I’ve long thought that the Ashby highrise would eventually get built, on the grounds that there really isn’t anything the city can do to stop it. Via Swamplot, I see that the developers are now almost through the permitting process.
Having cleared six of seven departmental reviews, dating back [to] July 30, the project only lacks clearance from Public Works and Engineering’s traffic section.
Developer Matthew Morgan, of Buckhead Investment Partners, said Thursday the four remaining traffic-related concerns will be addressed, and plans will likely be sent back to the city within a week to 10 days.
At which point, the only unresolved issue would be whether or not someone files a lawsuit to stop the project. Which I believe they’d lose, but it could certainly drag things out for a few years.
Morgan said the acceptance of the structural plans meant, in part, “The city is holding true to its promise that it’s not going to regulate building height.”
And I continue to believe that the city needs to address this issue for the future. Whether you believe the Ashby development is a good one or an abomination, a comprehensive review of the city’s form-based codes is long overdue.