North American Properties advocates for enhanced mobility in Atlanta
As Atlanta faces its greatest transportation crisis since the Olympics, North American Properties continues to take major steps towards increased mobility at Colony Square, the mixed-use destination set to undergo a major redevelopment at the corner of 14th and Peachtree Streets in Midtown.
Located about 3 miles from the I-85 bridge rebuild, these mobility efforts include: the recent opening of a new bike valet; a full-time Mobility Concierge dedicated to identifying commuting alternatives; 24/7 TransitScreens detailing availability and timing of MARTA, Uber and Relay Bikes; and a design plan to enhance walkability, bikeability and overall connectedness between Colony Square and its surrounding streets. View a new rendering for the Colony Square redevelopment, which is set to break ground this fall, here.
“We’ve committed to affording our tenants and guests access to mobility options,” said Mark Toro, managing partner at North American Properties and proselytizer for public transit and walkability. “While the I-85 collapse is devastating, it also opens up the opportunity for Atlantans to experience new commutes via MARTA, ride sharing, biking and other alternative forms. Imagine the positive impact on Atlanta traffic if the masses adopted these alternative transportation options permanently.”
Colony Square’s new bike valet, called C-Cycle, opened to office tenants on April 19 on the Concourse level of Building 100 off 14th Street. C-Cycle encourages office tenants to bike to work and safely store their bikes at no charge. The bike valet also offers office tenants access to lockers and showers.
Additionally, North American Properties hired Colony Square’s Mobility Concierge, Kip Dunlap, in July 2016 to help tenants, residents and guests identify alternative commuting routes to and from Colony Square. Dunlap is the only Mobility Concierge in Atlanta. According to him, orders for transit pass programs, which provide a 20 percent discount on MARTA pass purchases, have doubled over the last two weeks. In a recent memo shared with Colony Square office tenants, Dunlap offered the following tips.
Plan Your Route – The Mobility Concierge is here to help plan alternative routes to commuters impacted by the I-85 closure. Our expertise in routing through the city as well as providing alternatives, which includes MARTA and bicycle lanes, will ensure your route is the most effective.
TransitScreens – Our onsite 24/7 TransitScreens provide up to the minute information regarding MARTA train arrival, Relay Bike availability and Uber wait times. Located in the lobby, the TransitScreens allow you to minimize waits and ensure you know the time of your route prior to leaving.
MARTA, GRTA Xpress, Gwinnett County Transit, CobbLinc – Colony Square is conveniently located just an easy walk away from the Arts Center MARTA station. Cards are available to purchase onsite through the Mobility Concierge and monthly passes provide a cost-effective method to utilize the service. The Colony Square transit pass program provides a 20 percent discount on pass purchases. If you need route planning for MARTA, the Mobility Concierge can help and even escort you to the station to ensure a pleasant first experience. In addition, Uber recently announced a “Commuting Together” discount program to incentivize ride sharing and MARTA use.
Bike Valet – Our new world-class Bike Valet, C-Cycle, provides a secure location for storage and repair of bicycles. C-Cycle can be conveniently accessed off 14th Street. The onsite storage is accessed with your building access card. Additionally, shower and locker facilities are available to all users.
Zipcar – As an office tenant of Colony Square, you receive complimentary access to the services of Zipcar. With vehicles located throughout the city, you never need to worry about being without a car as one is located for your use in the Courtyard. For assistance with registering, contact our Mobility Concierge and signup online.
Alternative Work Schedules – Colony Square has a full-time public safety presence in the building and parking structure. Employees arriving early or leaving late should visit the Concierge Desk to secure a security escort to their vehicle and feel safe at all times while on property.
“In addition to having great access to public transit, Midtown is a very walkable, bike-friendly neighborhood – a rarity in Atlanta,” said Dunlap. “At the heart of Midtown, Colony Square has the highest pedestrian count in the city outside of Georgia Tech’s campus. The mixed-use community is a nexus of bike lanes, streets, sidewalks and transit – a perfect place to utilize alternative forms of transportation.”
Midtown’s connectivity didn’t happen by accident. The Midtown Alliance created a comprehensive transportation plan to ease commutes and enhance mobility and accessibility. The organization’s exemplary efforts have helped elevate the city to be truly resilient – even in the face of an interstate bridge collapse - and will continue to attract guests, residents and employers looking to retain and recruit top talent.
“While we are proud of the work we’ve accomplished, there is still more to be done to continue to enhance the Midtown experience for transit users, pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers,” said Kevin Green, president and CEO of Midtown Alliance. “We are looking at a variety of enhancements including ways to slow down fast drivers to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and an ‘Art Walk’ stretching from the North Avenue MARTA Station to the Arts Center Station to generate more pedestrian activity.”
Toro added, “Midtown is incubating incredible mobility concepts, and it’s working. As a developer in Midtown, we are doing our part to complement their efforts with our own initiatives at Colony Square. For the sake of our city’s future, it’s time for the rest of Atlanta to get on board and truly embrace new forms of commuting.”
For more information about the Midtown transportation plan, visit http://www.midtownatl.com/about/programs-and-projects/transportation.
About Colony Square:
At the corner of Peachtree and 14th Streets, Colony Square is not only the heart of Midtown, it’s the heart of Atlanta – an original icon at the very center of the ever-rising capital of the modern South. Today, Colony Square is becoming an icon of another kind, bringing the Art of Modern Life to Midtown. With two office towers totaling 720,000 square feet, residential condos, a 467-room hotel and a 163,000-square-foot retail center, Colony Square is a sophisticated business, residential and cultural hotspot, that like all great city squares, is alive with possibility. The reimagined Colony Square will be known as a foodie haven; a shopping mecca; an events destination; a beautiful, amenity-rich and arts-infused place to gather with community and soak up Midtown’s vibe. Open, walkable and transit-friendly, the reimagined Colony Square will be seamlessly connected to the vibrant energy of the streets around it.
Follow Colony Square’s transformation with the hashtag #reimagineCS on Twitter, Facebookand Instagram. For more information, visit colonysquaremidtown.com.
About North American Properties
Founded in 1954, North American Properties is a privately held, multi-regional real estate operating company that has acquired, developed and managed more than $5 billion of mixed-use, retail, multifamily and office properties across the United States. Headquartered in Cincinnati, with offices in Atlanta, Dallas and Fort Myers, Florida, the company has developed 19 million square feet of retail and 17,000 apartment units in 12 states. In the past three years, North American Properties has launched 36 projects totaling $1.1 billion in total capitalization. In Atlanta, North American Properties owns Avalon, Colony Square and Anthem on Ashley. For more information, please visit www.naproperties.com.
