See AJC, "New Era for Iconic Mall" First, a little
commentary from my historical perspective:
Iconic in more ways than the article explains. It's an
iconic failure of government planners.
Underground Atlanta as an entertainment district sprang to
life almost spontaneously in late '60s, early '70s, Nightclubs, bars,
restaurants, binge drinking, music, whatever. I don't think anyone actually
"owned" it as the various storefronts were each part of an existing
building with disparate owners. It was fun and exciting, also dirty and old,
with authentic patina. It was like New Orleans' French Quarter, only cheaper
and better and more fun. But then the hoodlums began to creep closer and there were
some 'incidents'. The shopkeepers told the City they needed better security.
The City suggested they hire some security people, but disavowed any City
responsibility for security over "private property", although the streets
of UA were City streets.
In the end the area collected a rep as 'unsafe' and began to
devolve.
The City belatedly discovered UA had become a 'must see'
tourist destination. (How could that happen without the City promoting it? Shocking.)
So, the City decided to re-develop Underground Atlanta and
hired professional urban planners. The professionals designed UA as a family oriented
shopping mall. The City bought the idea and set out to redevelop the area,
using eminent domain to acquire the property. That's the origin of the court
cases known as Nations I & Nations II in which public bond financing was
challenged, setting the pattern for years to come for revenue bond deals. The
bond issue for redeveloping Underground Atlanta was $80 million in 1986. This
deal to sell Underground Atlanta in 2014 is for $25.75 million.
The Underground Atlanta produced by the professional
planners and the City was never exciting and never fun. Despite all
predictions, it failed. The riots may have induced failure earlier, but it was
slipping downhill before anyone ever heard of Rodney King.
Score card for Underground Atlanta:
Effectiveness as entertainment complex based on serendipity
and entrepreneurs: 200%
Management by City of Atlanta, beginning to date: 0.
Effectiveness of design by urban planners: 0.
Source: Larry Savage, Cobb County
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