The next phase of PATH400 will add some unique features to the 5-mile trail. Denise Starling with Livable Buckhead was kind enough to give me a tour of the route from Wieuca Road to Loridans Drive. Denise has been in charge of the PATH400 project from the beginning, and she has been instrumental in making the project such a success to this point.
We began our tour at Mountain Way Common. This unique stretch along Nancy Creek has been transformed into a picturesque 9-acre park by Livable Buckhead, neighbors, and local sponsors. The area was bisected by the construction of GA400. Now the underpass houses a beautiful, natural space with surprising views of the highway overpass some 80’ overhead.
The next phase of PATH400 will extend north from Wieuca Road along the west side of GA400. When the path reaches the overpass at Mountain Way Common, it will cross under GA400. Here the path will split and connect with the Mountain Way Common nature trail loop. This connection will also create a PATH400 trailhead at N Ivy Rd. PATH 400 will continue north along the east side of GA400 via a raised bridge that will span the park beneath the roadway overpass.
The path will continue north just outside of the sound barrier wall until it reaches Loridans Drive. This will connect the recently created Loridans Park to the rest of the PATH400 system. There will be a series of switchbacks to take PATH400 under the Loridans Drive overpass and down to the highway level near the former toll plaza. The path will continue north along the highway until it reaches the city limit. The City of Sandy Springs will take over and continue the project from there.
There is a lot of planning involved with this section of the path. This section alone involves paving, retaining walls, bridges, and more. Developers are required to keep the grade below 8%, which requires extensive engineering along the steeper sections of the route.
Denise and her team are working on permits now, and they are expecting to begin construction of this phase by summer of 2022. She expects the project to be completed 18-24 months after that. If you have seen PATH400 so far, then you are probably as excited as we are to see the next piece of the path come together!
The Ardent Companies has increased its stake in Buckhead’s Technology Corridor along Piedmont Road. The real estate investment firm has purchased four buildings in Piedmont Center. The Atlanta based firm now owns the entire complex. Ardent has invested $465 million in Piedmont Center to this point, including the 80% of the complex they owned before this deal.
Piedmont Center is a sprawling complex on 50 acres on the north side of Piedmont Road, between Lenox Rd and Rowell Rd. The campus includes 2.2 million square feet of commercial space in 14 mid-rise and high-rise buildings. Construction was begun at Piedmont Center in 1981. Ardent has been renovating various areas of the property since their first acquisitions in 2016.
Ardent had previously moved their headquarters into Building 1 of Piedmont Center. The firm is poised to take advantage of recent zoning changes to add retail and other amenities to the property. Ardent is keen to facilitate the momentum of the Piedmont Rd area as a hub for tech firms. Atlanta Tech Village attracts tech startups and entrepreneurs right around the corner, and Piedmont Center is already home to several tech firms. Ardent will continue to court technology companies to the complex by offering a great location at relatively bargain prices between $29.50 and $37 per square foot.
Piedmont Center will continue to be remodeled and updated to reflect an emphasis on open-air spaces and connectivity. Recent renovations include a pedestrian bridge and free Wi-Fi in common areas. The 1.2 mile nature trail on campus is scheduled to be redone soon. The complex will connect to PATH400, allowing tenants to walk or bike to work, and make easy connections to MARTA. Next door, the new Modera Prominence is bringing hundreds of apartments to the neighborhood, as well as additional retail space. Modera is already tied into PATH400 along Lenox Rd.
Ardent has not released any specific retail or restaurant plans for Piedmont Center, but we will keep you posted as we learn more.
The spirit of Buckhead heads forward. This is the way it has been, and perhaps this is the way it will always be. The spirit of Buckhead points forward. You see it in the way we work, and you see it in the way we play. The reach is always extending further. The search is for excellence and beauty and grace and vibrancy.
We are a community of individuals. We are diverse, we are dynamic, and we are discerning. We are builders. We are connected to one another with a common bond. A common dream. A common quest. Pointing life in one direction. Forward.
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