Despite legal challenges, work is getting underway

Despite legal challenges, work is getting underway in Lindbergh Center, a transit-oriented development in the Atlanta suburb of Buckhead (see November/December 1999). Two office buildings to be occupied by Bell South are under construction, and ground has been broken on streets, parking structures, and sewers in other parts of the 51-acre project. Lindbergh is one of a growing number of very high density new urbanist developments, occupying the core tier of the Transect (most urban). Others include Carlyle in Alexandria, Virginia, and The Commons Neighborhood in Denver. Three of five surrounding neighborhoods signed agreements that support Lindbergh Center, but one group of neighbors continues to challenge the amount of parking in the project, as well as the involvement and bidding procedures of MARTA, the local transit agency that owns the land. So far, both federal and state courts have rejected the arguments of Lindbergh Center’s opponents, says Chuck Konas of Carter & Associates, the project’s master developer. The development team also includes Federal Realty Trust and Post Properties, who will develop retail and apartments, respectively, and the Harold A. Dawson Company, who is building condominiums. The residential component in the first phase consists of 316 apartments and 105 condominiums. Lindbergh Center will eventually have 954 residences, 330,000 square feet of retail and 2.7 million square feet of office space. Carter & Associates, the city, and neighborhood representatives are currently negotiating the implementation of traffic calming measures in adjacent neighborhoods as well as the creation of pedestrian and bicycle connections to Lindbergh Center.