What Now Atlanta on Tuesday uncovered renderings of what the planned Chick-fil-A, on the corner of Ponce de Leon Avenue and Boulevard, might look like once constructed.
The ground-up Chick-fil-A is pending a rezoning approval from the City and is expected to be presented to the Atlanta Neighborhood Unit—E on June 2.
“I believe this Letter of Intent, together with the accompanying application and supporting documents, provide all the information required by the City of Atlanta to review and evaluate this request and present a compelling case to grant the requested rezoning to remove the conditions that would otherwise prohibit the proposed drive-through,” David C. Kirk, an attorney for Chick-fil-A, wrote in the rezoning application.
“As noted above, the requested rezoning will allow for the redevelopment of the Subject Property, which currently contains an outdated and unattractive 24-hour convenience mart with gas pumps and underground storage tanks, into an attractive, modern, inviting, and functional Chick-fil-A restaurant with a well-designed and screened drive-through facility that reflects the demands of the current market and customer expectations.”
The “custom-designed” Chick-fil-A would be 4,060 square feet, according to the application, and would sit adjacent Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and a block from Zaxby’s.
Starbucks is undergoing a similar rezoning application to build a ground-up location on the same block, less than 0.1 miles away.
Scope the renderings below:
27 Responses
There must be more land on that corner than I see when I drive by there.
Looks just as car-centric as the gas station it’s replacing.
In a neighborhood that LGBTQ resurrected and renovated, and was once an enclave of safety and sanctuary for us. This banner and beacon of anti-gay sentiment feels like the final blow to say that we’re no longer welcome in our own neighborhood. Wow.
Huh? The gays resurrected and renovated the corner of Ponce and Boulevard???
Yikes, they did a pretty shitty job of it then– I expect much more from my gays.
This corner has never been an enclave of safety and sanctuary for anybody.
Seriously, it’s not like this is going in at 10th & Piedmont…
I think the GBTQ influence ended a few blocks north on Monroe, and a few blocks west on Ponce.
The Homosexual community has done nothing for this immediate area. This area is an open air drug market and is a hub of violent crime. This corner isn’t a safe space for anyone unless you are involved in criminal activity. I am not a fan of Chick fil a but they will do more to revitalize this area than just about any other corporation.
Fast food restaurants with drive-through aren’t necessarily what we all hope to see for new development within the city, however, there is plenty of this already in the immediate area, the existing gas station is in horrible condition and does little to clean up their property, Chick-fil-A will hire locally which may propel some of these individuals with better career opportunities in their future and they will most certainly will maintain the property much better than Texaco is. All that to say I’m excited about this development. I’m not thrilled with Chick-fil-A’s history with the gay community but I do feel like this is slowly going away as the company gets newer and younger talent.
One concern with the layout above is the low number of parking spots for a place that will quickly fill this up. Also will cause headaches for drivers as people exit onto Boulevard trying to get to the left turn lane for Ponce as there isn’t much room to work with for that.
“…however, there is plenty of this already in the immediate area, the existing gas station is in horrible condition…”
Allowing terrible projects because all the surrounding buildings are also terrible and the building its replacing is even more terrible is pretty much Atlanta’s official development policy at this point…
The only viable long term strategy is to adopt a code that requires quality development and enforce it consistently. No excuses. No exceptions.
I understand your position on this issue and it has logical appeal, but I’m having trouble picturing any desirable development that an investor/developer/company would fund at the corner of Ponce & Boulevard.
Late comment, so this’ll probably get missed. But I’m not objecting to the fast food use of this property – just arguing that that it should be subject to reasonable urban design standards.
It certainly needs a (main) entrance from the street. And vehicular access should probably be limited to Boulevard. Those are basic, low-hanging-fruit type things.
In a perfect world, the ideal siting of the building would be on the corner. It might also share drive-thru lanes and parking with the Popeye’s next door or be replaced entirely with a multi-story development in which Chic-Fil-A would be the ground floor tenant.
They should have car detailing while you’re making your way around the building in drive-thru.
Buncha white people creaming in their Priuses for a salty ass chicken puck and driving back to their walkable, overpriced lofts lolol.
it me!!
#1 – There is no Zaxby’s “across the street” from this location. Zaxby’s is a few blocks up the street by Taco Bell.
#2 – Looks like 10-15 parking spaces. LOL.
Did this not just get re-branded as an Amoco gas station?
Suburban ugly and pedestrian unfriendly.
This design is neither attractive, inviting nor modern. It’s average by 1990s standards. Atlanta has evolved since then. Hopefully CFA will work with the neighborhood and Atlanta Beltline to bring their design up to current standards and make it somewhat attractive, modern and inviting.
While I don’t love their politics, I welcome this. We own a home and building steps away from this and this gas station NEEDS to GO AWAY.
Spivak, the Saxby’s is like a 1/2 mile away. There’s a Dunkin’ Donuts across boulevard and an Ameris bank across ponce.
Of all the topics to generate a bunch of comments … a fast food drive thru on a commercial strip?
Well ever since the scooters left town…
Makes sense to me. Suburban-style development in urban areas has pretty consistently been the most controversial issue in Atlanta for a decade (see Jeff Fuqua).
Demolition of historic structures and sprawl into previously rural areas (both lightning rod issues in other municipalities) don’t seem to be nearly as controversial here.
Correction: “most controversial DEVELOPMENT issue”
There are obviously larger societal issues with more controversy. I’d also say affordable housing / gentrification is more in the spotlight at the moment, but that hasn’t always been the case.
Sure, but we’re talking about replacing a gas station with a fast food restaurant, not giving some underutilized parcel the Fuqua treatment.
Another drive through fast food restaurant on this corner is not needed. Chick-fil-A traffic is notorious and traffic at this intersection is already horrible. NO!
Back to the drawing board., Chic-Fil-A. The building should face Ponce only only cut back slightly from the sidewalk. Whatever they do for the drive-thru should be done on the Boulevard side. No cuts on the Ponce please.
That’s laughable. It’s on the corner at an intersection. You would never be able to get in or out of the restaurant.