Real Estate & Land Development

News and Insights

7 considerations for developers of master planned communities

By: Jeremy Arnold, VP of Land Development

As the residential industry looks toward the future of master planned communities, we know that priorities are changing for our residents. Among the top priorities are environmentally-focused and active lifestyle communities.

Over the last 20 years, we’ve been part of numerous master planned communities spanning thousands of acres and residential units. A lot of the successes are market dependent, but here are seven things to consider in the development process for any master planned community.

  1. It all starts with a good master plan.

We design communities that focus on sustainability and incorporate the environment. In southwest Florida, specifically, we have a lot of wetlands and water management lakes that we use as features in the land plan. Some of the most beautiful elements of our master planned communities have come from creating habitat for wildlife and natural flow-ways. Rather than just clear cutting all the trees or disregarding natural elements, we place our focus on embracing the immeasurable value of the natural elements and provide that experience to the future residents. Be it biking, hiking, walking, or viewing, residents in our communities have ample opportunities to engage with their surroundings. In almost all southwest Florida communities, the surface water management master plan is the backbone of the community. This is because Florida averages more than 50” of rainfall per year and potentially a major hurricane every year. Drainage systems in our communities have experienced major storm events over the last 20 years and all have performed as designed, showing the resiliency of the development.

  1. Amenities program and timing

One of the most critical components to a successful master planned community is the amenity package and campus or campuses. Outdoor living, resort style, active adult, family, sports, and recreation are aspects of an amenity program that could be offered at a single campus or multiple sites throughout the development. It’s important the amenity sites are well furnished, accessible, and delivered to the residents in a timely manner. Don’t wait until the end of the project to deliver the brand-new clubhouse. Other amenities to consider are dog parks, sidewalks, and walking trails to help create the ideal community. These amenities go a long way in creating the type of community residents want to build their lives in.

  1. Get open for sales

The initial goal of any project is getting the community open for sales as quickly as possible. Overspending or overbuilding in the initial phases can slow or stall the process and hurt the development in the long run. A good master plan should focus on a sales center or information center near front of the community that could be constructed independently. Doing this will enable sales to begin while the balance of the development is still under construction.

  1. Use buffers to limit noise and substandard views

Are the neighbors going to keep the community up at night? Buffers are essential to creating the quiet, comfortable neighborhood ideal for any resident. As the master plan comes together, awareness of the ambient noise in the community is essential for creating an ideal community. If there are any kind of noise-producing establishments in the area, ensure the plan includes noise reduction in multiple ways. Buffers can include berms, walls, landscaping, or a combination of them all.

Buffers and perimeters berms can also be utilized to help shield and improve views. If you are abutting a roadway or another off-site feature that needs to be screened from the residents of your community, make sure to leave enough space in the master plan to accommodate.

  1. Assume residents will utilize multiple modes of transportation

Residents need multiple options for movement within and around the community, especially in highly amenitized communities. We must consider multiple modes of transportation, including bike lanes, golf carts, and multi-use paths. If you’re not considering these alternates, you can almost guarantee a traffic bottleneck that will slow residents, guests, and hurt your nearby retailers. Also consider new technology and design to accommodate EV charging stations and plan for implementation into the neighborhoods.

  1. Create aesthetically pleasing focal points

Avoid locating large civil site components at entrances or other focal points. Examples of these unsightly features might be sanitary sewer lift systems or large transformers. Be mindful when designing the underground utilities or the electric corridors and attempt to hide or screen the above-ground equipment. A good rule of thumb may be: if it isn’t pretty, try to hide it.

  1. A beautiful entrance is a powerful statement

A first impression leaves a lasting impact. We want everyone – residents, guests, or retailers – to feel as if they’re arriving at a theme park. We believe our entrances should be beautiful, impactful, informative, and easily navigated.

Master planned communities require attention to detail, thorough communication, and strong project management skills that will account for the goals of both the developer and the future residents. Developing a complete master plan and permitting strategy will help the developer save valuable time and resources, which is the difference between success and failure. Our team has a strong history of well-designed, beautifully planned communities with a speed-to-market delivery that is hard to beat. We also have the expertise and foresight to avoid complications that will slow the work or diminish the quality of product.

About the Author

Jeremy Arnold

Vice President

As Vice President, Jeremy is responsible for the oversight of civil engineering services provided to public and private sector clientele within our Florida offices. Jeremy has been involved in land development projects in Southwest Florida since 2003 and has experience in all aspects of land entitlements, site design, local and state permitting, and construction.

News and Insights

Transforming an eyesore to luxury living: Atwell and RVi support new apartment project in central Florida

Luxury apartment buildings overlooking Lake Cecile in Orlando are expected to break ground in the third quarter this year, making it the first major new construction project on the lake since the property was sold. The property falls along an emerging corridor and presents ample opportunity for future projects and development, particularly being located closed to employment centers. Atwell created the conceptual plan while RVi created the landscape plans.

The matrix of residential offerings will include a mix of studios, one-bedroom units, two-bedroom units and three-bedroom units. Separate from the apartment buildings will be a pool and an 8,294-square-foot clubhouse featuring a fitness center, coffee bar, and TV room. Non-residential space will include a co-working space, a dog spa, a large mailroom with lockers, and remaining space on the property for a potential beach or boat launch. Read the full story on Growthspotter.

 

News and Insights

Housing for the aging population is outdated: How can developers meet the growing needs?

Did you know that people over 65 are set to outnumber youth under 18 for the first time in US history due the aging of the baby boomer generation? This means one in five Americans will be over 65 by 2040. The statistics are incredible. This reality begs the question: as the baby boomer generation continues to age and the number gets larger, is there appropriate housing to meet the need?

In short, the answer is no. My team and I have identified this reality as we look to the future of housing needs. As it stands right now, housing for aging populations is arguably outdated. Be it the layout and design or the amenities needed, current housing simply does not contain what today’s aging population is looking for. This is an important niche market to dive into as population demographics evolve.

Housing needed for the baby boomer generation

Overall, the baby boomer generation is healthier, more active, and often has the desire to continue working into their later years. Today, the demand for amenities focused on wellness stands in stark contrast to the demands in place when communities were built 20 to 30 years ago. Today’s aging population is looking for home offices so they can continue to work, gourmet kitchens, more options for physical activity throughout the community, and convenient roadways as they continue to drive. They’re looking for wine clubs, pickleball courts, dog parks – in other words, a more active lifestyle.

These are exciting communities that are looking toward the future, but the planning and project development needs to happen today. If developers are expecting to meet the demands of tomorrow’s senior and active adult population, they need to be working with a firm that offers a full suite of services that can launch now, move quickly, and help meet the unique demands of a rapidly aging population.

How Atwell supports residential needs of our aging population

Our team has been working with clients to identify needs and meet demand with speed-to-market and program management services. A typical company that specializes in senior housing generally has a development staff that may be able to build one or two communities a year. When a client establishes a relationship with Atwell, we can help them double or even triple that output per year. Because of the breadth of our services as well as our expanding presence across the country, Atwell can complete multiple projects in more than one state.

We’re able to provide full-service program management as a unique service to our clients. These capabilities allow us to serve as the design, development, and construction team to do the heavy lifting for developers across projects, regions, and markets – often in geographies where our senior living development clients do not have sufficient staff. We can act as the facilitator and sole point-of-contact to ensure speed-to-market throughout.

Planning for the future

The bottom line is that it’s not a matter of if, but when, new senior housing communities will be needed.

Despite the awareness of housing needed and the speed at which projects must be completed to meet current and future demand, this market still faces challenges. Some of these challenges are the same we’re all facing in our daily lives: inflation is pushing construction prices up; rising interest rates are making borrowing more difficult and costly for consumers; land prices continue to go up; and labor shortages are a chronic problem.

Regardless of the challenges, the demand for housing and well-designed communities for an aging population here in the US will continue to grow rapidly. And like all the geographies and real estate markets we serve, our team is well-positioned in the senior living space to offer our clients the suite of services they can depend on to allow them to grow and meet this demand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

News and Insights

Celebrating National Surveyor’s Week: An interview with Vice President Drew Celovsky

In honor of National Surveyor’s Week, we asked Vice President Drew Celovsky about his career in surveying and what challenges the field is facing today.

  • What makes surveying a unique career?

Since the beginning of history and with written documentation dating back many centuries, there has always been a need for boundary lines to be established for infrastructure to be built. Land has been fought over, sold, claimed, or purchased throughout history, and the need for boundary lines remains essential in the development of nations, communities, and countries that exist today. This makes surveying one of the oldest professions.

When we take a glance at the founding and settlement of the United States of America – led by recognized surveyors such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Banneker, Daniel Boone, Meriwether Lewis, and William Clark to name a few – surveyors today are often challenged with dedicated research and retracement of the steps of the original surveys established hundreds of years ago.

  • What is the typical day of a surveyor?

As every project is unique in nature, the day-to-day operations of a surveyor certainly change depending on the tasks at hand. Starting with the office, a surveyor can find that they may be researching and plotting vesting deed information, resolving boundary lines for drafting of legal plats from data collected in the field, project management, data processing, and more.

In the field, surveyors can find themselves performing tasks such as coordinating geometry calculations, searching for, and collecting precise electronic data of boundary corners, topography, construction staking, and as-built existing features/infrastructure. These precise electronic devices utilized by the field surveyor can include but are not limited to the following equipment:

  1. Conventional and Robotic Total Stations
  2. GPS (Global Positioning Systems)
  3. UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)
  4. 3D Laser Scanning

 

  • Why did you choose to be a surveyor?

I come from a family of surveyors, so it is safe to say I was born into it. Additionally, my passion for Texas history and the extensive research and boundary retracement of the original Texas patent surveys and Spanish Land Grants as the Republic of Texas made its transition into the State of Texas in 1846. One thing that was quite rewarding for me was finding these original corners and witness trees before being destroyed in many cases by urban development.

  • What challenges does the surveying field face today?

Resources. In my opinion, one of the biggest challenges the field faces today is the lack of surveying graduates. There are not enough to meet the needs across the nation. Another challenge is the rate at which technology continues to advance. Understanding this technology, the respective mentoring and training vs. ROI associated with it are imperative, to say the least.

  • What separates an Atwell surveyor from others?

Atwell is and continues to be one of the industry leaders. An Atwell surveyor is well-rounded and able to quickly adapt to any tasks that may come their way. Many of the Atwell field surveyors are local across our numerous offices while more than 70 crews are mobile across the nation. This blend of unique and diversified surveyors along with their advanced knowledge of the latest technologies and their ability to execute and deliver warrants separation.

News and Insights

Designing for a whole new life: Director Hank Smith’s 40-year commitment to his neighboring community

 

For Hank Smith, giving back to his community isn’t just a hobby, it has been a 40-year investment. Hank’s home stands right next door to the Marbridge Assisted Living Campus – a non-profit residential community for adults with a wide range of cognitive disabilities.

The founder of the ranch, Marjorie Bridges, was the mother of an adult with cognitive disorders. She and her husband didn’t want to put their child into a state institution, so they moved into the country and created a community to support others with cognitive disabilities and empower them with the life skills needed to be contributing members of the community. What used to be a ranch for boys has evolved into a community caring for nearly 300 adults with intellectual disabilities.

When Hank got involved in creating a vision for the future 20 years ago, he knew the site had many problems to solve and needs to be met; for example, The Creed Ford 111 Therapeutic Riding Ranch. The riding ranch has been a part of the community since 2006 but can no longer keep up with the current demand. To begin with, the ranch didn’t have any covered areas, so classes had to be canceled whenever the weather became too hot or cold. When it did rain, the drainage system in place caused the horse stalls to flood, resulting in mud pits with only buckets available to collect all the excess water. The stalls themselves were built for miniature horses, but the ranch was home to mainly adult horses. There was no running water and, worst of all, there were no bathrooms near the stalls, so students struggling with incontinence issues would have to walk across the ranch to the dormitories to be cared for. The goal was clear: a new facility would make the ranch more comfortable for horses, staff, and students.

The riding ranch is just one example of Hank’s contributions to the community, alongside Marbridge’s Director. He first assisted the Marbridge Foundation by helping them sell the property to a buyer. The buyer was a homebuilder, and as they built residential homes, they agreed to build cottages on-site where the adults could live. The cottages included four bedrooms with a nursing station in the middle, a common living area, and a kitchen. Hank himself assisted in building a gym, swim center, and laundromat over the years as he has continued to donate his time.

When asked why Hank has given so much time and energy to his neighboring community, he shared the deep connection he had with the ranch. “My parents used to visit the ranch and teach Bible studies when I was a kid, so the ranch has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I also know how much of an impact this program has on residents,” he shared. “They had one resident who had never spoken in her life. She didn’t talk to her parents, her family, or her doctor. They gave her a horse to take care of, and she immediately started talking to the horse. She won’t talk to people, but she will talk to the horse.”

Hank has been an engineer with Atwell for almost five years. His dedication to supporting his community, his selflessness, and his passion for making a difference is inspirational. The best part of the project, Hank shared, has been “meeting the team who runs the equestrian facility at Marbridge and getting input from them on what they needed. We wanted feedback from people who work at the facilities every day and work with them to really maximize the residence life experience. The residents who take care of the horses and ride the horses, this is where they’re going to live forever. This is their permanent home. So, we wanted to make sure that we were doing everything to fit them. And that was a great experience of sitting down with him to say, alright, what do you guys need?”

Despite the many challenges they’ve faced over the years, the new therapeutic riding ranch is taking shape. The estimated date of completion is March of 2023.

News and Insights

Project Spotlight: How open dialogue with a community led to the approval of a luxury condo project

Current property photo by Atwell. Rendering image courtesy of D’Antonio International.

Nestled in the Town of Palm Beach Shores among high-end resorts and a thriving beach community, sits the Seaspray Inn and Beach Resort and Top of the Spray restaurant. For nearly 60 years, the hotel and restaurant have overlooked the Atlantic Ocean and provided accommodations to tourists looking for a beachfront experience without the hustle of well-known hotel chains.

Kennega Glades, LLC is a real estate investment firm with a deep understanding of the South Florida market and the need for multifamily residences and commercial viability. Becoming aware of the Seaspray owners’ recent filing for bankruptcy, Kennega Glades seized the opportunity and bought the .65-acre shuttered hotel with the intention of converting it to 24 modern, amenity boasting, luxury condominiums.

While most would consider removing a vacant, dilapidated building an easily supported project, there were significant obstacles to getting the new residential project approved. The owner and our client, Kennega Glades needed to find solutions to not only work with a difficult site but to engage the community and town officials in securing approvals for the site plan, variances, plat, and architectural designs.

Led by Atwell’s Senior Project Manager, Chuck Millar, the Atwell and RVi team worked diligently to support Kennega Glades in getting 123 Ocean Drive off the ground. We presented at several town meetings and public hearings using information from surveys, plats, and project renderings. Most importantly, we facilitated open dialogue to ensure our requests were not only consistent with the town’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations but also complied with the purpose and intent of the specified zoning district. The community’s concerns were addressed and alleviated by explaining the value added with 123 Ocean. Chuck shared that the new six-story complex would include new parking circulation and parking stalls, a new beach equipment storage facility, added EV charging stations, and new lighting fixtures to enhance safety concerns. And to address aesthetics, there would be a new wall between the condominium and park, grassed parking surface, new landscaping, and to preserve the existing dunes ridge condition and vegetation.

Through many meetings and public hearings, our team was able to openly convey the means and methods required for a successful project. The approval of 123 Ocean brings not only a new beautiful high-end multifamily residence, but a significant upgrade, infill, and redevelopment of the Town of Palm Beach Shores oceanfront park, an opportunity for new residential ownership, yearly town ad-valorem taxes of approximately $800,000 and an increase to the town’s overall tax base of approximately $125,000,000.

News and Insights

Getting the most out of an urban infill site: Finding the right partnership to capture your vision

While urban infill sites present certain limitations, a team with the right attributes can best support your goals for a mixed-use development

By: Ramzi Georges

Urban infill is the development of an underutilized site within an established community, and a project type that is trending among developers, end users, and potential residents. By building on an infill site, developers, architects, engineers, and City officials are helping revitalize communities both physically and socially – by providing access to amenities within proximity and supplying more housing options for new families, seniors, or young professionals. These developments help residents rely less on cars; promote environmentally friendly, walkable communities; and give back to the local economy by creating more job opportunities.

With more than 25 years of experience in civil engineering, water resources, and land development design, I’ve developed a passion for urban infill development. When approaching urban infill projects, the most important aspect of achieving a successful outcome is effective coordination between the City and private developers – all while upholding the creative vision of our clients and professionals in our industry such as architects and landscape architects.

Every urban infill development project has its own unique challenges and assembling the right team is instrumental to a project’s success. From my experience, there are three attributes you should look for in your next project team: regulation expertise, engineers who support creativity, and established local relationships.

Familiarity with regulations and site restrictions

Urban infill developments are typically complicated project types due to regulations like zoning codes, building codes, permits, entitlements, etc. A site within close confinements leads to strict zoning ordinances, more utility coordination, and tight construction practices. Tackling these constraints is key to the project’s success, as understanding design limitations at the early stages help manage expectations and reduces changes over the course of the project. That way, there are no surprises, project funds are not being used to rectify design problems, and there are no last-minute design adjustments during the construction document phase.

We recently coordinated a high-end project between multiple entities and acted as a liaison between several jurisdictions. This high-end canal project is a two-building, mixed-use project containing over 500 luxury apartment units and more than 13,000-square-feet of ground commercial space in Scottsdale, Arizona. The approximately four-acre site requires the involvement of several jurisdictions: City of Scottsdale, FEMA, Flood Control District (FCD) of Maricopa County, SRP, and more.

Having worked with the City of Scottsdale for many years, we have the regional expertise, as well as the technical background, to negotiate possible solutions with the FCD. We were able to use our design knowledge of regulations during the early stages of the project based on previous and current requirements. This understanding is currently helping us in keeping the project on track for the projected schedule.

Site plan layout of a commercial area with labeled zones for transformers, dumpsters, S.E.S., restaurants (both above and ground level), a fire riser room, building core, grease interceptor, recycling station, baler, and garage HVAC. The right partnership can capture your vision in an urban infill site. Key identifies symbols.

 

Engineers who support the creativity of architects, landscape architects, and developers

From its beauty to its function, the goal of any development is to build a landmark that will positively impact the community. Typically, the developers will approach a project with a specific vision, and they need the project team to find innovative solutions to make that vision come to life. Each discipline may have its own responsibilities, but the engineering team is there to provide practical knowledge about the potential site constraints of the architectural design. It is easy for an engineer to say “no, we are unable to do that”, but it takes a dedicated team to research, and provide multiple options to make the concept become a reality. Having an engineering team that will go above and beyond for the sake of the community and project design will go a long way toward the success of the project.

While working on a high-end resort in Phoenix/Scottsdale, alongside a large mixed-use development on approximately 65 acres of land, the Atwell team created opportunities from the site challenges. Underneath the mixed-use development is a large parking structure, and from the top of the parking structure to the ground level there are only a few feet of clearance, leaving limited space for utility design. The team also wanted to incorporate several water features throughout the site, adding demand to water use. To support the creative vision of the developers and architects, our team at Atwell strategically designed the utility routes within the project confinement. The existing site elevation also had a several foot drop from one end of the development to the other. We created highly anticipated gentle slopes throughout the site, where needed for the retail development, while finding solutions to meet the topographic constraints around the site limits.

Established local relationships

Having a project team that is knowledgeable about the community is important for every development. Whether it is site selection or what residents value in their community, having that understanding and existing relationships within a local area is beneficial in the execution of any project.

Regarding City approval, one of the most important aspects to pay attention to is community outreach. Since infill developments occur in an already-existing community, residents may oppose new construction and how it can affect their daily routine. By listening to the community and working with them to develop a plan of action that meets their needs, more people will support the new development and bring positive attention to the project. City officials may also be more inclined to work with you regarding zoning ordinances, permits, etc. in a timely and cost-effective manner if the community is behind you.

In addition to community outreach, developing relationships with local jurisdictions and understanding their processes will help when creating a mutually agreed upon solution. Being familiar with the City’s organizational structure and verifying the appropriate contact for questions and approval will be beneficial in avoiding unforeseen project delays.

The high-end, 65-acre resort and mixed-use development is located on a site that is divided between two municipalities – the City of Scottsdale and Paradise Valley – as well as water utilities from the City of Phoenix and EPCOR. Due to this unique instance, our team had to obtain permits from four different agencies, including the Town, the City, the County, and the affiliated water companies. Since we had previous experience in working with all entities, and understood their expectations, we were able to maintain the vision while meeting the design requirements with minimal correctional comments in return.

Making a community proud

There are several factors that can be challenging in an urban infill development: site constraints (i.e. customer/operations access, utilities, noise, visibility, light), zoning ordinances, building codes, community acceptance, and more. Having a talented team that will work alongside the developer will make the process that much easier. A project could take three or more years from site selection to post-occupancy, finding a team that can capture your vision will make the experience worthwhile. It is the developer’s concept after all, and our responsibility to create something the developer, the project team, and the community can be proud of.

Featured image courtesy of: https://goo.gl/maps/pnRn4C21WCoYqF2s7 

News and Insights

Designs submitted for downtown Orlando mixed-use development; Atwell to support civil engineering and surveying

Designs have been submitted for the 25-story Modera South Eola and the 100,000-square-foot office building called “The Commons” in downtown Orlando. The joint venture of Mill Creek Residential Trust and Highwoods Properties Capital Plaza submitted their design of the multi-use development and are seeking master plan approval, as well as requesting a courtesy review by the city’s Appearance Review Board.

Modera South Eola will contain 400 residential units, a handful of live-work units on the ground level, 6,369 square feet of ground-floor retail space, and an eight-story parking garage. The office building will consist of 6,000 square feet of potential restaurant space and balconies along the north, west, and south elevations on the second and third floors. Separating the two buildings will be the via, a pedestrian promenade with innovative lighting, outdoor furnishings, and a selection of new and existing trees.

Atwell, and our sister company RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture, will be working with SK+I Architecture and Little Diversified/S&ME to provide surveying, civil engineering, and landscape architecture services for the site.

The estimated construction cost is $118 million – $20 million for the office building and $98 million for the residential tower. The tower is expected to start construction in September 2023, and timing for the office building is still to be determined.

Read the full article in Growthspotter.

News and Insights

Doing Our Part in a Legacy of Peace and Friendship

The Georgia-Japan Peace Bell Tower at The Carter Center

“Everyone do their part.” From 1939 to 1945, this simple phrase was interwoven in the everyday of our grandparents, great grandparents, and for some, great, great, grandparents. The impact of World War II left no-one untouched. For those who did not fight on the battle grounds, their fight would be closer to home through actions such as the rationing and collecting of metals; aluminum, tin, iron, and steel which would be processed and shipped for military use. Not only were these everyday civilian products appropriated, but the many factories creating them were converted to producing products for military vehicles, ammunition, and even our soldiers’ helmets. From our cars, soup cans, coins, to our factories, households, schools, and churches – we all “did our part.”

This sentiment was not restricted to the US – the entire world was feeling these restrictions. This act was the unknown catalyst for Atwell’s recent contribution to The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia. This started with a bell.

As the world was sacrificing their metals, a century old bell from the Shoganji Temple in Konu, Hiroshima, Japan (now Myoshi City) was confiscated to be melted down for ammunition. Before the bell could be melted, Germany surrendered followed by Japan, ending the war.

While the bell traveled the globe from Japan to England to the US, future president Jimmy Carter – a believer in peace and reconciliation – was on his own journey, from serving in the Navy to a political career in Georgia. He sought to strengthen ties with the people of Japan by continuing these efforts through his presidency and after.

In 1985, the Shoganji Temple bell was put up for sale, purchased by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta, and presented to President Carter to commemorate the Carter Center’s new campus and recognize the many contributions he drove in connecting our two countries. Several years later, the markings on the bell were transcribed and the origin became known. President Carter insisted that the people of Myoshi City be notified of its existence, and the bell was brought back home. The people, many still old enough to remember the war, refused the bell, citing its rightful place was back in Georgia. Instead, they chose to forge a replica of the bell to be placed in the original bell tower. The new bell was christened the Friendship Bell, and President Carter attended its dedication.

The original bell, dubbed the Peace Bell, has welcomed myriads of visitors to the Carter Center for more than three decades. Recently, Kazuyuki Takeuchi, the consul general of Japan, met with the Japan-America Society of Georgia, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia, and the Japan External Trade Organization to discuss moving the bell from the Carter Center lobby to a more permanent structure honoring the bonds of friendship between Atlanta, Georgia and Myoshi City, Japan. This structure, modeled after the Shoro-Do Bell Tower, would not only house the bell, but the cypress wood would be harvested, carved, and dry-fitted by artisans in Hiroshima, Japan, disassembled and shipped to the US where it would be reconstructed and placed on the grounds of the Carter Center.

Several obstacles threatened to sideline the project; from inflated shipping costs, permitting, ownership rights, and basic funding to name a few. In the spirit of what the bell represents, I had formed a friendship with a member of the Japanese Consulate over several years, and together, we offered a solution. Because Atwell has a long-standing history of supporting communities in Georgia, our team was approached to provide survey, civil design, and project management services. We were honored to donate our time to this important project.

Working alongside the teams at The Carter Center, the Japan-American Society of Georgia, and partnering architects, we overcame all obstacles and even assisted in ensuring the design met the requirements of a Japanese Temple. In our own way, we continued strengthening the bonds between our countries.

Founded by Jimmy Carter and wife, Rosalynn Carter, The Carter Center is a foundation held to the ideals and commitment to further humanitarian efforts focusing on conflict resolution, democracy, easing of human suffering, and increasing the commitment to basic human rights for all. With the construction of the Peace Bell Tower at The Carter Center in Atlanta, a legacy of peace and friendship among people of all backgrounds will be preserved for generations.

More than 75 years after WWII, through the efforts of Atwell, The Carter Center, the Japan-American Society of Georgia, and many others, we are all still “doing our part.”

On September 30, 2022, a dedication ceremony for the Peace Bell Tower was held on the grounds of The Carter Center.

News and Insights

Mixed-used development receives approval from Scottsdale City Council; Atwell to support civil engineering

After unanimous approval from the Scottsdale City Council, an urban infill site that has been fenced off since 2007 will finally be developed. Located across the street from Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, Hazel & Azure will be a two-building mixed-use project containing 532 luxury apartment units and more than 14,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space. The complex also includes 837 residential and retail parking spaces and a rooftop pool terrace with beautiful views of Camelback Mountain and the Arizona Canal.

Hazel & Azure is spear-headed by Zom Living, a Florida-based developer that is investing $500 million towards the redevelopment of metro Phoenix. Of the 33 acres of bankruptcy proceedings they purchased, 3.78-aces will be dedicated to Hazel & Azure.

CallisonRTKL is the project architect, Withey Morris is the land use attorney, and Atwell is the civil engineer for the project. Construction documents will be submitted this week with the hope to start pulling permits in the next six months.

Read the full article in Phoenix Business Journal.

Shout out to our Atwell project team: Jim Spring (Team Leader), Ramzi Georges (Team Leader), AJ Saliba (Senior Project Manager), Jared Gardner (Project Engineer), Ross Giles (Project Surveyor), Juliana Afaribea (Engineer), Tiffany Colbourn (Designer), and Brett Hightower (Project Coordinator).