Author's Final Thoughts
Throughout the writing I attempted to be unbiased to the development of Atlantic Station. But at the same time I do have my opinions. Atlantic Station is an experiment just like many other developments going on in Atlanta, weather it is a Portman development, a Post development, or even a "Town Center" development. I don't foresee Atlantic Station failing, but at the same time it will not be exactly what is envisioned. I feel that it will be set apart from the rest of Atlanta with some interaction with Tech Village and Town Center. Because the development is designed around a new "civic activity" (consumerism) the long term life of the development looks to be dependent on if commercial development stays in Atlantic Station. Without true civic activities avaliable within the development, the ability to form a community becomes harder, this is because most communities form around people who's kids go to the same school, families go to the same religious institution, etc. Of the three districts within Atlantic Station, Tech Village will most likely be where any kind of community is formed because of the similar interests that always form between students. Also, with the planed districts that were created, it is likely that they will function independently and completely different from the others. There is great potential for the main parking deck to create a life of its own that coincides with but acts independently to that of the street level. Overall the way the development was organized, I feel, it was too much for one developer to take on. Seeing how it was already divided into districts/zones, it would have made sense to parcel out the zones to be developed by different people. Like I stated, Atlantic Station is an experiment, there are bound to be flaws that will have to be worked out in future developments of the same flavor. There also will be everyday change of usage that will alter how Atlantic Station operates. The future will be seen when it come, till then there can only be speculation.
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