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Proposed Mixed-use Development May Include Luxury Hotel

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Engineering Drive and Peachtree Parkway

A rezoning request for a nearly 20-acre site near the Central Business District tabled for June’s City Council meeting

A vacant office building located within the curve of Engineering Drive just west of Peachtree Parkway may become the site of a new luxury hotel. Atlanta-based TPA Residential has requested the rezoning of 19.46 acres from M-1 (Light Industry District) to MUD (Mixed-Use Development District) to develop a campus master plan consisting of an existing office building; a new five-story, 315-unit multi-family residential building; a new five-story boutique-style hotel; and an extension to the public trail system. 

The plan is to add more than 300 apartments and a five-story, 100-room hotel at Engineering Drive and Peachtree Parkway, according to documents submitted to the city of Peachtree Corners. 

A subsidiary of The Dilweg Cos., a real estate investment firm based in Durham, N.C., the company also requested a variance to allow for a reduction in parking in the multifamily building from 1.5 spaces per unit to 1.38 spaces per unit due to the fact that the project has a majority of one-bedroom units. 434 total parking spaces are proposed, 324 in a two-level deck internal to the site and 110 surface parking spaces. 

The Peachtree Parkway properties are located at the northwest corner of Peachtree and Engineering, adjacent to the aforementioned property and directly south of the office building best known as the home of CarMax’s Peachtree Corners offices. These properties share the same 5707 address as the CarMax building, but the CarMax parcel is not part of this rezoning request.  

Both properties are across Engineering Drive from the city’s future trail hub at the southwest corner of Peachtree and Engineering. This proposal plans to extend the trail system from the hub into this site and prepare it for future connections north to The Forum area.   

The site plan submitted by TPA indicates two points of entry into the multifamily development from Engineering Drive. One point of access is shown to the hotel site from Engineering Drive. Additional cross-access is provided into the CarMax site and onto Peachtree Parkway via that property’s existing driveway.   

Most properties surrounding the subject property are zoned M-1 (Light Industry) with the exception of the city’s trail hub site which is zoned T-O (Trails and Open Space). 

The city’s future Corners Connector trail system will run parallel along the west side of Peachtree Parkway from Holcomb Bridge Road to The Forum. TPA also proposed to construct the portion of the trail on its property with connections south to the city’s trail hub and north to future expansion towards The Forum.  

The application included architectural elevations as part of the rezoning request which shows modern designs with flat rooflines, rectilinear massing, a mixture of exterior cladding materials and a variety of colors. The proposed structures appear to blend with the contemporary aesthetic of Technology Park. 

The site plan also includes numerous amenities that would benefit residents, office workers and hotel guests. These include a dog park, community garden, sports courts, event plaza, walking trails, lake trail, boat dock, water feature and connectivity to the city’s trail system.  

City staff appeared in favor of the plan with conditions that included:

  • The site may be developed with up to 315 multifamily units. However, the maximum number of units is dependent on site conditions, compliance with zoning conditions and fully engineered plans that meet regulations. Units shall consist primarily of one- and two-bedroom units; however, up to 5% of the units may be three-bedroom units.
  • The property owner shall develop a Hotel Indigo or comparable boutique hotel as defined by the hotel industry, and as approved by the City Council. The hotel shall have a minimum of 100 rooms. The property owner shall be prohibited from developing a non-boutique hotel brand such as Holiday Inn or Hampton Inn. 
  • The developer shall construct the trail system as proposed including the trail connection to the trail hub across Engineering Drive and the trail around the lake along the entire length of the developer’s property. Such trail system shall be built to city standards (width, depth, furnishings, etc.), and dedicated for public use by an easement or land conveyance that ensures its open access to the public. A minimum of 10 parking spaces on the hotel site shall be available for (non-exclusive) trail use.
  • The development shall incorporate public art in the form of a large wall mural on the side of the hotel building visible from Peachtree Parkway or in the form of a sculpture located at the corner of Peachtree Parkway and Engineering Drive. The design of the mural or sculpture shall be approved by staff with assistance from the Arts Council. Completion of the artwork shall occur prior to the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy for the hotel building. The total cost of the artwork shall not exceed $25,000. 
  • Multifamily parking shall be designed to be ‘electrical vehicle ready’ by providing wiring and outlets in convenient garage locations to accommodate residential electric vehicle charging. A minimum of four electric vehicle stations shall be included in the hotel parking lot. 
  • An upscale hotel may be built as part of a mixed-use project in Peachtree Corners, a suburban city home to a growing technology park.

On March 22, Peachtree Corners City Council decided to defer a vote on the application until June.

Arlinda Smith Broady is part of the Boomerang Generation of Blacks that moved back to the South after their ancestors moved North. With approximately three decades of journalism experience (she doesn't look it), she's worked in tiny, minority-based newsrooms to major metropolitans. At every endeavor she brings professionalism, passion, pluck, and the desire to spread the news to the people.

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Peachtree Corners Businesses Encouraged to Join Security Camera Registration

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Chris Lindenau, Fusus

After spending years with the U.S. military and companies that develop safety systems, Chris Lindenau wanted to offer that same level of security to average citizens.

“I have been leading and serving a team of dedicated, brilliant professionals as we help communities, directors of security for businesses and public safety leaders establish interoperability between community and public safety camera, AI and alert assets at an unprecedented scale,” Lindenau, CEO of Fusus, said.

He addressed an audience gathered on September 28 at the Peachtree Corners Business Association Business After Hours Speaker Series at the Hilton Atlanta Northeast.

The technology Lindenau’s company has created, the fususONE ecosystem of software and hardware solutions, is the foundational platform for the world’s real-time operations centers. It has helped hundreds of cities and businesses establish a unified security footprint unrestrained by proprietary technology limitations, according to the company’s literature.

In order to make it work at its optimal capacity, however, it needs the community — especially business owners — to join in.

“As I understand from our friends at GCPD [Gwinnett County Police Department], you’ve got a success story recently utilizing the system to catch a homicide suspect — I think it was within 45 minutes from the time of the incident,” Lindenau said. “This isn’t something that just exists here in our backyard, it exists all over the country.”

He encouraged everyone in attendance to sign up for Connect Peachtree Corners, a camera registration for businesses and homes. Right now, there are only 247 cameras registered within the Peachtree Corners city limits. Without interconnectivity, crimes that could have been solved in minutes may end up taking days or months — or may never be solved.

“That lack of information impacts the timeliness of response. It’s not just about apprehending the suspects, it’s also about bringing closure to families, because they are out on a limb until these people are apprehended,” Lindenau said.

For more information, visit connectpeachtreecorners.org.

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DW1 Unveils New Peachtree Corners Headquarters and Brand Identity

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DW1, formerly known as Discount Waste, Inc., has now settled in its office in Technology Park. As Peachtree Corners sees a surge of development, DW1’s move and rebranding stand out.

Situated at 250 Scientific Drive NW, the 45,000-square-foot building has 150 private offices and seven conference rooms. It also has an advanced training room and a “Town Center” designed for company lunches.

Additionally, the space doubles as an art collection that adds character to the workspace.

This move brings together their previous locations at Engineering Drive and Triangle Parkway. It consolidates over 100 employees who have been dispersed since 2019.

The inauguration event took place on September 28, 2023, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Vice Mayor Weare Gratwick, City Councilwoman Lorri Christopher, Southwest Gwinnett Chamber (SWGC) Chairman Bill Diehl and Executive Director Beth Coffey attended the event.

Board members Margie Asef, Larry Benator and Patty Thumann were also present.

Since its start in 1999, Discount Waste, Inc., now transitioning to DW1, has been a provider of waste removal and job site solutions.

Serving a wide range of clients, from general contractors and retailers to commercial establishments, the company has always emphasized strong client relationships and service.

Outside of the business realm, CEO Ed Foye‘s commitment to societal change is evident with All Children, Inc. This initiative focuses on delivering essential resources, such as nutrition, education and shelter, to children with disabilities in developing countries.

To know more about this effort, visit AllChildren.org.

A representative from DW1 shared, “We were thrilled to welcome our employees and their families to the new location on September 28. To learn more about our company’s next chapter, please visit DW1.com.”

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New Retail Concepts Join Merchandise Collection at The Forum Peachtree Corners

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As North American Properties (NAP) and Nuveen Real Estate (Nuveen) transform The Forum Peachtree Corners into a mixed-use development, several new businesses are joining the merchandise mix. 

National retailers that signed long-term leases include Lovesac, Petfolk and Stretchlab. Temporary license agreements were reached with Auburn Candle Company, The Baby Nook and Girl Tribe Co.

Meet the retailers

Lovesac – This company designs, manufactures and sells unique furniture that’s guaranteed for life. It offers modular couches called Sactionals, foam beanbag chairs called Sacs and associated home décor accessories, including home audio systems.

Upon opening next to Chico’s in spring 2024, Lovesac at The Forum will be the ninth location in Georgia and fourth in NAP’s portfolio. 

Petfolk – Founded by vets with decades of experience in clinical practice, Petfolk is an animal hospital and pet care center built with pets and their owners in mind. 

Veterinary services include exams, vaccinations, urgent care, nutrition, diagnostic testing, digital radiology and more. 

The Forum location opens this October by Chipotle, marking the brand’s second brick-and-mortar in metro Atlanta.

Stretchlab – Recognized for its customized, assisted-stretch sessions, Stretchlab is a wellness concept specializing in one-on-one routines led by nationally accredited flexologists. 

Using a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) approach, paired with dynamic and static stretching, the team is able to identify tightness and imbalances in the body. They then build a custom routine for each client to develop a wider range of motion and flexibility. 

Stretchlab opens next to Club Pilates at The Forum this winter.

Auburn Candle Company – Established in 2020 and based out of Auburn, Alabama, Auburn Candle Company hand-crafts signature candles and fragrances, free from additives and dyes.

In addition to shopping for pre-poured candles as well as other bath, body and home goods, candle lovers can develop their own creations at the in-store pour bar. 

Its year-long pop-up at The Forum, opening in October, will be the company’s first venture in Georgia.  

The Baby Nook – A haven for anyone seeking baby essentials and gifts, The Baby Nook will feature a select collection of baby items that combine functionality, safety and aesthetic appeal. 

The year-long pop-up will open in October next to Soft Surroundings.

Girl Tribe Co. – NAP is expanding its existing relationship with Charlotte-based Girl Tribe Co. to bring a temporary store to The Forum from October 6 through December 31. 

Created by childhood best friends and co-founders Sarah Baucom and Carrie Barker, the brand offers a collection of clothing, graphic tees, accessories and lifestyle products.

A combination of proprietary products and items made by local female entrepreneurs will be available for purchase in Suite 505, next to HomeGoods. Girl Tribe Co. also plans to host a series of events, workshops and networking sessions during its stay at The Forum.

The Forum’s merchandise mix continues to grow

These forthcoming brands join KeenaBelaGifts We All Want and Go! Calendars, Toys, and Games as the latest additions to The Forum’s tenant collection. 

KeenaBela, an Atlanta-based, eco-friendly sleep, lounge and resort-wear brand, officially opened its year-long pop-up at The Forum last month. 

Additionally, specialty boutiques Gifts We All Want and Go! Calendars, Toys, and Games, have once again returned for the holiday season.

“We have seen a tremendous amount of interest from small, local business owners looking to grow their brands in a low-risk, incubator-style environment,” said Emily Narchus, director of ancillary revenue at NAP. 

“As our leasing and development teams continue moving forward on The Forum’s renaissance, we are excited to play a part in upgrading the center’s retail makeup.”

NAP is nearing completion on the north end plaza and anticipates an early fall delivery of the 1,700-square-foot greenspace. This is the first, and smaller, of two community-driven spaces being adding to the property as part of its overall redevelopment. 

Along with the ongoing retail improvements, renovations to the office lobby in building 5185, anchored by Trader Joe’s, are now complete. 

The Forum has partnered with the Peachtree Corners Photography Club to display and sell winning pieces from its first juried exhibition in the revamped entrance.

To stay up to date on the latest property news and happenings, follow The Forum on FacebookTwitter and Instagram or visit theforumpeachtree.com.

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