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December 2025 DRC Recap: Lutheran Towers Expansion + Access Drive for One Atlantic Center

12/10/25

The Midtown Development Review Committee (DRC) reviewed two proposals in its December meeting. The existing Lutheran Tower plans to expand eastward toward Piedmont Ave. with new affordable senior residential units. The One Atlantic Center (OAC) team presented plans for a new circular access drive with a porte-cochere to be located north of the existing building. Additional details about both proposals are provided below:

727 Juniper St. & 730 Piedmont Ave. (Lutheran Towers Expansion)

The existing 15-story Lutheran Tower, at the southeast corner of Juniper St. and 4th St. intends to expand eastward toward Piedmont Ave. The design includes 172 new senior living units arranged in two offset wings that frame a raised central amenity terrace. The approximately 92,900-square-foot expansion will step down in height from eight to five stories as it approaches 730 Piedmont Ave., a long-standing residence that will be adaptively reused. The existing two-story parking deck, accessible from 4th St., will be expanded from 66 spaces to 102 spaces and will receive façade improvements. Back-of-house service areas will be upgraded while maintaining access via the lower-level entrance along 4th St.

The committee raised several concerns including: ensuring all architectural plans are cohesive and unified; preserving the visual character of the residence along Piedmont Ave.; improving the streetscape, building facades, and pedestrian access along 4th St.; reconfiguring the existing driveway on Juniper St. and providing a green buffer southward. Detailed recommendations are detailed below:

DRC Recommendations:

1. Minimize visual impact to the connection between the new construction and long-standing residence at 730 Piedmont Ave. Relocate the elevator and other programmed spaces to the rear (west side) to allow for a transparent glass façade facing Piedmont Ave.
2. Investigate burying or at least consolidating existing utility poles and lines along 4th St. to improve aesthetics and allow Nuttall Oak trees at 30-foot spacing per code. Ensure continuous ADA-compliant pedestrian access along the entire 4th Street frontage.
3. Reconfigure the pedestrian pathway from the lower (basement) parking level to be a min. 4’ feet wide, located on the west side of the driveway and directly connected to the bike storage room and stairs—without requiring passage through the loading zone. Relocate the trash room and reconfigure the electrical room as needed to accommodate this change.
4. Improve the visual appeal of the 4th St. parking deck façade through elements such as hanging planters, climbing or trailing vines, and colorful artwork.
5. Narrow the curbcut on Juniper Street and reconfigure the driveway to reflect its new one-way traffic pattern.
6. Plant columnar evergreen trees within the 10-foot-wide setback area along the south property line to provide a soft visual screening of the exposed parking deck

Next Steps:

The committee expects to receive updated info for electronic review to confirm that these comments will be addressed.

1201 West Peachtree St. NW (One Atlantic Center Driveway)

One Atlantic Center (OAC) proposed a new curb cut on West Peachtree Street, north of 14th St., to provide access to a circular driveway and new porte-cochere (covered drop-off canopy) on the north side of the OAC building. The project would replace nearly 1/3 of an acre of the approximately 1.3-acre green space that has been in place since the late 1980s. No modifications are planned for the other three sides of the building.

The DRC had no objections to the porte-cochere itself and acknowledged the functional need for the circular driveway. However, the committee raised significant concerns about the utilitarian nature of the design and the insufficient level of detail provided for hardscape materials, landscaping, and potential ancillary elements such as bollards. Additional details are provided below:

DRC Recommendations:

1. Reduce the driveway width to 20–22 feet and install a roll curb on the interior edge of the circular drive.
2. Provide detailed specifications for the driveway paver system and any other site elements, drawing inspiration from the architectural character of OAC building.
3. Incorporate additional landscaping, including trees, both within and around the perimeter of the driveway. Combine plantings with illuminated bollards to prevent unauthorized parking outside the designated driveway area.

Next Steps:

The committee requested a coordination meeting in the coming weeks between the DRC's design professionals and the applicant's project team to collaboratively refine hardscape and landscaping details. Following this meeting, the proposal will be subject to a future electronic review by the committee.