What's Going On? - Toco Hills Parking
A weekly question asked by a thirty something resident of the Sagamore Hills community.
What’s going on?
There are a lot of great things about Toco Hills.
It's close, lots of variety, good food, unique shops and very nice folks.
Those are all traits of the shops - once you are inside.
What's going on with the parking lot?
Toco Hills parking looks and feels like a waste land in some areas.
ACE, Publix and other shops in the eastern corner of the center are great.
There is order, landscaping, and direction. The buildings are kept up and there is always something new happening.
What's the deal with the parking lot around the emissions hut?
It is nearly an entire lot of asphalt.
Why are there no marking around the liquor store?
Is there a reason why there are three separate drives into Kroger
that are right next to each other?
This has to be a high land value area - why isn't that reflected throughout?
Small improvements like panting lines onto the asphalt would boost quality of Toco Hills life.
Next level would be - planting a tree!
There is no reason for this to be as depressed as it looks today.
People see shiny markets OTP, and the shops here are just as good, BUT it does not look like it.
I recommend the community make an effort to visit these great shops and let them know that you appreciate what they do and wish the landlord(s) would help by providing a comfortable, safe, and livable setting.
Let’s keep our patch the greenest!
What would you like to see change at the Toco Hills parking lots?
- New stores along North Druid Hills
- New hardscape
- A united shopping center
Follow @laroberts426
Scott B
10:46 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
It's two separate owners right? Isn't that part of the problem? I agree this would be great to see worked on. The owner of the Kroger portion likely just paid for Kroger's re-modeling in exchange for a new 25 year lease and paid AAA for their reno of the old Blockbuster so they may be resistant to more spending right now. Who owns the strip out by Steak n Shake that had the Quizno's? All of that needs some love.
Jonathan Cribbs
10:59 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Yeah, the eastern half of that shopping center is Toco Hills Promenade, and the western side is Toco Hill Shopping Center. They're separately owned.
Lucas Roberts
11:11 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Its such a shame that the other owners will not step up and do something with the space.
it could really be something wonderful.
Look at the overall shot of the complex. You can tell who invests, and who doesnt.
I am happy that Toco Hills Promenade is apart of the community and doing something with there space. I hope they keep it up. Its always packed over there.
Lucas Roberts
11:21 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
It's easy to tell who owns what-
White roof - progressive - sustainable
Black roof - non progressive - energy inefficiency
Henry Batten
6:00 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Both centers need to be bulldozed and rebuilt in a more pedestrian and enviromentally sensitive form. The idea of "new urbanism" comes to mind. Actually, there was a study done in 2009 by Andrés Duany for ARC: http://www.atlantaregional.com//File%20Library/Aging/ag_llc_report_tocohills_6-2009.pdf . See also Creative Loafing article: http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2009/03/10/andres-duanys-plans-for-the-beltline-toco-hills
Jonathan Cribbs
6:12 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
How would bulldozing something and rebuilding it be in any way "environmentally sensitive?" They always say the "greenest" house is the one that already exists.
Lucas Roberts
8:08 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
I all for new urbanism, but I dont think taking down Toco will be all to benifical.
Toco Hills could make some strides forward by doing some smart growth infill, creating a sustainable growth plan, and creating community space (farmers market, green space)
I am glad we have Toco, I want to see it improve though.
Tammy
5:39 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
They have way too much parking for the number of stores in the development. I know that some of that probably has to be due to the dual ownership of the place but the parking lot is a no man's land with cars careening from all directions and few if any directional markings.
Lucas Roberts
6:14 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
"cars careening from all directions..."
Thats the piece I do not get about that side of Toco Hills. Just paint some lines. That spot by the newest job creator - Halloween Store and Package store is nuts.
Its so wide, no signs, and people typically think they have the right of way.
Start small... paint lines
Then plant a tree
Lucas Roberts
6:27 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
There is a facebook page for both developments:
West side: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toco-Hill-Shopping-Center/236469862022
Package Store, Blimpie, and Emissions Hut
East side- http://www.facebook.com/TocoHillsPromenade
Publix, Top Spice, ACE, That good Italian Place...
Feel free to let Promenade know that people appricate what they are doing, and that the Shopping Center has some ground to make up to be an amenity in the community.
BurningBridges
9:21 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
The West side parking lot from Steak & Shake to the Famous Pub is an unmitigated disaster. Virtually no traffic markings no indication of who has any rights-of way, people turn in the exits from N. Druid Hills. It has been this way for the 40-odd years that I can remember, long before Kroger/Pikes showed up. Look at this picture from <b>1961</b>: http://www.atlantatimemachine.com/commercialbldgs/toco.htm
BurningBridges
9:23 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
Driving through that lot makes me feel like Mad Max, living in a lawless wasteland, making up the rules as you go along. (Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating for effect, but you see my point?)
Lucas Roberts
10:40 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
@burningbridges - that's cool! Thanks for posting. I love the retro photos of what once was.
very cool
Lucas Roberts
10:41 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
as far as the marking - please post to toco's facebook page and let them know.
link is above
Mark
7:27 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
As for bulldozing... Back before the N. Druid Hills LCI meetings Toco Hills was planned as a "Town Center" and was reduced back to a Neighborhood center as a result of the meetings. A man representing the Promenade section spoke at one meeting about the upcoming renovations (no complete). He also polled the audience if anyone wanted to see 4+ story mixed use at Toco Hills. The response was fairly negative. He then stated that there would be no "BIG" changes to Toco Hills until denser development was approved.
Toco Hill needs direct access to Clairmont Rd. I brought this up at the LCI meeting and they didn't think they could do it. It should have been long ago before the land near the corner of NDH and Clairmont was redeveloped. This would relieve the burden of NDH taking all the traffic from the Promenade section.
Lucas Roberts
9:19 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Agree about NDH and Clairmont access. That would be nice.
I think Promenade (Developer Edens) is doing a pretty good job.
http://www.edens.com/centers/GA/Atlanta/Toco-Hills-Promenade
If the otherside would do half of what Edens has done, that would be enough to spur growth.
I'd wish they could take on the westside.
Least they would paint lines and do the small things that make everyones day to day better.
Roda
6:08 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
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