Business
Mixed-Use Development on the Agenda for Spalding Drive and Peachtree Parkway
The Summit at Peachtree Parkway is part of proposed rezoning for live, work, play campus.
The request to rezone 15.69 acres of land currently zoned light industrial to mixed-use development in the city’s central business district is on the agenda for this month’s Peachtree Corners Planning Commission meeting.
The applicant Brand Properties, a metro Atlanta real estate investment company, is seeking to build a campus at 5550 Peachtree Parkway and 5458 Spalding Drive consisting of an existing six-story office building and five new multifamily buildings, one of which will contain ground-floor retail space. These new buildings range in height from three to five stories and will have a total of 251 units. The applicant is also proposing an extension to the public trail system.
The property is currently The Summit at Peachtree Parkway, a large office building and associated parking with a retention pond fronting Peachtree Parkway just south of Spalding Drive. The site is heavily wooded and the office building and pond are partially obscured from view along the street.
The Spalding Drive properties are a vacant parcel adjacent to the Bank of America and a developed parcel containing the Rio Imports Auto Center auto repair business.
The properties which are part of this application form the southeast corner of Peachtree Parkway and Spalding Drive, with the exception of the Bank of America property which is not part of this application.
The Summit has approximately 179,000 square feet of office space with access to 11-plus miles of hiking trails. On-site amenities include basketball and volleyball courts, direct access to the Tech Park Trail, a fitness center complete with locker and shower facilities, and a conference facility. There are 100 surface parking spaces and 520 covered parking spaces.
Fitting into the neighborhood
The Peachtree Parkway property is across the street from Christ the King Lutheran Church, Wells Fargo Bank and a Shell gas station, while the Spalding Drive properties are across the street from the Peachtree Parkway Plaza shopping center anchored by Goodwill. A small arm of the office property extends south to Scientific Drive near its intersection with Technology Parkway.
This corridor is the route of the proposed trail connection to Technology Park. The site plan submitted by the applicant indicates three points of entry into the development: the existing right-in/right-out driveway along Peachtree Parkway, the existing full access driveway along Scientific Drive and a new full-access driveway along Spalding Drive opposite the main Spalding Drive entrance to Peachtree Parkway Plaza.
Most properties surrounding the subject property are zoned light industry with the exception of the Bank of America property which is zoned neighborhood business. Across Spalding Drive, the shopping center is zoned general business as are the Wells Fargo and Christ the King properties across Peachtree Parkway.
The proposed residential development would be located on 9.47 acres or 60% of the site area. The remaining 40% of the site would be comprised of non-residential (office) use.
The site plan shows 251 total housing units (one and two-bedroom units only) on the 15.69-acre site. This equates to a density of 16 units per acre which is well below the maximum of 32 permitted in the proposed zoning regulation.
The Peachtree Parkway properties were not the subject of past rezoning cases. However, the vacant Spalding property was the subject of a county rezoning request in 2006. This request to rezone to allow for a restaurant was denied.
The Community Development Department analysis concluded that since the property lies in the Central Business District Character Area, it is desirable for mixed-use development and higher density than may be appropriate elsewhere in the city. Additionally, the Tech Park area encourages redevelopment to take the form of mixed-use projects, including housing and commercial space, which can benefit employees and employers.
The rendering submitted with the rezoning request shows modern designs with flat rooflines and rectilinear massing which appear to blend with the contemporary aesthetic of Technology Park and the existing office building, according to the staff report.
The site plan also includes numerous amenities that would benefit residents, office workers and hotel guests. These include a dog park, garden, sports courts, pavilion, walking paths, swimming pool, fire pit, food truck court and connectivity to the city’s trail system.
Staff recommendations
After a review of the proposal and other relevant information, city staff recommended that the application be approved with conditions. Here are a some:
- The maximum number of units is dependent on-site conditions, compliance with zoning conditions, and fully engineered plans that meet regulations and consist solely of one- and two-bedroom units.
- The property shall retain the existing office building in its existing configuration, square footage and use.
- Retail and restaurant use shall be located on the ground floor of Buildings No. 1 and No. 2 along the entire building frontage facing Peachtree Parkway.
- The proposed full-access driveway at Spalding Drive shall be evaluated by city traffic engineering staff to determine if signalization, construction of a roundabout, reduction to right-in/right-out, deceleration lanes or other traffic reconfiguration measures are warranted. Any such required changes shall be funded by the developer.
- The developer shall construct the trail connection from the center of the site to Scientific Drive. Such trail connection shall be in the form of a five-foot wide sidewalk constructed to have as little impact as possible on existing, mature, road front landscaping.
- The development shall incorporate and preserve the 44-inch white oak tree located on the southwest corner of the property.
- The development shall include no more than the three access points as shown on the submitted site plan.
- The developer shall provide sidewalk connectivity between all buildings and dedicated trails within the site and provide pedestrian sidewalk connections from the development to the Bank of America site and onto the public sidewalk network along Spalding Drive and Peachtree Parkway. In addition, a driveway connection shall be provided to the adjacent hotel site.
- Amenities will include a pool, pavilion, bocci ball courts, dog run, fire pit and food truck court.
- The master plan campus shall be equipped with vehicle license plate recognition camera technology at all access points.
- The development shall incorporate public art in the form of a large wall mural on the side of the multifamily/retail building visible from Peachtree Parkway or in the form of a sculpture located in the amenity plaza fronting Peachtree Parkway.
- 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.
The Peachtree Corners Planning Commission is set to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 19 at City Hall. To view a live stream of the meeting, click here.
Although a precise number of countries with companies that do business with and inside the City of Peachtree Corners isn’t readily available, it’s obvious there is a broad international presence in this metro Atlanta community that is becoming the center of the Southeast’s Silicon Orchard — with technology incubator, Curiosity Lab, being a primary factor in this reach for global business.
One of the most recent endeavors took place at an announcement ceremony on July 1 when Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), formerly the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, signed a memorandum of understanding with Peachtree Corners. This agreement formalizes an already long-standing relationship between the city, Curiosity Lab and MUFG and recognizes a partnership aimed at advancing innovative solutions in transportation and Smart City technology.
Joining Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason and City Manager Brian Johnson at the event were Mio Maeda, consul general of Japan, Yukata Fujishiro, head of JCB for the Americas at MUFG Bank, Hiroyuki Akiyama, chief executive director of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Atlanta, a non-profit that provides business support services to companies expanding to Japan and Yuichi Arai of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia.
Two countries, one goal
The bank’s unique MOU with Curiosity Lab is the first of its kind, focusing on scaling startups and innovation, setting a new standard in the financial sector. Mayor Mason emphasized the economic development benefits of the collaboration.
“The reason we [built Curiosity Lab] was for economic development,” he said. “And when you have [an organization with] the same goals, a partnership like this develops, and it does nothing but further our goals for the economic development of our citizens in the broader community.”
Mason added that this collaboration will strengthen the already powerful relationship between the city and the country.
“We leverage that to open up our markets — your markets to us, our markets to you. And only good can come with that,” he said.
Maeda agreed that the association will open new doors for both entities.
“More than 800 Japanese companies and Japanese-affiliated companies and offices with activities are in the state of Georgia,” he said. “It’s huge, but mainly they are in areas of manufacturing. This partnership opens up new frontiers of the relationship between Japan and Georgia in advanced technology.”
Future success built on past engagement
Fujishiro put it all into perspective when he emphasized the company’s legacy and its future. MUFG’s mission is to connect companies, society and local governments, highlighting their extensive network in Japan.
“MUFG has been innovating for over three centuries, and Curiosity Lab is leading innovation for the future. Together, we can create cities that are smarter, faster, cleaner and more efficient,” he said.
It’s not a coincidence that the partnership is taking place here. The support network in metro Atlanta has been instrumental in formalizing the relationship with MUFG. As the largest bank in Japan and one of the top ten in the world, MUFG embraces new ways of doing things while staying true to its core values.
“Urban infrastructure is a large part of our work,” said Fujishiro. “We financed the new Terminal One at New York’s JFK Airport. [And] MUFG is one of the banks that contributed to the investment in the construction of Mercedes Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Curiosity Lab,” he continued. “They are pioneering the next generation of city infrastructure with autonomous vehicles, solar-powered roads and smart public technologies from all over the world. And Peachtree Corners has created a dream come true for companies across industries: a testing site where local government encourages private industry.”
Innovation and growth
MUFG’s 360 years in existence isn’t a fluke. The company looks for innovative ways to enhance its profile. They host accelerate events in Japan and have a venture capital and equity fund to invest in startups globally — something that’s not standard practice in many American banks. But it has already proven successful in this country, as the Atlanta office is approaching its 50th anniversary.
“This milestone reflects our long-standing commitment to the economic development of the region,” Fujishiro said. “Supporting Japanese businesses has been an integral part of this commitment. We have the reach of a global institution and the client service of a local branch. This unique culture allows us to connect Japanese companies with the best opportunities abroad.”
The dedication to innovation and infrastructure shared by MUFG and Peachtree Corners makes the partnership more valuable, he said.
Johnson explained that the coalition with MUFG was an obvious win for the city.
“We have an opportunity and a location to scale technology, to make the world a better place and to make it easier to do so. And so we’re really excited that that goal and mission marries well with MUFG,” he said.
“MUFG is a bank that understands the challenges that companies in the innovation space have,” Johnson added, “and they created an internal framework to help those companies, and a framework for external partnerships so that we can connect companies and products … and together try to make the world we live in a little bit safer, smarter, cleaner.”
This partnership between the city and MUFG aims to foster innovation and urban infrastructure and connect Japanese companies with global opportunities, leveraging MUFG’s global reach and local client service.
For more about MUFG, visit mufgamericas.com.
To learn more about Curiosity Lab of Peachtree Corners, visit curiositylabptc.com.
The Peachtree Corners Business Association and the City of Peachtree Corners officially welcomed Ride Lounge, one of the city’s newest businesses, with a morning ribbon cutting ceremony on May 29.
From 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., members of the city and PCBA, along with members of the community, enjoyed mingling, getting to know the Ride Lounge staff and learning more about the unique company.
Guests also enjoyed a light breakfast spread of bagels, fresh fruit, coffee and juice and brief speeches from featured guests.
Welcoming the business
Lisa Procter from the PCBA spoke first and thanked Ride Lounge for being part of the PCBA and the Peachtree Corners community. She also recognized the collaboration between the organization and Ride Lounge in hosting the ribbon cutting.
“The PCBA was proud to coordinate with Ride Lounge and the community to make this event a success,” Procter shared.
Mayor Mike Mason followed Procter in addressing the crowd and talked about the state of business in Peachtree Corners and how companies like Ride Lounge help make the city a great place to live and work.
Dave Codrea and Josh Friedensohn, founders of Ride Lounge, then thanked everyone for coming and shared a little about the company and their vision.
The cutting of the ribbon and photos followed the brief speeches. Afterwards, the crowd was invited to tour the space and spend more time chatting and networking.
About Ride Lounge
The Ride Lounge is more than a car storage facility, it’s a place that celebrates car culture; where car enthusiasts can meet to discuss their passion and show off their vehicles.
Founders Dave and Josh wanted to create a welcoming community that people would trust to store their vehicles, but that would also offer a club-like atmosphere and host fun, car-centered events that the whole family could enjoy.
Ride Lounge’s 20,300-square-foot facility is comprised of 58 parking spaces with the potential to include car lifts in certain areas. There are cozy seating areas, a meeting space and kitchen area so members can hang out, relax and talk cars.
Designed for cars that are driven and enjoyed by families, Ride Lounge has room to hold up to 400 people for special events and activities.
To learn more about Ride Lounge, visit ride-lounge.com.
For more about the PCBA, visit peachtreecornersba.com.
Company adds 20,000 square feet to meet growing demand
Music Matters Productions (MMP), a premier provider of audio, lighting, video, staging and rigging solutions, has expanded its metro Atlanta headquarters, increasing the total warehouse footprint from 40,000 to 60,000 square feet.
In addition, MMP has opened a second 10,000-square-foot building directly across the street to house its growing corporate production division.
The expansion comes in response to increased demand across touring, festival and corporate markets, as well as the continued growth of MMP’s high-end gear inventory. With a fully dedicated shop for each department, including audio, lighting, video, rigging and staging, the new layout provides more space for show prep, pre-rigging and crew coordination, allowing for even more efficient load-ins and streamlined execution.
New features
The rigging department now features a new mobile motor hoist test stand, allowing for in-house motor certification, a service that’s now available to external clients in the production community.
Five new truck bays were added in the process, as well, bringing the total number of bays to 17 — an important upgrade for MMP’s fleet and the increasing number of shows moving through the warehouse each week.
“This growth is a direct reflection of the work our team puts in and the trust our clients place in us,” said Aaron Soriero, owner of Music Matters Productions. “We didn’t expand for the sake of being bigger, we expanded because we needed the space to do the job right. More room means tighter prep, faster turns and better support for our clients.”
Expanding operations
The expanded warehouse and building across the street include additional offices, mixed-use areas and a dedicated repairs department, giving the team more capacity to prep, collaborate, QC and scale for increasingly complex events — both corporate and entertainment.
With a reputation built on reliable gear, experienced crews and an enhanced client experience, MMP continues to solidify its role as a go-to production partner for events of every size and setting — whether it’s a beachside festival, a stadium tour, brand activation or a high-stakes corporate show.
About Music Matters Productions
Music Matters Productions is a full-service live event production company based in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, providing industry-leading audio, lighting, video, rigging and staging solutions for tours, festivals, brand activations and corporate events across the country.
Known for its high-end inventory, seasoned crew and deep dedication to doing the job right, MMP supports hundreds of productions each year and is trusted by clients nationwide.
For more information, visit mmp-atl.com.
Curiosity Lab Welcomes New Partners & Collaborators to Peachtree Corners
New Exhibit Buzzes into Fernbank Museum
Wannabe: Spice Girls Tribute and Boy Band Review Take to the VoxStage on July 26
Over 150 Runners Participate in PCOM Georgia Blaze 5K
One Can for One Meal: Raid Your Pantry for Free Nando’s on July 18
From the Mayor: Let’s Get Growing – Welcoming the Peachtree Corners Garden Club
City of Peachtree Corners Extends Its International Reach
Four Fun Day Trips to Take Before School Starts Back
Four Fun Day Trips to Take Before School Starts Back
Wannabe: Spice Girls Tribute and Boy Band Review Take to the VoxStage on July 26
One Can for One Meal: Raid Your Pantry for Free Nando’s on July 18
City of Peachtree Corners Extends Its International Reach
New Exhibit Buzzes into Fernbank Museum
Curiosity Lab Welcomes New Partners & Collaborators to Peachtree Corners
From the Mayor: Let’s Get Growing – Welcoming the Peachtree Corners Garden Club
Over 150 Runners Participate in PCOM Georgia Blaze 5K
Light up the Corners [Video]
Capitalist Sage: Business Leadership in Your Community [Podcast]
Cliff Bramble: A Culinary Adventure through Italy
Top 10 Brunch Places in Gwinnett County
A Hunger for Hospitality
THE CORNERS EPISODE 3 – BLAXICAN PART 1
Top 10 Indoor Things To Do This Winter
The ED Hour: What it takes to Remove Barriers from Education
