December DRC Recap: Hanover Presents Plans For 40-Story Mixed-Use Tower
Committee caps off decade by reviewing three new projects.
Published: 12/11/19
The Hanover Co. presented plans for a 40-story mixed-use tower.
The Midtown Development Review Committee finished out the year with presentations for three new projects, ranging from a modest addition to SCAD’s Digital Media Center, a new 20-story student housing project accommodating almost 800 students and a new 40-story mixed-use tower near the Arts Center MARTA Station.
Check out details and DRC recommendations for each project below.
SCAD Digital Media Center Expansion - 1611 West Peachtree Street
SCAD’s proposed expansion will add 3,500 square feet to the existing 60,000-square-foot building at the northern end of West Peachtree Street. Taking design cues from the recently completed SCAD 40 building, the stucco-clad two-story expansion will include new signage and architectural lighting to accent the building at night. The project was approved by the DRC.
DRC recommendations:
- a more comprehensive lighting analysis of the West Peachtree frontage to address pedestrian safety for students coming and going from the building.
- landscape and buffer improvements were recommended to improve clarity between pedestrian zones and vehicle lanes.
Hub on Campus - 960 Spring Street
Chicago-based Core Campus is entering the Midtown market for private off-campus student housing with a project on the NW corner of Spring and Peachtree Place. Located at 960 Spring Street, the site is directly across the street from two other student housing developments – The Mark, currently under construction by Landmark Properties to the east and University House to the south. Known as “Hub on Campus,” the project has 278 units (784 beds) and 5,600 square feet of ground floor retail uses along Spring Street. While the design team took steps to create a building that connotes warmth and human scale, the DRC recommended several critical modifications to enhance the success of the street-level retail and eliminate small alcoves that could present public safety challenges.
DRC Recommendations:
- Retail entrances should be re-oriented to face the public sidewalk, planting strips in front of storefront windows should be minimized and the internal floor slab for the retail spaces should be designed for maximum flexibility for future tenants.
- Green screening on the north façade was also recommended to mitigate the negative impact of the blank wall of the parking garage, as seen from both Spring and 10th Street.
- Landscaping and a lockable gate were recommended on the western edge of the site to provide additional screening and ensure that public safety is not compromised.
While the applicant requested several variations related to setback, active use and landscape buffers, most of these issues can be addressed through re-design and the applicant will provide updated plans for further review by the committee in the new year.
Hanover - 1230 West Peachtree Street
Hanover is returning to Midtown with its largest project to date – a 40-story mixed-use tower at the southwest corner of West Peachtree and the planned extension of 15th Street. The significant project entails a stack of 8,600 square feet of ground floor retail uses at the street corner with 258,000 square feet of office and 328 market rate residential apartment units slated to begin construction in 2021, which best coordinates with the planned extension of 15th Street. The DRC commended the design team for the building’s overall architecture and supported most the requested minor variations, but did suggest a few design modifications to both meet code and improve the street level experience.
DRC Recommendations
- Midtown streetscape standard be met consistent with projects to the east and south.
- Addition of a pedestrian connection from 15th St. to the parking spaces in the lowest level of the 793 space parking deck, along with the application of art and greenery to the north façade to provide visual interest along the sloping future 15th St.
Due to the limited scope and scale of comments the design team suggested, these enhancements could be made quickly and easily.
