Atlantic Station survey seeks your 2 cents for 'next chapter'

If you’ve ever felt like complaining about Atlantic Station (or praising aspects of it) in a way that mattered, here’s your chance. 

Fresh off its 20th birthday, the 138-acre, mixed-use mini city has hired experienced new management and launched a community survey asking for input from visitors, residents, employees, businesses, neighbors, and anyone else who cares. 

The survey compiled by Fort Worth, Texas-based Trademark Property Company—the firm hired this summer to handle all retail management, leasing, and general operations at Atlantic Station—will help shape the district’s “next chapter,” per officials. 

It’s estimated to take less than 10 minutes to complete. (Out test-run took less than nine minutes.) 

The survey touches on general likes and dislikes of Atlantic Station today and asks specifically what people would like to see there in the short and long-term future. Topics include safety, parking, accessibility, entertainment, shopping, dining, events, and more. 

Survey responses will help guide Trademark’s priorities for Atlantic Station, which has worked to brand itself as the “Heart of ATL,” per company leaders. The questionnaire be open for just one week, closing Monday, Sept. 28. 

“We want the people who live, work, and spend time at Atlantic Station to have a voice in what comes next,” Sean McIntosh, Atlantic Station’s new general manager, said in a prepared statement. “We know there are things people love about the property and areas where we can make the experience better. This is an opportunity for us to listen, learn, and better understand what our community wants from Atlantic Station.” 

McIntosh formerly worked as Atlantic Station’s general manager from 2006 to 2013, before moving on to work with Jamestown, Oliver McMillan, and other companies. He was brought in to head the district’s 585,590-square-foot retail portion, officials announced last month. 

Elsewhere in the U.S., Trademark has redeveloped, developed, or invested in 24 million square feet of development over the past 30 years, including well-known districts Galleria Dallas, Annapolis Town Center, and Market Street-The Woodlands near Houston. Its current portfolio includes 19 properties, with three developments in the pipeline. 

Atlantic Station has seen several high-profile business closures over the past year, including Banana Republic, DSW shoe store, and Publix, the property’s lone grocery store. 

Prior to those closures, 74 percent of respondents to our in-house reader poll last summer rated Atlantic Station at three stars or lower, with nearly 750 votes tallied. 

More positive news came in February, when Atlantic Station owner Hines announced a slate of new retail concepts including MINISO, a Japanese-inspired Chinese company, and three restaurants. Nordstrom Rack, an off-price version of the Seattle-based luxury retailer, plans to open in the former DSW shoes space in October. 

Another win came in March, when popular rankings website Niche crowned Atlantic Station the No. 1 place to live among 18,000 “best” neighborhoods across the U.S. (Next door, Midtown claimed the No. 6 spot on that list.) 

Today, Atlantic Station counts almost 8 million square feet of mixed-use development—the equivalent of more than six Bank of America Plaza towers—with plenty of room left to grow, in more ways than one. 

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