A proposed 170-acre research park, expected to be the engine of a redeveloped Fort McPherson, could generate up to 7,000 jobs and lure Big Pharma to southwest Atlanta.
The research park is part of an ambitious mixed-used makeover of the more than century-old army base that could generate up to 15,000 jobs. Next month, the McPherson Implementing Local Redevelopment Authority will accept proposals to help “fine tune” its plan to revitalize the 488-acre base, scheduled to close next year. The authority is expected to negotiate the transfer terms of the Army-controlled land by this fall.
The park, anchored by an institute that could focus on vaccine development, regenerative medicine, cardiovascular research, and neuroscience, would be marketed more as a research and development center than for large-scale manufacturing.
Moving the project from blueprint to bricks and mortar, however, will require significant public-private investment and collaboration between multiple stakeholders. The research park, alone, could cost up to $168 million to develop.
You heard it here first.
In the summer of 2009 I told you about the meeting that I attended that was lead by State Senator Harold Fort and other "social justice advocates". The focus by this particular group was upon the threat from "wealthy home buyers" (read between the lines: White folks) taking over the development plans of the land and tailoring it toward expensive housing that would shut out the working class people who were in abundance at the meeting. (read between the lines: Black folks). They feared the creation of a "Gated Wealth Island" in the middle of the ghetto with convenient access to public transit and the city center.
I also stated that I had empathized with the sentiment of the group. They indeed live in the community and should have a say. My opinion turned when the "open mic" portion of the session allowed the "common citizen" to speak out as the "leaders" were forced to respond to the present circumstance. Crime, cleanness and the existing inventory of foreclosed homes was their main focus. I opined at that time that the best strategy for Ft McPherson was to maximize their property tax base inside of the fort and to spread this money into the existing base of houses outside of the fort. The centerpiece of the redeveloped fort should be a public greenspace that is used by all.
Fort McPherson As A Biotech Center
The headlines on the Atlanta Business Chronicle caused me to put my grocery bags in the car and to return inside to purchase it. The title "Fort McPherson's biotech makeover moves forward" is an angle that was not mentioned at the community meeting that I had attended. While I am sure that this biotech plan also includes residential property - they are still likely to be at odds with the plans from the "community activists". To the community activists these biotech firms bearing jobs have jobs that require advanced skills. Thus their expressed demand that the existing community members have a meaningful participation in the develop is still in doubt.
With the thought of 7,000 direct jobs and 15,000 ancillary jobs seem like a blessing, you can rest assure that the "defenders of the community interests" are going to see these jobs as a threat because they will not be filling them.
Ironically the present land use only employs enlisted men and a few civilians. We should also note that no property taxes are paid to the local government as would be the case in the new plan.
It is becoming clear to me that the activists lead by Senator Fort have no reasonable plan by which what they bring to the table would be the primary value add for the land. The best that they could ever hope for is to stand resolute about their demands and use this as a means of maximizing the "pay off" that they will receive for going along.
This land needs to be a TAX and JOB creating center more than any other use.
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