What Will Happen to Fort Mac?
Seventeen years ago, in 1990, my late father was reassigned from El Paso, TX, to Fort McPherson, here in Atlanta. We settled here, bought the first house I ever lived in that wasn’t military housing, and made Atlanta home. You may have heard a while ago that Fort McPherson was identified to close as part of the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005. Now, the McPherson Planning Local Redevelopment Authority (MPLRA) is hosting a series of meetings to get public input and feedback on the reuse of the base. They started yesterday and run through tomorrow, Thursday the 12th. The MPLRA is the nonprofit corporation tasked with preparing the redevelopment plan for the U.S. Army’s consideration. Recommendations so far include a commercial/retail complex, cultural district, employment center, and mixed-income housing.
For more info, visit www.mcphersonredevelopment.com or call 404-614-8318. I’m really interested to see how it all shakes out.
I’m casting my vote for a kudzu-infested ruin.
Seriously, there are plenty of derelict properties right here in the city. What’s the point of sinking a bunch money into some boondoggle out there? Bulldoze it and return it to nature.
My vote is for Atlantic Station par deux. Except use more fake stucco, have more starbucks, and add a Walmart.
Honestly though, I hope they don’t screw this one up. I think would be best if the preserve and retrofit as many of the old buildings as possible (a la The Presidio in SF). I know it is not on the Pacific, but it is going to be on Peachtree St for crying out loud!!!
Actually, Ft Mac is in the city. It may not be what you consider to be the city, but it is within the ATL city limites and isn’t far from Oakland City and West End. Ft. Mac could be a catalyst to helping improve the entire southwest ATL area, and since I live near that and commute through the area, I am all for that. Take the time to read the new newletter put out by the group and you can see what ideas they have. I think it is exciting myself.
http://www.mcphersonredevelopment.com/documents/McPhersonNwsltr.pdf
Of and Dave, the plan is most certainly keep and retrofit as many of the old buildings as possible, as well as the parade grounds and some of the green space. So far I have been impressed with this process.
Alright, I stand corrected. I had Gillem in mind. Never-the-less, Atlanta could use a decent park.
Well, you may be in luck then, since all 3 of the proposals for Ft. Mac so far include keep a good chuck of it green space in the form of a park. They are even talking of unearthing the stream that runs through the properly (now it is underground, channeled in a concrete duct) and let it run freely. It may not be a huge park but it should be a nice one, plus the parade grounds are to be kept as is, so more green space.
That’d be sweet.
Is anyone else freaked out by D. Ortiz’s sudden display of humanity? There are still death and taxes, at least.
Anyone interested might want to take a look here:
http://www.glenview.il.us/glen/
It’s a website for the redevelopment of the Glenview Naval Air Station in Glenview, IL. That’s right by my mom’s place and where I grew up and I must say they’ve done a really nice job with the place.
Perhaps the Fort Mac people should give a call up to the Village of Glenview
GretaGretchen, that’s a really cool link. I think there’s definitely an opportunity to do something really cool with the space, and Glenview looks like a good example of that!