Atlanta's Fort McPherson wanted by movie powerhouse for studio.

There was a big splashy announcement about a local movie mogul buying a large chunk of our  neighbor, Fort McPherson. Headlines about lawsuits and charges of an inside job appeared weeks later.

To keep you up to speed, here are the developments:

The AJC reported on June 18:

The board of the civilian authority tasked with redeveloping Fort McPherson voted on Wednesday to begin formal negotiations to sell a portion of the former Army post to filmmaker Tyler Perry.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported Wednesday afternoon that Perry has held talks with the city for months about acquiring land at the nearly 500-acre site for a possible movie and television production complex.

Following a vote by the McPherson Implementing Local Redevelopment Authority, or MILRA, Wednesday, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said the city will now begin “robust” conversations with the filmmaker.

... An individual with knowledge of the situation told the AJC the purchase price of the land could be $30 million to $35 million.

The Saporta Report on July 14 published a look at the area with an eye on economic development.  The headline was "Fort McPherson area rich in human rights history, poor in redevelopment."

The fort and its surroundings are not thriving; federal law requires the site to house the homeless; the fort has served as a stockade.

Meanwhile, as Atlanta looks to develop a niche in historic tourism, there appears to be great potential in the Campbellton Road corridor that flanks the fort. The story of human rights in this area involves the region’s earliest white settlers and treaties with Creek Indians.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle on July 17 published news about a lawsuit

An Atlanta entertainment company planning a movie studio and entertainment area at Fort McPherson filed a federal lawsuit Thursday challenging Tyler Perry’s proposal for a similar project.

Lawyers for Ubiquitous Entertainment Studios LLC (UES) claim the firm wasn’t given a fair chance to redevelop the site halfway between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and downtown Atlanta.

UES, working with developer Egbert Perry, began meeting in late 2011 with representatives of the authority in charge of redeveloping the 488-acre site closed by the Pentagon as part of the last round of federal base closings.

...

Perry plans to purchase 363 acres at the site for $33 million.

“MILRA has ... unilaterally selected a sole source developer ... to become the acquirer of all of the Fort McPherson property,” the lawsuit states. “[The authority], its officials, agents and representatives have denied UES a fair opportunity to compete in favor of this sole source award and have rebuffed UES’s efforts to remediate their arbitrary and capricious government conduct.”

East Point hosts filming for upcoming TV show "Constantine"

East Point - The Jefferson Park neighborhood is hosting a film crew shooting scenes for an new TV show. The filming is to take place Monday and Tuesday.


Councilman Lance Rhodes said in a newsletter:

Bonanza Productions will be filming a new television series that will include scenes from Jefferson Park.

The filming is scheduled for July 17th, 18th, 21st and 22nd.

The shoot is taking place around Bryan Avenue and Harris Street.

It is for a new fantasy/horror TV show, called Constantine.  (Watch the trailer here, if that's your thing.)

Funny thing is the notice from the assistant location manager confused Jefferson Park with Fairlie-Poplar in downtown Atlanta, but that isn't all bad.  The neighborhood could be confused for worse.

 

It isn't East Point's first time on the screen. Tinseltown came here to film Prisoners and also Devils Knot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC-NclGLwvI

 

 

 

New businesses open up in downtown East Point

These new business opened shops in the city center.

• KV’s Southern Cuisine – 1509 Norman Berry Drive, 678-592-9552, Newly Re-Opened Restaurant!


• Debbie’s Delight– 2801 East Point Street, New Restaurant! Soft Opening Now, Grand Opening Soon!


• East Point Tech—1596 West Cleveland Ave., 678-278-8421, code school, a digital lifestyle & literacy center


• Stocks and Bonds Clothing Co., 1612 West Cleveland Ave., 678-901-9493, Menswear


• Latest Experience Beauty Salon, 2149 Main Street, 404-906-8707


• Seven Arts Center, 2879 East Point Street, 404-919-9778, Workshops in music, art, photography, acting and computers


• Computers Plus, Inc., 1707 Washington Road, 404-768-1338, Sales & Repair


• State Farm Agency-Traci McCrory, 1526 East Forrest Ave., Suite 250, 678-539-8623


• Joshua’s Closet, 1676 Thompson Ave., 404-600-6523, Community Outreach Organization


• Jasmine NiKol Beauty Boutique, 2781 Main Street., 404-801-HAIR


• Speak Natural Hair Design, 1711 B Church Street., By Appt. Only, 404-946-8539


• The Clothing Warehouse 2824 Church St., Open Tuesday & Thursday Only

 

 

Help turn those campaign signs to art

Tired of looking at campaign signs? Wondering what to do with those campaign signs you posted in your lawn?  Well, the East Point Preservation Alliance has a message for people:

Attention candidates and residents: We want your used campaign signs!! The East Point Preservation Alliance will be accepting any and all campaign signs (with permission) that are otherwise headed for the landfill. The EPPA will be painting over whatever image is presently on the sign, and using Banksy style stencils to turn the signs into an advocacy campaign to help the EPPA save East Point's historic buildings, and return them to practical use by the people of East Point, for whom they were built. Help us to get a little more use out of each sign before it heads off into the abyss. We greatly appreciate any help we can get.

What is a Banksy style stencil you ask? Like this:



 

Visions of downtown East Point: Historic district vs Open lawns

East Point City Council recently reviewed proposals for redeveloping the city center.

The issue has been quiet for months. Before the process was slowed, residents formed a Facebook group called the East Point Preservation Alliance. Advocates were concerned with plans to raze some 1930s era buildings, including City Hall and a now-closed city library.

The council heard from the second of two developers last month about their visions for downtown. Ward B Council member Lance Rhodes said the council would vote to move forward on one of these proposals. It may take up to two years to finish the project after a vote, he said. No date has been set for the council vote, he said

Here are key points:

Developer: East Point City Planners LLC

• Knock down city hall to create a great lawn. This opens up the arched front of the city auditorium.


• Build a new government center.


• Relocate the closed city library by razing a city fire station. This creates another green space.


• Close Linwood Avenue, between Church and East Point streets to create a city center.


• Estimated price tag: $17.7 million to $18.1 million


• Presentation

Developer: Manhattan + Gateway + Benoit + CCNA

• Create a "district" concept with four dimensions: civic space, recreation, transportation oriented development, live & work space


• Erect monuments and arches to establish the border of the district: Main Street and Church Street; Thompson Avenue and Cleveland Avenue.


• Develop amphitheater and open space along Church Street


• Preserve city auditorium.


• Presentation

What do you like about the plans? Dislike?

Meetings on proposed "Cleveland Avenue Crossing" to replace abandoned apartments

UPDATE  - East Point planners and developers are to hold public meetings on a proposed WalMart on Cleveland Avenue

City council member Lance Rhodes sent out the notice:

Notice of Development Intent Sylvan Road/Springdale

Case Number:  2013P-006-03Duplantis Design GroupPreliminary Plat
CZIM Meeting :    03-12-13
P&Z Meeting:      04-18-13
Council Meeting:  05-20-13
Applicant Phone Number 404-567-5701

For the new readers of my emails, the CZIM is the public meeting where you can talk directly with the developer and P&Z staff. This meeting is held on the first floor of Jefferson Station in the P&Z Conference Room. The other meetings (P&Z and Council) are held on the fouth floor in the Council Chambers.

 

EAST POINT - One of the biggest redevelopment projects in the city in years is quietly moving forward.
City leaders expect the plans for the commercial/retail center, anchored by a WalMart store, to be submitted in November. Public meeting will be scheduled to review the plans for the site, at the corner for Cleveland Avenue and Sylvan Road.


easel.ly

Food trucks serving up hot food in East Point

UPDATE: According to the downtown development coordinator, food trucks are coming to Downtown East Point (in the Commons, once a month next to the East Point Farmer’s Market-more information will be in the Downtown Newsletter this Friday).

--

Food trucks in East Point?  Apparently efforts are underway to make East Point friendly to these restaurants-on-wheels.

Already, East Point has one food truck. The colorful Blaxican Food Truck - "Mexican soul food" - parks off of Washington Road, close to downtown.

Of course, Atlanta has its park.

I've emailed Erin Rodgers, the downtown development coordinator, to see what she can tell us about this project.

UPDATE: Food Trucks are Coming to Downtown East Point (in the Commons, once a month next to the East Point Farmer’s Market-more information will be in the Downtown Newsletter this Friday).

Promotion of East Point Hits the Airwaves

EAST POINT -  Two new videos promoting the community aim to capture the attention of families planning reunions and travelers visiting the Atlanta Metro area.

Here's the reunion advertisment:



 

The effort for his niche area makes sense:

The Grio.com website reported in 2010:

Some 82 million Americanswill participate in family reunions this year, according to Budget Travel Magazine, which notes that 44 percent of leisure trips taken by African-Americans include family visits.

And then there's East Point's location between the airport and downtown Atlanta that may be a good  combination for this niche travel industry.

The promotions are on the Visit Atlanta Youtube page, which is marketing by the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.

You can see both ads here.