A Downtown riverfront high-rise project that came to an abrupt halt nearly 10 years ago and is now being described as an “eyesore” might be entering a new chapter.
The owner of the 18-story concrete shell at 500 W. Bay St. — Choate Construction Co. of Atlanta — is seeking to have the property rezoned from Planned Unit Development to Commercial Central Business District. Ordinance 2016-780 will be introduced to City Council today.
The ordinance lists Indy Hotels LLC and Shan Pollachi as Choate’s agent.
The company has an address in a shopping center on Old Baymeadows Road and was registered Oct. 24 with the state Division of Corporations.
No other information is available about the company and the telephone number listed in the ordinance does not belong to Indy Hotels or Pollachi.
Michael Hampton, Choate chief operating officer, did not respond to requests for comment.
The rezoning is supported by the Planning and Development Department, the Planning Commission and the council Land Use & Zoning Committee.
Originally intended to be the second phase of The Plaza at Berkman Condominiums and Marina, the project stopped Dec. 6, 2007, when the parking garage adjacent to the tower collapsed during construction, killing one worker.
Choate, the general contractor on the project, later received a $10.2 million judgment and lien on the property and in April 2014 secured clear title at auction for $100.
Three months later, Choate was working with an Atlanta-based apartment development and management firm and planned to finish the project to create more Downtown market rate rental residences, retail space and possibly workforce housing.
“They have a great plan if they can pull it off,” said council member Bill Gulliford in July 2014 after a meeting with Choate, the management firm and city economic development officials.
Gulliford said Monday after learning about the rezoning legislation that he hasn’t had contact with Choate for six months.
“Choate’s got a tough situation. They’ve got their money tied up there,” he said.
Aundra Wallace, CEO of the Downtown Investment Authority, said he has “no indication” about any progress on the project, other than if the rezoning is approved it would give Choate “the flexibility of any use possible.”
Gulliford said whatever the eventual fate of the property might be, it’s past time for the project to resume.
“I want to see some activity,” he said. “It’s an eyesore.”
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