Office building to be razed this weekend, making way for massive Midtown Union

Further evidence that the block-swallowing Midtown Union project will materialize has surfaced.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution warned readers this week the implosion of a five-story office building—the former Arthritis Foundation building, which has stood on West Peachtree Street for six decades—slated for Saturday would disrupt MARTA service.

Contributed photo

It just so happens that building, standing at 1330 West Peachtree Street, is on the site of Midtown Union. The multi-tower project is expected to create about 1.3 million square feet of residences, retail, hotel rooms, and office space.

Last month, Midtown’s Development Review Committee approved revised plans for the project, which now has a simplified exterior design.

At the outset, the Granite Properties project aims to transform the nearly four-acre site at the corner of 17th and Spring streets with two prominent office towers, plus a hotel and an apartment building.

Midtown Union’s first phase, which was approved last year, calls for 250 hotel rooms, 350 residences, 100,000 square feet of retail space, and about 1,800 parking spots.

The apartment component is being handled by Street Lights Residential, and the hotel brand has not yet been announced.

Granite Properties, via Midtown Alliance

The project is also anticipated to have 600,000 square feet of office space, about half of which will be claimed by investment management company Invesco.

Demolition of the existing office building is scheduled for 7 a.m. Saturday, and the Arts Center MARTA station will be closed temporarily.

Here’s how transit services will be impacted, per MARTA:

MARTA rail service:

• Rail service on the Gold Line between Lindbergh and Midtown Stations will be suspended beginning at 6:45 a.m. for approximately 45 minutes to an hour;
• Rail service on the Red Line will shuttle from Lindbergh to North Springs the entire day;
• Bus shuttles will be provided between, to connect riders between Lindbergh and Midtown rail stations;
• Rail service on the Gold Line north between Lindbergh and Doraville and south from Midtown to Airport is not impacted;
• Rail service on the Green and Blue Lines is not impacted.

MARTA bus service:

• Bus routes 27, 37, 40, and 110 will be rerouted beginning at 5:30 a.m.;
• Bus shuttles will be provided between Lindbergh and Midtown rail stations;
• All other bus routes will run on a Saturday schedule.