Stream Realty Partners, the owner of Moreland Shopping Center, since mid-to-late-2019 has been “quietly” transforming the development into “Atlanta Art District” (AAD).
As part of the process, Stream has been “cycling out” smaller tenants and replacing them with a “conglomeration of artists” and galleries like The Creatives Project and Star Dog Studio while keeping its anchor tenants Value Village and Dollar Tree intact.
“Now that the once-vacant retail space is reenergized and almost full, the next phase for AAD will turn the cracking asphalt parking lot into a hotbed of creative expression with sculptural workspace and installations for public viewing,” Ben Hautt, AAD’s premise owner, said by way of the development’s website.
An “Art Pavilion” that would be anchored by DAS BBQ and finished with an elevated deck and seating could occupy a portion of the center’s “cracking asphalt parking lot.”
Hautt is currently seeking a Special Administrative Permit (SAP) for the project which Atlanta Neighborhood Planning Unit—W is expected to hear as early as June 4.
“A true mixed-use needs food and beverage,” Hautt Wednesday told What Now Atlanta (WNA) in a telephone interview.
But the Art Pavilion might not move forward given the current state of things.
“Stream is still evaluating the post-COVID-19 environment and hopes to move forward on the food and beverage component once the market dynamics settle,” Hautt said.
The project, which requires several special conditions through the City, would be built with shipping containers and would debut before the end of 2020 if Stream decides to move it forward.
“We’re going to assess moving the Art Pavilion forward if and when we get our SAP. So far the support has been unanimous.”
DAS BBQ Owner Stephen Franklin did not respond to WNA’s request for comment.
In the meantime, AAD is working with its tenants for on-site activations that won’t require a dedicated pavilion.
The Creatives Project (TCP), one of AAD’s founding tenants, on June 6 is hosting “Drive Thru ATL” from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the shopping center.
“Drive Thru ATL is TCP’s answer to sharing their artists’ work with the world while galleries are inaccessible,” according to a release for the event.
“In fact, they are turning their gallery inside out, bringing the artwork outdoors into the large parking lot of the Atlanta Art District site on Moreland Avenue.”
The exhibition will include artworks of a variety of mediums and will be both two-dimensional and three-Dimensional. Visitors will also have the opportunity to listen to “sound experiments” via live broadcasts in their cars and over 20 artists’ works will be shared.
Click here for more information regarding Drive Thru ATL, including how to RSVP and attend.
“Atlanta has some incredibly talented artists,” Hautt said.
“If we can collect them and organize them, AAD could become a nucleus for moving art forward in the City.”
[Editor’s note: an earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Dollar General was an anchor tenant of AAD. The tenant is actually Dollar Tree.]
2 Responses
FYI – it’s a Dollar Tree at that location, not a Dollar General. Dollar Tree is truly a dollar store :o)
Natalie, this has been updated and a correction has been issued. Thank you! ~ CJS