Former EAV Antiques Market for lease

[Gmoney]

Looked like they were installing something to hang over the sidewalk in front of the place yesterday, and I noticed lights on in the building Christmas night (through the windows viewable from the EARL parking lot).  Nice to see some progress.

[mcamillo]

"Benjamin Rhoades, owner of The Bookhouse Pub and MJQ Concourse, is trying to open a restaurant in East Atlanta, but he’s losing patience with tens of thousands of dollars in costs for parking lot work and tough arborist rules. He said he might look outside Atlanta for his next project."

And now to quibble. I don't know exactly what the arborist rules are, but I do think you should have to jump through a few hoops before you chop down hundred-year-old trees to put in a parking lot.

No, you should just build the lot around it.

That is part of the problem with the newest tree ordinances. They have extended the area for crown quite far beyond the actual crown of the tree. For me, I have a good sized oak in my back yard, however it's not a wide oak. They are now telling me that most of my yard is taken up by tree roots. We know this is not necessarily true, but that is what the arborist is saying, and one must go by. So in essence, they may only be able to pave half of the lot, at the most, or pay recompense. Even if the tree stands and they pave up closer they will most likely be told they must pay total recompense for the tree.
Now I'm all about saving trees, but I do not understand at all how some lots can be leveled and all trees removed to build a new house and some other places can't do this. Even with tree replacements. The recompense here is very high.
I totally understand wanting to maintain tree canopy, however, there is going to be a much bigger problem here if businesses are going to take business elsewhere because it is simply easier.

Where is he having lot problems?  It seems that building is surrounded by parking.  Are we talking the property to the left facing the building?  Any chance there could be a permeable pavement option that would be more acceptable to the arborist? 

[bestPBRever]

so i ran into an old friend last night who is one of the owners of the place going into the old antique market. they originally wanted to be open this past october, but atlanta's permitting has been slow. he mentioned multiple issues with the city losing plans and having to resubmit them. i tried to get a date out of him, but he didn't want to commit due to all the issues. he did say their next goal was for spring but wasn't very confident.

they did buy the lot to the left of the market and are building a parking lot. he said there will be a green space in the middle seperating the lot into 2 sections. he wouldn't comment on specifics of the layout and with the food.

[Cap'n Ken]

so i ran into an old friend last night who is one of the owners of the place going into the old antique market. they originally wanted to be open this past october, but atlanta's permitting has been slow. he mentioned multiple issues with the city losing plans and having to resubmit them. i tried to get a date out of him, but he didn't want to commit due to all the issues. he did say their next goal was for spring but wasn't very confident.

they did buy the lot to the left of the market and are building a parking lot. he said there will be a green space in the middle seperating the lot into 2 sections. he wouldn't comment on specifics of the layout and with the food.

You must have to have unbelievably deep pockets to undertake such a big project in the City of Atlanta and not go bankrupt before it opens. How long was the slog The Midway went through to get open? Carrying costs with no income on top of huge build-out costs for those old buildings; I honestly don't know how anybody gets through it with the crap the city throws at them. If you make it through I'm going to give you a shot just as a thank-you.

[Sandcrab]

If memory serves, it took about 2 years for the EARL to open.  I'd bet they had a lot of the same problems.

[lorelei]

so i ran into an old friend last night who is one of the owners of the place going into the old antique market. they originally wanted to be open this past october, but atlanta's permitting has been slow. he mentioned multiple issues with the city losing plans and having to resubmit them. i tried to get a date out of him, but he didn't want to commit due to all the issues. he did say their next goal was for spring but wasn't very confident.

they did buy the lot to the left of the market and are building a parking lot. he said there will be a green space in the middle seperating the lot into 2 sections. he wouldn't comment on specifics of the layout and with the food.

You must have to have unbelievably deep pockets to undertake such a big project in the City of Atlanta and not go bankrupt before it opens. How long was the slog The Midway went through to get open? Carrying costs with no income on top of huge build-out costs for those old buildings; I honestly don't know how anybody gets through it with the crap the city throws at them. If you make it through I'm going to give you a shot just as a thank-you.

I've said the same thing, but then been told by other people involved in currently operating businesses that there are no such issues with the City. I wonder why some people have so much trouble, and others seem to breeze right thru the process?

[SteveD]

The new Village Fitness place has been slowed down by at least 6 weeks so far (and counting) by the City.

[ATLMan]

The door was open earlier this week and I looked in and they have done quite a bit inside. Its coming along nicely. I am looking forward to another option in the village.

[Hollywood, Esq.]

It took us six months and no food or alcohol or crowds involved; build-out was ready in 3; the city doubled it on permitting delays, redundant reviews and ignorance.  Took weeks to convince the city building department that opening on the second story didn't require I put in an elevator because the building is actually grandfathered under GA's ADA law.  They just didn't know how to read the statute.  Props to anyone who has the fortitude (and financial wherewithal) to navigate the process on a substantial project.

On another note -- the disruption in the section of Flat Shoals last week to find a water line.  I mentioned before it was to locate a water line for the expansion of 529.  After the city didn't find the location on the first dig, they tried a second time.  City officials showed up with a dousing rod.  You read that correctly, a dousing rod.  Didn't find it the second time either.  Expect more blockage when they're back this week.

[Flower Lady]

The new Village Fitness place has been slowed down by at least 6 weeks so far (and counting) by the City.

That sucks, because I have 3 weeks to get my butt & belly in shape, and I was hoping for a week or two of eliptical time...

[BIER]

City officials showed up with a dousing rod.  You read that correctly, a dousing rod.  Didn't find it the second time either.  Expect more blockage when they're back this week.

I had to google a dousing rod......which apparently is spelled "dowsing".   Anyways...I remember it working in an old episode of Lassie!

[JBB]

The new Village Fitness place has been slowed down by at least 6 weeks so far (and counting) by the City.

if they had hired an architect, it wouldn't have taken so long to get their permits... or, if whomever is doing their design had addressed the city engineer's comments regarding state-required handicap accessibility the first time (instead of the 4th time).

[dsnation]

It took us six months and no food or alcohol or crowds involved; build-out was ready in 3; the city doubled it on permitting delays, redundant reviews and ignorance.  Took weeks to convince the city building department that opening on the second story didn't require I put in an elevator because the building is actually grandfathered under GA's ADA law.  They just didn't know how to read the statute.  Props to anyone who has the fortitude (and financial wherewithal) to navigate the process on a substantial project.

On another note -- the disruption in the section of Flat Shoals last week to find a water line.  I mentioned before it was to locate a water line for the expansion of 529.  After the city didn't find the location on the first dig, they tried a second time.  City officials showed up with a dousing rod.  You read that correctly, a dousing rod.  Didn't find it the second time either.  Expect more blockage when they're back this week.

So what's going in to that space?

[SteveD]

The new Village Fitness place has been slowed down by at least 6 weeks so far (and counting) by the City.

if they had hired an architect, it wouldn't have taken so long to get their permits... or, if whomever is doing their design had addressed the city engineer's comments regarding state-required handicap accessibility the first time (instead of the 4th time).

Interesting.  I saw drawings which appeared to be prepared by an architect, but I didn't closely inspect them.  They were characterizing delays as primarily electrical and plumbing inspection - related.  Hadn't heard about an ADA parking issue.  An ADA parking issue was identified and not addressed with four subsequent drawing submittals?  That would be unfortunate if true.  I deal with that issue all the time and it's typically a simple and low cost remedy. 

[vigodas-pants]

It took us six months and no food or alcohol or crowds involved; build-out was ready in 3; the city doubled it on permitting delays, redundant reviews and ignorance.  Took weeks to convince the city building department that opening on the second story didn't require I put in an elevator because the building is actually grandfathered under GA's ADA law.  They just didn't know how to read the statute.  Props to anyone who has the fortitude (and financial wherewithal) to navigate the process on a substantial project.

On another note -- the disruption in the section of Flat Shoals last week to find a water line.  I mentioned before it was to locate a water line for the expansion of 529.  After the city didn't find the location on the first dig, they tried a second time.  City officials showed up with a dousing rod.  You read that correctly, a dousing rod.  Didn't find it the second time either.  Expect more blockage when they're back this week.

So what's going in to that space?

A "Brooklyn-inspired gastropub" by, at least in part, owners of Bookhouse Pub.