Dekalb County Market Report Special Section • May 26-June 1, 2017 • Section C
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DEKALB COUNTY MARKET REPORT SPECIAL SECTION • MAY 26-JUNE 1, 2017 • SECTION C R CLOSER LOOK R New grand entrance linking Atlanta Sports City and The Mall at Stonecrest will add an additional 250,000 square feet of restaurants, attractions, retail and green space as an open-air feature to the mall. R The new entryway will cost between $45 million and $50 million. R Construction on entryway should begin irst quarter 2018. BYRON E. SMALL Developers are adding retail and medical services to Atlanta Sports City at Stonecrest. RENDERINGSPECIAL Medical, retail added to massive GETTING THE Atlanta Sports City complex BALL ROLLING BY GARY MCKILLIPS square feet of restaurants, attractions, Boden also said Emory Physical Ther- Contributing writer retail, and green space. apy will be located within the pavilion Patrick Henderson, CEO of Atlanta and offer recovery and rehabilitative ser- tlanta Sports City, the second Sports Connection, which runs Atlanta vices as well as providing therapists to largest multi-sports complex in Sports City, said with these new additions, the Southeast, will now contain “we are servicing the entire family which CONTINUED ON PAGE 10C a sports medicine facility and a has been our emphasis and motivation major retail component. since the start.” ASecond in size only to Disney Sports The Sports Medicine Pavilion will Complex in Orlando, Fla., Atlanta Sports be a 10,000-square foot facility with a City is collaborating with Emory Health- high-quality MRI scanner. Scott Boden, care to anchor its Sports Medicine Pavil- chief medical officer for Emory ion and to create a Medical Office Health University’s Orthopaedics Park which will support the 200-acre and Spine Center, called facility adjacent to The Mall at Stonecrest. the scanner “extremely Atlanta Sports City officials also unique for a compe- announced a partnership with Urban tition venue of this Retail Properties LLC, man- kind.” ager of e Mall at Stonecrest. is partnership will involve construction of a new grand entrance and sports-themed pedes- trian promenade, providing a seamless link between the mall and the sports complex. e new entryway, which will cost between $45 million and $50 mil- lion, will add an additional 250,000 2C ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE MAY 26JUNE 1, 2017 DEKALB COUNTY MARKET REPORT TOURISM New DeKalb attractions lure visitors BY KAREN COHEN people outdoors and living a healthier Contributing writer Dinosaur Explore includes lifestyle,” said Betsy Eggers, board chair interactive adventures at Stone of Peachtree Creek Greenway Inc. From forests to dinosaurs, DeKalb County Mountain Park. Peachtree Creek Greenway Inc. is the families and visitors will find more to advocacy group working to bring the explore this summer with the opening proposed path to reality. e organiza- of new exhibits and attractions. tion foresees the greenway enhancing Stone Mountain Park is a popular the environment, encouraging economic DeKalb County family attraction. New to opportunities and promoting healthy the park this year is the Dinosaur Explore lifestyles. “e pathway would help with exhibit. land erosion and watershed issues,” said e collection includes more than 20 Eggers. “In addition, there would be more life-size dinosaurs with special effects oversight and eyes on the creek to ensure allowing them to move and roar. safe water quality.” “Stone Mountain is always looking And, while many DeKalb residents for new attractions,” said Jeanine Jones, have dealt with road infrastructure public relations manager at Stone Moun- issues, the pathway offers an alternative tain Park. “When we heard the Dinosaur to driving. “e Peachtree Creek Green- Explore exhibit was available, we thought way is more than a linear park, it would it was a home run.” be a transportation mode that follows Dinosaur Explore features 20 dino- SPECIAL I-85,” said Eggers. e city of Brook- saurs representing 14 species, T. Rex meet Last fall, Fernbank opened its lat- exhibits, trailside experiences and edu- haven has already committed to a three- and greets, baby dinosaur interactions est permanent exhibit, WildWoods, an cational programs. “WildWoods allows us mile linear park along Peachtree Creek and a dino dig play area. In addition, the interactive pathway connecting the inside to expand the hands on and enrichment in Brookhaven. Initial visioning, stake- Dinotorium includes a four-level indoor museum to the outside forest. activities at Fernbank,” said Warner. holder involvement and planning started jungle gym. An elevated walkway takes visitors Adding to the existing DeKalb rec- in 2015 for Peachtree Creek Greenway e exhibit creates interactive oppor- through the tree- reational attractions, the county has a at Brookhaven. tunities for the whole family. “ere is tops to enjoy sce- vision for a new 12-mile linear park and It is expected to something unique about discovering and nic views. “Wild- path along North Fork Peachtree Creek cost roughly $35 learning as a family,” said Jones. Woods allows guest connecting northeast metro commu- million. Jones says families can spend a full to connect with the nities to each other and to the Atlanta Chamblee has day at Stone Mountain and stay for the natural world in a BeltLine. e proposed Peachtree Creek also been work- nightly laser show. “DeKalb is home to new way. Visitors Greenway is part of DeKalb County and ing on its trail con- some of the state’s best attractions. Dino- will turn on their PATH Foundation’s master plan created nectivity system. saur Explore is another reason to visit and senses and experi- in 1999. e proposed pathway would e city is looking stay in DeKalb County,” she said. Jennifer Grant ence the sights and go through the cities of Atlanta, Brook - Jodie Gilfillan to extend the cur- Fernbank Museum of Natural History Warner sounds of nature,” haven and Chamblee and unincorporated rent Chamblee Rail brings science to life through its pro- said Jennifer Grant DeKalb County. Trail, a 0.9 acre lin- gramming and exhibits. It is also home Warner, incoming president and CEO at The greenway would bring recre- ear park constructed along abandoned to Fernbank Forest, a 65-acre old-growth Fernbank. ational advantages to its residents and railroad spurs. forest. WildWoods includes interactive visitors. “e pathway would get more A rail extension study was completed to design an extension that will con- tinue to use abandoned railroad tracks that pass between downtown buildings from Chamblee Tucker Road to Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Chamblee City Council approved and adopted the study last sum- mer. “is is a five-year phased imple- mentation plan. e city of Chamblee is currently surveying all the land and working with MARTA regarding access through some of its property,” said Jodie Gilfillan, director of Chamblee Parks and Recreations Department. Dinosaur Explore at Stone Mountain Park and WildWoods at Fernbank Museum of Natural History are two new attractions in DeKalb County this year. JOANN VITELLI SPECIAL R CLOSER LOOK DINOSAUR EXPLORE AT STONE MOUNTAIN WILDWOODS AT FERNBANK MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY R Dinosaur Explore features 20 dinosaurs R WildWoods features 10 acres of woodland adventures R Fernbank Forest is illed with 64 species of trees up to 300 representing 14 species R The Montgomery High Line Trace in WildWoods takes years old and 156 feet tall—including 31 champion trees R 10 additional employee positions were added for visitors from the woodland loor to the incredible heights R Fernbank Forest’s diversity includes 156 bird species, 13 the new Dinosaur Explore attraction of the tree canopy – at some points 30 feet o the ground. mammal species, 92 native herbs and wildlowers. R Stone Mountain Park has 4 million visitors R At 65 acres, Fernbank Forest is the largest old-growth annually forest of its kind in a major metropolitan area DK C C Large enough to serve you…small enough to know you Catherine Downey, CatMedia Robert Blazer, Your DeKalb Farmer’s Market Katerina Taylor, President and CEO General Membership Meeting Our mission is to be the catalyst that attracts, supports, and advances business interests in DeKalb County, Georgia. Our work is refl ected in our four core focuses: Economic Public Education and Member Development Advocacy Workforce Development Services 2017 PRIORITY GOALS I Increase visibility of DeKalb Chamber’s work in the community I De ne DeKalb Chamber as the resource portal for business information and connection I Advocate for a business-friendly environment in DeKalb County and the metro Atlanta region I Create an inviting environment that supports business expansion and growth of new entrepreneurs DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Visit us at dekalbchamber.org Follow us @ 125 Clairemont Avenue Road, Suite 235 dekalbchamber Decatur, GA 30030 dekalbchamber www.dekalbchamber.org dekalbchamberga 404-378-8000 dekalbchamberga 4C ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE MAY 26JUNE 1, 2017 DEKALB COUNTY MARKET REPORT REDEVELOPMENT Brownfields giving way to new projects Michele Ritan of East Decatur Greenway is working to clean up an area off Columbia Drive. e site will become a trailhead for a new 1.1-mile segment of a PATH Foundation trail. R CLOSER LOOK WHY DEVELOP BROWNFIELDS? R Improves human and environmental health R Protects water quality R Increases the tax base R Reduces sprawl R Spurs economic development BY DOUG DELOACH R Creates jobs Contributing writer R Eliminates blight R Helps attract and retain businesses As the remaking of metro Atlanta con- SOURCE: DECIDE DEKALB DEVELOPMENT tinues apace, cleaning up and re-purpos- AUTHORITY ing some of the area’s most problematic properties requires more than a moti- vated developer with a permit, a bull- were unable to complete the work with dozer and a construction crew. the funds we had,” said East Decatur In 2012, DeKalb County secured from Greenway founder and director Michele the Environmental Protection Agency Ritan who has a background in nonprofit a $900,000 Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) fund-raising in higher education.