While I support historic structuers being preserved, these buildings are rubish and no longer fit in this part of Midtown. This is very good news!

^ I agree, however, I just wish it would be developed by a firm other than Novare. Their designs are uninspired, at best, and add nothing of architectural significance. Granted, the buildings this tower is replacing also do nothing for the neighborhood, but I just hate to see an opportunity wasted by throwing up another banal Novare clone. At least they could bury the parking (yes, I know, it's expensive) or not as good, they could build their usual parking pedestal. But not this time... A separate parking garage, which in and of itself, adds visual blight to the neighborhood. It's the cheapest way to throw up a building, just like they're doing with sky house. Basically, it's crap. But that hasn't stopped them yet, so here they go again. Yawn.

This is great news! Bring on the cranes!

The banality of Novare projects is not what bothers me. Do 20-story apartment buildings need to be inspirational? What ticks me off is that they are again proposing an unattractive and wasteful separate parking structure that will sit directly on Midtown's streets. This should be simply unacceptable for any place trying to become a truly livable, urban place.

I understand the cost issue but they should at least be required to position the deck next to the residential structure so that the majority this monstrosity will be behind the residential building.

Any parking deck needs to have street-fronting retail along all sidewalks, on all streets. Juniper and 7th are not back doors.

This really isn't "new" news as they had always planned on building on that site. The economy has caused a 5-year delay. Regardless whether or not one likes Novarre - they have done an amazing job in Midtown with their buildings (Metropolis, Spire, Viewpoint) in starting the pedestrian friendly movement. Midtown is one of the rare areas of our city that you can see people out walking, shopping, dining at most hours of the day. And while I might agree with you that the architecture is mundane - the result has really been positive for the neighborhood.

I'd like to see less parking, in general, regardless of where it's located. It's not only the design of the parking that's a problem - it's also its existence.

It should be illegal to force people who don't own a car to pay for the parking in their rent/mortgage. Citywide unbundled parking regulations (where parking is always covered under an optional second contract in any lease or sale, excluding single-family and townhouses) would got along way to making Atlanta's developers and citizens thing twice about car ownership and throwing up more 'dead space' in our city.

The younger generation (Millennials) are increasingly car-free by choice, but we continue to design our city as if every person has a car. I've been car-free by choice here since 1996.

You are right, Caleb. However - Atlanta has a long way to go on this and if a building did not offer parking it would be doomed. Look at the downtown condos - granted it's a different market - but most of them do not have parking and it's the main objection buyers have. As a car-free owner, there is a huge market to rent a space for about $100/month to a resident that needs another space. It helps absorb the cost of something you don't use. Just my 2 cents :)

Atlanta should never settle for yet another parking garage in Midtown. Yes, parking is necessary, but put it below ground as they do in New York, DC and other real cities.

Please Ms Kjellgren do not make excuses why Atlanta is truly behind the curve of other cities. With decisions like this Midtown will turn into another Five Points with lots of dead space and bums wandering around.

Hey folks, easy solution - build a deck, but include wide sidewalks lined with storefronts and restaurants on 7th, Juniper, and 6th. The deck just needs a driveway to the street, it does not have to dominate the entire sidewalk frontage.

Unbundled parking is a good idea but there should also be impact fees that benefit MARTA for intown projects. Millennials need wifi on busses and trains so they can use their tablets while in transit (something you can't do in a car). There could be smartphone apps that help riders get to the bus stop or train station with little wait time. Riders could use their smartphone to purchase e-tickets instead of fumbling for a Breeze Card.

I'm thrilled that Midtown will be gaining residents and that the sad scene along 7th will be replaced, but I do have a couple of concerns. First, I really hope the design of the parking deck is respectful of pedestrians. I'm not sure but it seems like the zoning in place for Midtown requires at least some kind of allotment for retail or another active use. Which leads to another concern: are new storefronts going to add to the glut at Viewpoint that can't seem to gain/attract new tenants? Lastly, I really wish something would be done about the Neel Reid-designed apartment building that's rotting behind the 7th/P'tree Starbucks. Viewpoint was designed to preserve this building, and Novare originally said they were planning on renovating it. All in all, I'm less concerned about the potential banality of the new tower's architecture than I am about the street presence and the economics.

We thought the plan all along by Novarre was to let the Reid appartments deteriorate until they are "no longer feasible" to renovate. They are at least on that path with the "no maintenance" policy. These appartments could easily be renovated and offer great rental alternative for renters wanting style and historic charm.

My Armory bar card isn't going to work anymore. Sigh.

Agreed with the comments on the parking garages all over midtown. Juniper is becoming the "back alley" to Peachtree Street. Why does that not seem to be the case in Buckhead? Or are their parking garages just somehow hidden better?

As a resident of Viewpoint, I see our 10-story parking garage is sitting about 50% empty on both the retail and residential levels. Certainly some of our garage could be used for the new tower? Better yet, create linkage of our garage to any newly created entrance on 6th or 7th streets?

The building will have to change its name to No-Viewpoint in the next few years once those lots fill in and block the North and South views. Look at what happened at Atlantic Station!!!!! Juniper will become a deadzone. I wonder if the new tower will be a rental building.