Is Atlantic Station having second thoughts about their new parking policy?

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Feedback from ‘local community’ has Midtown development second guessing new parking policy.

At Atlantic Station, free parking was no longer going to be free.

Beginning Monday, the Midtown development’s plan called for  charging shoppers, diners and movie-goers for parking, unless a purchase is made.

What Now Atlanta received a statement Friday afternoon that gives us reason to believe that Atlantic Station’s newly proposed parking policy — buy something, park free for two hours — might not come to fruition.

You tell us what you think. Here’s the statement:

We are listening to our local community and neighbors’ feedback, suggestions and concerns regarding the new Atlantic Station parking program. We recognize there are areas we would like to further evaluate and more clearly communicate to ensure this new transition will be as smooth as possible for our retailers and guests.

A revised plan for the new parking program, which will offer two hours of free parking with validation from shops restaurants, gyms, food trucks and Regal Cinemas, will be shared pending further review.

Based on feedback from our Midtown neighbors, Atlantic Station is spending $2.5 million this summer to overhaul its parking experience to make it brighter, more efficient and more user-friendly. Visit Atlantic Station on Facebook and Twitter for ongoing updates.

Did the loud-mouth’s leaving comments on What Now Atlanta change the direction for Atlantic Station’s proposed parking policy or do you think the “pay for play” will be implemented come Monday? Tell us in the comments!

Caleb J. Spivak

Caleb J. Spivak

Caleb J. Spivak

Caleb J. Spivak

41 Responses

  1. I live in Ansley Park in Midtown. Atlantic Station is 3 minutes away–but I haven’t been in 2 (3?) years. Why not? They gave me a (fake) parking ticket my first visit there. No idea why–can’t really remember. But, why bother shopping there when I have to worry about parking “fees”. Yes, I did call to complain. Their answer? We don’t care if you shop here or not. Hubris.

  2. If Atlantic Station starts to charge for parking, why would I go to their stores? I often go shopping to look for a particular item. Let’s say that I’m searching for a semi-formal dress, visit several stores, but don’t find anything that works. I’d leave feeling a little discouraged and like I wasted time. Then, I’d leave Atlantic Station frustrated at having to pay for parking.

    This plan is not going to encourage customers to shop at Atlantic Station… as if they needed another reason to avoid the place. I will admit though the parking garage area can be a little confusing and dangerous for pedestrians, especially on your first visit.

    One more thing–I’d suggest replacing the astroturf park with real grass. Atlanta loves nature and is proud of its parks; encourage that outdoorsy feeling by actually planting things in the park!

  3. I live off Cheshire Bridge. Atlantic Station is 7 minutes away–but I haven’t been in 2 (3?) years. It’s just another mall.

  4. All of you morons complaining about parking fees must not mind the pants-sagging loiterers that free parking attracts. You don’t have to tell us you haven’t been to Atlantic Station in years, we can tell.

  5. I think they would gave gotten a more receptive response after they have turned things around. They need to fix the tenant mix before they charge for parking. People won’t pay to park for stores and restaurants they can go to at any of the malls/suburban shopping centers here and park for free. We need unique restaurants and stores first….

  6. I think it’s unfortunate that the new Atlantic Station management is backing away from the new parking policy before it’s even tried. Perhaps it was too much of a logistical problem to implement with all merchants being put in position of having to validate. Perhaps a better policy would be to allow free parking up until 6 PM, but then charge everybody for parking after 6 PM. That would eliminate putting merchants in the position of having to validate.

  7. My guess is the tenants let NAP have an earful about their proposed parking policy. Or it’s possible one of the original tenants leased by Jacoby were sophisticated enough to place an exclusion in their lease that prohibited this type of pay parking system (or did AS originally charge for parking?- I can’t recall). Regardless, it’s the right call by NAP. Charge for parking once AS becomes a destination that shoppers are excited about visiting. To charge now would just be a setback to any momentum they’re trying to build.

  8. Wow.. the “DREAM TEAM” strikes again!!!

    That’s impressive, let’s learn along the way, instead of really knowing what to do in advance!

    Applause, applause Mark Toro, Liz Gillespie, Star Cumming and Tom Miles.

    Of course, its CBRE’s bank roll right?
    What was it you said, “We have enough money to close down and re-open, the way we want”. Was that the correct comments that was made?
    Really correct me if I’m wrong.
    hhhmm.. maybe Mark Toro’s “intern” Greg Fritz can help me out with that,, what was it exactly?

    Get off you high horses, check your attitudes, your grand ideas, and your smart mouth comments “bite me” and really bring in a “New Team”, you’re still in the downward spiral that you’ve been in (HI LIZ!)for years..

    If A.S. continues to have problems like this, maybe, just maybe, you should re-look at your “Dream Team”… because, you be dreaming. And, Mark, take a back seat and let others do their job.

    Caleb, Mark runs around telling everyone that they’re going to make it the “New Grove”, here’s some investigative reporting for you. Why don’t you find out why Tom Miles left the Grove, and went to Dubai.

    And Mark, here’s another idea for you “fire your daughter”, (who has your mouth and attitide (of course that’s my opinion)) so the rest of the staff can do their jobs, without feeling like “the owner” (god, really. you’re a partner in a firm that owns 5%), isn’t looking over their shoulders every second of the day. Do you not think the staff is going to talk. How happy do you think everyone is?

    I mean come on.. if you “really had that much money” you wouldn’t have to fire a staff member to hire your daughter to look over everyone’s should.

    Back up.. back off.. check the attitude and bring in a team of people that really knows what their doing.

    This failure by error, let’s learn as we go, “Social media is our new secret weapon”, we have grand plans, is what brought down Underground. And, its getting to be a pattern.

    And, Liz.. I’d love it if you come up with your own thoughts and plans. The gravy train is runnning dry and so is the general populations patients.

    And visit our facebook page and twitter… really lame, if you really wanted people’s feedback you would allow everyone to make a comment on your facebook page, instead of of fielding them (and using other avenues – sorry Caleb – as I really like your web site) and decided which one’s you like. You would allow everyone to post their comments there.

  9. They probably just need time to expand the Target parking lot. Since cheap people park over there to loiter at AS now, it’s going to be much worse if they have to pony up $2 to be able to park under AS and loiter.

    Seriously, though, I don’t see the benefits of charging outweighing the problems with doing so, but I’ve never managed a property like this. The people that NAP is trying to keep out won’t be affected by this much. Many actually do park at Target anyway, and a lot of the crowd comes in off the shuttle. For those that do actually park in AS, those kids ordering small drinks will increase the lines at restaurants. People aren’t good at math and make many decisions based on emotion, so some will certainly burn more than $2 in gas and MUCH more in the value of time wasted in traffic just to avoid the atrocity of being charged to park. So customers will be lost and the element NAP wishes to keep out won’t be greatly deterred.

  10. Mr Toro-

    Have you done a study(or just looked on a weekend night) at the quality of people coming off Free Ride? Or really any time of day? Its all the same….95% african american teenager/twenty something.

    These are the people you have got to rid Atlantic Station of ASAP! This is what is bringing down your development.

    I know it will be anti “green” to get rid of the public transportation option you currently have, but if you want to fix your problem, and make Atlantic Station something Midtown RESIDENTS want to enjoy you’ve gotta lose free ride.

    Simple as that.

  11. I have heard all the same things “dream team” mentioned about all involved. I was going to put in for a position early on and ultimately decided against it. First, for all the reasons listed above as it’s nearly impossible to work under those conditions particularly in an industry and on a project that requires you to be creative and have some element of freedom in what you do. Second, I live in the neighborhood and just couldn’t bring myself to believe in AS as a development. Once that element of people take over, they don’t give it up, national retailers and obviously local chefs know this reputation and will not be swayed or swindled, see: Lego land, AS makes more sense for them on every level if you knew their requirements, but AS reputation won. Also, I think this project is destructive to the neighborhood and set the midtown core back about 10 years. These retailers who knew their demos existed in this neighborhood would have been forced onto Peachtree St where they belong. They would have been located in an area near their customers and where strong homeowners associations and The Midtown Alliance would have been able to really prevent the wrong element from coming in. It’s all just a shame. We could have a vibrant walkable Peachtree right now if not for Atlantic Station.

  12. That being said if stores do want to stay in the area but just don’t fit your vision and you really want to build rapport with the neighborhood put them in contact with Daniel and Selig, or Novare and help build a vibrant neighborhood to be a part of. That is if you really do see your vision as a complimentary use and aren’t scared of the competition.

  13. A better change would be charging people who aren’t Atlantic Station residents or employees $1 to take the Arts Center Shuttle. They could also upgrade the shuttle to look more contemporary.

  14. All, Thanks to all for your insightful comments. We will consider them as we continue to refine our plan.

    @Dream Team : DUH! Given your high level of interest in Atlantic Station, we would like to meet with you. Please call me at 404.965.9060 to set a mutually convenient time to meet with Tom Miles, Liz Gillespie, Starr Cumming and myself.

  15. Dream Team: DUH! is obviously someone previously connected with Atlantic Station and has a personal vendetta against the Atlantic Station team. He/ she knows a little too much about everyone there. Get a life.

  16. Atlantic station is turning into the scorn lover that is not wanted by their desired interest..
    I think the NAP team has taken the wrong approach and have forgotten their role is facilitation. The customer will only decide who and what you are to the community and the community has spoken.

    The west side provisions has taken the crown as the high end thoughtful in town shopping destination. Atlantic station has always attracted African Americans in large proportion as a customer base largely due to the type of retail, mixed income apartments and Twelve Hotel & Lobby I for one don’t think there is anything wrong with this niche market. In fact i would continue to follow that niche audience and target the higher end segment.

    Atlanta has always been a hub for successful African Americans and has the highest concentration of African American owned businesses outside of New York and has the highest per capita income for African Americans in the United States with the exception of DC. And remains as a vacation destination for most African Americans in the world. Many have homes here including Oprah, heads of state and prominent business people.

    African Americans as a consumer is a aspirational spender they typically look to purchase towards aspirational living, dining, and lifestyle.. Atlantic station fits this model well. Does this mean Atlantic Station needs to segregate its customer? absolutely not. In fact allowing the community that wants to be a part of Atlantic station help mold it will make AS thrive and attract all people because all people want authenticity.. it’s the reason people drive to Buford highway to get the asian experience. The best example of this is the Kilwins Confectionary at AS they have completely bought into the concept that your customer decides who you are.

    And their business seems to do quite well and is diverse. The Principals in Atlantic Station need to decide what is more important their egos or their wallets. As a successful developer I will go into a project with one set of ideas and by the time its up and running we are moving in a different direction that my empowered employees have taken us. The community we are in has taken us. And our customer have identified and supported my tenants. As for the crime and unruly youth. I have never seen successful projects come out of advertising how a development is going to clean up its act that sounds like some government campaign not business. The only way to do it is to massively build up the community that you do want in your development if you have 30,000 customers, 50 loiterers don’t seem like much of a problem and in fact will feel uncomfortable and leave. My advice hire some African American business consultants and put together a comprehensive plan that will include the current customer in your development plans ie.. shops, restaurants, live/work, cultural experiences and you wont have to “tear it down and build it back” which doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.

    I would make those plans now before new tenants arrive and get sucked into this PR nightmare.

  17. Atlantic station is turning into the scorn lover that is not wanted by their desired interest..
    I think the NAP team has taken the wrong approach and have forgotten their role is facilitation. The customer will only decide who and what you are to the community and the community has spoken.

    The west side provisions has taken the crown as the high end thoughtful in town shopping destination. Atlantic station has always attracted African Americans in large proportion as a customer base largely due to the type of retail, mixed income apartments and Twelve Hotel & Lobby I for one don’t think there is anything wrong with this niche market. In fact i would continue to follow that niche audience and target the higher end segment.

    Atlanta has always been a hub for successful African Americans and has the highest concentration of African American owned businesses outside of New York and has the highest per capita income for African Americans in the United States with the exception of DC. And remains as a vacation destination for most African Americans in the world. Many have homes here including Oprah, heads of state and prominent business people.

    African Americans as a consumer is a aspirational spender they typically look to purchase towards aspirational living, dining, and lifestyle.. Atlantic station fits this model well. Does this mean Atlantic Station needs to segregate its customer? absolutely not. In fact allowing the community that wants to be a part of Atlantic station help mold it will make AS thrive and attract all people because all people want authenticity.. it’s the reason people drive to Buford highway to get the asian experience. The best example of this is the Kilwins Confectionary at AS they have completely bought into the concept that your customer decides who you are.

    And their business seems to do quite well and is diverse. The Principals in Atlantic Station need to decide what is more important their egos or their wallets. As a successful developer I will go into a project with one set of ideas and by the time its up and running we are moving in a different direction that my empowered employees have taken us. The community we are in has taken us. And our customer have identified and supported my tenants. As for the crime and unruly youth. I have never seen successful projects come out of advertising how a development is going to clean up its act that sounds like some government campaign not business. The only way to do it is to massively build up the community that you do want in your development if you have 30,000 customers, 50 loiterers don’t seem like much of a problem and in fact will feel uncomfortable and leave. My advice hire some African American business consultants and put together a comprehensive plan that will include the current customer in your development plans ie.. shops, restaurants, live/work, cultural experiences and you wont have to “tear it down and build it back” which doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.

    I would make those plans now before new tenants arrive and get sucked into this PR nightmare.

  18. Very vibrant debate. Let me add my two cents…First, the development is there, it’s a very nice property (better than what was there for sure), and will not be demolished in our lifetime. If local residents can agree on something it is that is in everyone’s best interest to see it succeed to some degree. (Does anyone prefer vacant storefronts or abandoned properties?) The active involvement of AS management is much preferred over the years of AIG mis-management and neglect.

    Just get back to fundamentals. Solid retailers with proper leases, solid visitor experience (which includes safety), and good reasons for people to come, shop, play, and spend money. (And a little help from the overall economy would also be very welcome.)

    So let’s take a deep breath and support the efforts being put forth by the AS owners, hope they succeed for the good of the retailers, the shoppers, and the City of Atlanta. Anything else will not be good for anyone.

  19. I’m sure this “fiasco” will do wonders to recruit those “Top Notch” retailers like YardHouse (oops) and marquee local tenants.

    I mean if the management team can’t even execute the parking deck situation after seven months with something as basic as should they charge for parking and they CONTINUE to let merchants/retailers stay without paying rent and they bring back their “Flea Market” disguised as an “Outdoor Market” this place has ZERO chance of succeeding under THIS team.

    Wonder when they will get rid of Mark Toro and bring in someone that actually can run the development versus just pose for magazine covers and take vacations (how many is that since January???).

    How about surveying your Merchants BEFORE you put a program for parking into place… seems like basic Property Management 101. Why not just charge after 6:00PM on Friday and Saturday because that is when your “loiterers” (AKA the “Black Youth”) overtake the property.

    Here is a novel thought… do you really think that the “Black Youth” drive to the development… NO!!!! They get dropped off or take MARTA (and then your free shuttle)… Hmmm… maybe you should charge for that (if you don’t have an A-Card)… don’t worry Mark Toro and Intern Greg, you can take that idea without giving credit.

    Perhaps you could do a reality show a la The Dolce Group’s new “Famous Food” television show on VH1… seven celebrities come in and help to take over the management of Atlantic Station… I mean after all it cannot get any worse, right.

  20. I, for one, think it would be a mistake to open up the parking. The first thing that AS needs to do, is to revamp its base of consumer/visitor. Like the schizophrenic Million Dollar Developer/My 2 Cents said, there is nothing wrong with the niche segment of “aspirational african american consumer”. However, there is something wrong with the crowd that seems to follow that niche, and that is what AS needs to rid itself of. Handing out tickets for loitering, making people pay for parking (which shouldn’t be an issue to begin with), re-tooling the tenant base, etc. are all things that can make AS an undesirable place for those that don’t want to be consumers. Once the atmosphere is fixed, you’ll have a much easier time leasing space to better tenants, and better crowds will follow. Large Master Planned Communities like this are of bad design, and should never be considered for urban development to begin with. However, it’s now 6 years later, NAP picked the place up at a nice discount, and given what they paid, it should be possible to turn AS into a profitable investment and decent (note the implied mediocrity in the word “decent”) development.

    @ Local Foodie – Perhaps you should stick to food, because real estate clearly isn’t your forte. (i) Have you ever been to an urban flea market? They’re awesome. Paris’ are world renown, NYC’s are incredible, and many other cities in between have flea markets that are commercial staples for their respective cities. I’d love to see one here. (ii) The people they put on Magazine covers tend to be successful, mention-worthy people, and guess what – successful people take vacations. It’s part of life…well, maybe not yours, but it’s part of a lot of peoples.

    Here’s an idea. Stick to eating at local restaurants, and being a self-proclaimed foodie, and let the big boys do the real work, ok?

  21. I agree with the people who say let AS go black. You can’t obstruct a Market for very long in our country.

    My guess, Atlantic station will end up making money. But, it won’t be pretty nor a place most white people shop.

  22. There are some shamefully bigoted and racist comments on this thread. Caleb, your blog is helpful from time to time, but it sure is depressing to see the bane ugliness of my neighbors shine through on this forum.

    Your friend Urbanist is an especially sad and pathetic bigot. When you give him a platform as a ‘guest columnist,’ you as an editor are endorsing his views by elevating his status. You should bring in some other ‘guest columnists’ to perhaps point out and condem the blatant bigotry that so often fills your comment threads (especially when the topic is Atlantic Station).

    The bigotry in your comments section and your seeming unwillingness to do anything about it is hurting the value of your blog.

  23. I like these comments. Makes me think a little bit whether I am actually for charged parking or against.

    I finally rode the shuttle for the first time a couple weeks ago and it was standing room only. I have never seen a non-full shuttle. It seems to me the majority of loiterers and 20 something black males who don’t actually do much shopping come on the shuttle, not through driving and parking. I don’t remember the full details, but I believe the shuttle is a mandatory stipulation built into the original project financing, so I don’t think it’s going away. I just wish the shuttle could pick up at Georgia Tech and somewhere in Midtown not at a MARTA station.

    Also I like “It’s The Truth’s” comments. I live in the real Midtown and walk the streets for at least an hour each day, and I can’t help but think every day that the streets could be slightly more vibrant without AS. It makes me a little sad. People talk about Apple being a good tenant for AS, but I know they looked at 1010 at one point and had projected sales of over $5,000/SF there, but tenants like that would be better off in Midtown, not AS.

    Overall, I think paying $1/hr for parking is not a big deal. Loiterers who drive will be deterred, because they won’t want to pay even a dollar. Also, come on, a dollar? Not expensive. My only stipulation? Cut that damn robotic woman’s voice off when you enter and exit the garage. If that obnoxious feature is for blind people, they shouldn’t be driving anyway!

  24. Can anyone with North American or Caleb confirm that getting rid of free ride is not contractually possible?

    As many have noted, Free Ride is the problem.

  25. @ It needs – I’m stating facts. They may be facts that you don’t like to hear, but they’re facts nonetheless. Stating facts doesn’t make you a bigot, it makes you a realist. Perhaps if this city took it’s head out of it’s a$$, and started addressing issues rather than tip-toeing around them because they’re afraid of offending a particular race, sex, religion, whatever, we might make some progress.

  26. Charge for parking in the evenings (after 6pm?), but not all the time. The atmosphere during the day should focus on retail, so you need people to come and shop at leisure. The focus in the evening should be to make AS a destination – dinner, movie, special event focused. There will be resistance to paying for parking for retail. However, an event / desintation focus changes the mindset and a few bucks to park is much more acceptable.

    Also, I’m still pitching my concept for a “destination” movie theater similar to this place: http://www.monacopicturesusa.com

  27. Since when is accusing an entire city of having it’s head in it’s a$$ considered ‘stating facts?’

    Urbanist = more pathetic by the day.

  28. @urbanist

    You’re so good with ‘facts’ that you really ought to go into politics… Anecdotal evidence, personal observation and prejudice don’t conspire to make facts–even if that is what you label your opinions.

    If I were to employ your stunted logic, it would be an absolute FACT that you are a sad, pathetic bigot who thinks he is far more important and smart than he actually is. But then again, I have a working 9th grade understanding of the differences between fact and opinions/stereotypes/partial truths/lies/etc.

    Anyway, my previous post was directed at Caleb, not you.

    1. hi it needs to be said — here’s our comment policy:

      feel free to challenge us, disagree with us, or tell us we’re completely nuts in the comments section of each blog entry, but we reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason whatsoever (abusive, profane, rude, or anonymous comments) – so keep it polite, please.

      sites like cl and ajc don’t read through every comment and there is no approval process in place that i’m aware of. we, however, do hand approve each comment. sometimes, comments that need not be published get passed us. if you come across any questionable comments that violate our policy, please feel free to email me directly: [email protected]

      having said that, we allow and encourage opinions and free speech.

      –cjs

  29. It’s interesting to me that only a few months ago, when the new management took over at Atlantic Station they were met with such warm comments from this blog and others encouraging them and expressing excitement at the future possibilities. Now, here we are only a few months down the road, and it seems like so many of the posters on this blog are choosing to sell them down the river instead of support them through growing pains.

    As a resident of Atlantic Station I’m all for the pay parking. I don’t even care if it means that my visitors will be charged a small fee to come see me here. Something has to be done to cut down on the number of loiterers.. and yes, that’s what they are.. black, white, whatever, they’re people who are counterproductive to the overall scheme of the property.

    I don’t claim to be an expert in city/ urban planning so I won’t make suggestions to Toro and the management about what they “should” do, but I will suggest to the folks on this blog that you might consider saying things on here that you would say if your real name was published instead of hiding behind some pen name. Use this forum as a way to assist the management of Atlantic Station in making decisions and not as an opportunity to anonymously gripe.

    Mark, you have the support of many who believe in your vision. As a long-time resident of Atlantic Station, I’m counting on you and your team to make our neighborhood a place to be proud of instead of a place to watch your back!

  30. Thanks for responding, Caleb.

    My point is that protecting the anonymous hate speech of certain users–even to the point of elevating their status on your site by allowing them to post anonymous guest columns–is not one in the same as “encouraging opinions and free speech.”

    I’m not telling you how to run your site or asking you to change your comments policy. I simply think your site could offer more value to the readers you serve if you tweaked a few things… like making guest columnists use their real names, or bringing in a guest columnist to address the bigotry rampant in the comments section.

    I appreciate that you are doing more than the bare minimum (the ajc’s and craigslist’s comment policies are deplorable). However, I know you can do better.

  31. OFF TOPIC

    @Urbanist – your posts just piss me off. i don’t understand how you are a contributor and people read your rubbish. i’m sorry but i could help it. have a great day.

  32. @ It Needs – I’m not sure why you can’t make the distinction between being a realist and a racist. I can’t speak for everyone, but I would imagine that most of the people that have commented here about the undesirable element in AS, are commenting about the behavior, the crime, and the economically destructive actions of the people who have contributed to AS decline over the past 6 years. I haven’t gone back and read every post, so I don’t know if anyone made a specific reference to a specific race, but identifying an issue that happens to be rooted in a particular demographic isn’t racism, it’s realism.

    It’s really more of an issue of profiling than anything. Just like there are specific races/religious groups that are responsible for the vast majority of global terrorist attacks, there is a specific demographic that is responsible for the vast majority of AS’s loitering and crime. Selectively ignoring this provides as much value as a pat down of a 90 year old woman in a wheelchair. I’m sorry you don’t like the facts, but they are what they are.

    Of course, the world wouldn’t be such a great place if everyone was pragmatic, rational, and sensible. This is where the people who see the world through a lens of emotional disillusion come in. They complicate things in a way that, while frustrating, presents an interesting challenge. It’s kind of like teaching a second language to someone who’s gone deaf.

    Of course, being a realist has its challenges too. Truth be told, I’d love to write, post, blog, whatever under my own name. Discussing what’s going on in the urban planning world of Atlanta and offering my opinion, is a recreational passion for me. My career is not a recreational passion. I assume there are a lot of people on here who are professionals in the banking/development/investment industries – some of which, for all I know, I have relationships with. I’m not going to risk my career over my sometimes harsh opinions about the happenings of Atlanta real estate. As much as I’d like to believe that everyone I interact with on a professional level is an intelligent and rational person, the fact that even you and I might have had some professional crossover, dispels that hope. So, better safe than sorry…Maybe one day, when I become Mayor, I’ll reveal myself…

    @ Rick – I wouldn’t expect you to get it

  33. The owners of Atlantic Station are greedy. They don’t recognize that the concept of “give and take” is a very reliable idea of how people work. If Atlantic Station has a lot to offer to people, they will go there and Atlantic Station will profit. If people feel stressed about how much they have to pay for parking, how they can behave, then I don’t see why they would return. I live in this area and here is one of bad experiences that I’ve had… I’ve been asked before to start walking because I was standing with a group of friends discussing a movie we just saw at the theater. Clearly, I am not asked to relax in this complex; the message is to spend money or get out. I don’t always want to spend money and when I do, I don’t want to spend it in a place that kicked me out in the past. Look at what Goat Farm is doing. They are offering many interesting and free or very cheap events/services and their buzz is growing exponentially. Go to an event now and it’s packed. People appreciate their earnest efforts at enriching our community.

  34. Can someone list some of the crimes experienced in Atlantic Station? Are there more there than in other parts of the city? What do loiterers do in your opinion? Is it wrong to go to a mall and just walk around? Are people not interested in public spaces that people can enjoy for free? Why is there so much loud music at Atlantic Station all of the time? Can we have some peace?

  35. Parking should not be free because it isnt free. The average parking space costs $18k to build. Why should we be subsidizing parking so more people can drive and smog out Atlanta? That Atlantic Station developers boast about having the world’s second largest parking deck just shows how far a concept can get from a student thesis to the final project.

  36. Parking should be free because tax payer dollars are funding Atlantic Station (massive tax breaks were provided to AS). I got a bogus ticket as I was walking back to my car after having just spent over $100 at a restaurant. The guy was right there and we even showed him the receipt but he still wrote the ticket for like 2 minutes pass the expired time. BS.

    Guess what….we will NEVER go back to Atlantic Station again. I’m sure the stores and restaurants appreciate that.

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