Cheesecake Factory’s long-vacant, boarded-up building in Buckhead, at 3024 Peachtree Road, could soon see a wrecking ball. The Development Review Committee (DRC) for the district where the building sits on Wednesday, September 2 during a virtual meeting recommended that it be demolished.
“The committee recommends that the applicant demolish the existing building, underlying slab, and front patio area in their entirety leaving a smooth grassed area that is regularly maintained to ensure high-quality aesthetics along the Peachtree Road frontage,” according to a recap from the DRC.
Property Owner Peter Blum first approached the committee seeking to only fence the property while deciding if he will sell or redevelop the lot. The fence was requested as a way to deal with trespassers to the property. Blum, by way of his representative Norman Koplon during the meeting said he would consider the DRC’s recommendations, but that Blum’s original intentions were not to demolish the building.
Blum, who on Thursday was not reachable by What Now Atlanta for comment, in 2017 sold the adjacent site, which houses Restoration Hardware, for $33 million. Blum acquired the property in 1990 for a reported $3 million.
8 Responses
Been in that area a thousand times and never actually noticed this building. What a prime location to be abandoned for going on 6 years.
Generally agree with the DRC. The building should either be properly maintained and kept up or torn down. Fencing a dilapidated property while you speculate on the real estate value isn’t an appropriate solution. It’s not right when slumlords do it in Bankhead, it’s not right here, either.
I believe the owner wanted to tear it down originally but was told a fence would be better. I guess the powers at be changed their minds.
Edit: I misremembered the initial article I read last month. He wanted to tear it down to the slab and leave it but put up a fence until he could get to it.
https://www.reporternewspapers.net/2020/08/05/buckheads-long-vacant-cheesecake-factory-building-could-be-demolished-but-fencing-is-a-concern/
It sounds like everybody involved is making this way more complicated than it needs to be.
It’s trashed inside, just tear it down already!
I’m sure grass would be aesthetically pleasing, but if I were an urban camper, grass sounds a lot cozier than slab.
Shame on this landowner for allowing this to deteriorate, and go on for so long!
Right now this building is nothing but a homeless camp (literally, there are tents in multiple spots on the property). The property is in terrible shape and an eyesore to walk/drive by. I’m excited that it will be torn down.
Wow. Hard to believe in the heart of Buckhead.
I hope that is sarcastic. Buckhead went downhill a long time ago.
someone must be losing tons letting it just sit there, still paying mortgage and taxes..
maybe the owner died and kids don;t care… or they are waiting for some super purple unicorn offer…
The owner of the property is still very much alive.
He didn’t even pay to build the building, Cheesecake Factory did. Although I’m not sure if he
purchased the property after the building was built.
Seems like a ‘mysterious’ fire would help move things along…