Cobb Galleria redo; Atlanta Medical Center; Buckhead tower brewing

COBB COUNTY—An overhaul is in the works for a well-known Cobb County gathering place near the Braves’ stadium and The Battery Atlanta. Officials with the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority, owner and operator of Cobb Galleria Centre, announced this week an expansion and renovation of the center is set to break ground next year.

Situated across a pedestrian bridge from The Battery, the Cobb Galleria Centre is described by its ownership as the leading venue in Georgia for mid-size conventions, trade shows, special events, and meetings.

The renovation's scope calls for: demolishing the Galleria Specialty Shops and second-floor meeting rooms;​ building a two-story “grand entryway” with a new junior ballroom, two outdoor courtyards and gardens for events, and a connected parking facility with covered access into the expanded center; and adding 13,000 square feet of meeting space with enhanced tech.

A facelift for the existing large ballroom, convention space, concourse, and rotunda is also in the works.

The authority has put together a team—all of them Cobb County-based firms—to manage the project's design and construction, including Rule Joy Trammell & Rubio architects, Holder Construction, and Impact Development Management. The project is scheduled to break ground in fall 2025 and finish in early 2027, per the authority.

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OLD FOURTH WARD—Following nearly two years of public discussions and behind-the-scenes dealings, some clarity has come this week for what the future of a large, empty medical complex in Old Fourth Ward may bring.

Wellstar Health System announced Thursday that redevelopment of its closely watched Atlanta Medical Center campus is expected to kick off in coming weeks, led by veteran Atlanta developer The Integral Group.

The Atlanta City Council unanimously approved a land-use plan for the vacated complex last month, with a nod from Mayor Andre Dickens. A zoning moratorium on the property—renewed three different times by the city—expired Tuesday.

Wellstar’s announcement for the 22-acre campus isn’t exactly rich with detail, but redevelopment plans generally call for “a vibrant, diverse mixed-use neighborhood with affordable housing, residential properties, community, and public greenspace,” plus “neighborhood-level retail, new street access, commercial uses, and health and well-being resources.”

Plans call for Integral to put together an implementation plan in coming weeks while gathering feedback from O4W residents and other stakeholders in the community. According to Wellstar, the redevelopment will play out over several years, with community input helping to guide each phase. Integral plans to start applying for permits soon in hopes of beginning demolition of aging structures around the campus in the first quarter of 2025, per officials.  

A healthcare and well-being component will be included in the project, but exactly what that might entail is pending Integral’s planning and community engagement.

“I appreciate Wellstar moving forward with this community-driven project,” noted Dickens in the announcement, “while our administration continues to explore options to meet the healthcare needs of residents on the Southside.”

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BUCKHEAD—After striking gold with its first two condo projects in Atlanta—the 18-story contract magnet that is Dillon Buckhead, and the sold-out, 22-story Graydon project—Florida-based developer Kolter Urban is setting sights on another Buckhead parcel to go vertical again. As Atlanta Business Chronicle reports, Kolter Urban officials plan to erect their third high-rise condominium build on West Paces Ferry Road, next door to the posh St. Regis Atlanta hotel and condos.  

The 102 W. Paces Ferry Road site—currently home to a small shopping center called Buckhead Plaza—was previously targeted for a massive, multi-tower development with a hotel and more than 300 residential units that never took off.

Kolter Urban’s plans call for 198 condos (one to three-bedroom floorplans) in a new building standing 19 stories.

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