to the area.
I would love to see Publix AND Trader Joes.
Hopefully there will be some good restaurants as well.
Smyrna Resident
8:59 pm on Friday, January 13, 2012
How about ANY restaurant that does NOT allow smoking inside. *cough Zucca, Atkins Park cough cough*
Skiime
11:39 am on Monday, January 16, 2012
Yes! I just made a comment the other day about how my family and I can't even go into Atkins Park anymore because of all the smoke. I'd love to see a good Mexican restaurant with NO Smoking!
smyrnawife
9:50 am on Saturday, January 14, 2012
Skip the residential. It will congest parking and when they have problems filling the units they'll end up lowering the quality of tenants. When Market Village was filled with stores, it was often hard to find parking for the restaurants. I'd like to see a Willy's or Chipotle there. There is never less than a 15min line at the Chipotle on Cobb Parkway.
Mike
11:45 am on Saturday, January 14, 2012
Chipolte is a great idea. The city and builders need to watch this 9 part video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwd4Lq0Xvgc&feature=player_embedded
Old but brilliant, explaining the issues with suburban sprawl and design. I would prefer condos for the tax base for the city. The live/work/play is a great idea still and those that live there can at least walk easily to shopping/food etc.
This a huge opportunity for the city to stand out here and I really hope it becomes something truly avant garde and special. West Village is pretty cool but it seems to be missing some flair.
If this just becomes another strip mall with no residential I will be very disappointed and it will not boost property values at all. Geez, we don't need a Publix replica of the big Kroger opening up at the end of the month.
Neal Dow
4:12 pm on Saturday, January 14, 2012
I can't image Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Chipotle or any other big name retailer coming into Smyrna. The mayor and city are too difficult to deal with. Look at what's happend with RaceTrac. They can't come to an agreement. But there will be some kind of development at Jonquil Village and hopefully it will be a boost to bring life back to Mosty Vacant.
gaweatherboy
11:20 am on Sunday, January 15, 2012
Sign me up for that end unit next to Spring and the railroad. Really, if that's the best location for residential perhaps that portion should be scraped.
Pw33ks
4:06 pm on Sunday, January 15, 2012
This development should be a gem of Smyrna. It is the unofficial welcome to the city of smyrna
Melissa
12:08 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The site plan proposed does not have great circulation, the parking looks inefficient, the 0.2 acre park at the corner is completely wasted space, the only use for that area is a sign, to say that accounts for green space should be a crime. I wait at that intersection twice a day and the traffic there is heavy, loud and fast - such a waste. It is a shame that there wasn’t a better plan submitted, this is a prominent gateway. Branch Properties is the developer and they own West Village Development, it would be great if they would consider something like that, only with parking behind.
Michelle
12:16 am on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Simply stated...very disappointed for what is being presented as an option. In my opinion, having store fronts facing the main roads with parking behind the stores would be my preference especially since we can not have garage like parking which was in the original plan. Having the stores closure to the road and facing Atlanta and/or Spring would be some what consistent to the market village now and the appearance would not be the typical spread of asphalt and stores with pathetic little trees planted in small little islands. I really hope the developers of this property will listen to and respect what is preferred and needed for this location.
J. B. Smith
12:36 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Yeah--what did happen with that RaceTrac? the one on the E/W Conn across from Publix. It looks like they've kind of stopped building. Anybody know what's happening there?
Also, anybody know what's going on at the site of the old Sonny's Barbecue near Austell Rd and the E/W Conn?
Hunt Archbold
1:01 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
When contacted last week, a RaceTrac spokesperson was unsure as to when ground would be broken on the Spring Road station. Councilwoman Melleny Pritchett echoed this at last night's meeting. The RaceTrac spokesperson did tell Patch that the E-W Connector location would be open "this spring." Will check with the South Cobb Patch editor for an update on the former Sonny's location.
J. B. Smith
11:12 am on Thursday, January 19, 2012
Thanks, Hunt!
Schitzngrins
9:25 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Wow, what an underwhelming plan for such a prime location. This is such a difficult situation. The economy is not what it once was, and will not be for quite some time, so the opportunities that were once available, or at least conceivable, are no longer.
Everyone wants something "cool", substantial and sustainable in this location, but there are only so many options…and unfortunately, nothing is guaranteed sustainable int this economy. (Pssst…Smyrna Haters, these problems are not unique to Smryna.) Quite frankly, instead of rushing to fill the area (which will result in lame proposals like the one above...or worse), I'd rather see the area grassed over or landscaped until a winning idea can be proposed. Of course, I'm not the owner who's losing money every day that space is undeveloped.
That said, if you all promised to support me, I've long wanted to open a bar & grill. ;-)
Amy
10:23 am on Thursday, January 19, 2012
I have long wanted a bar and grill within walking distance! :)
Smyrna Resident
1:18 pm on Friday, January 20, 2012
.... Bar and grill with no smoking like a TacoMac.