Parking Deck Scars Downtown Atlanta Block

Atlanta native Bobby Glustrom owns 3.2 acres of a 4.6-acre block where a controversial parking deck was built in 2001. "His land, which is mainly surface parking lots surrounding the three sides of the deck, is an area that's ripe for a major new development. But then there's that deck."

Glustrom did everything possible to stop the deck from being built. But, during the three-year legal challenge to stop its construction, landowner Holder Properties went ahead and built -- then sold -- the deck anyway.

"The sad saga of the deck shows the importance of good urban design. As the Atlanta region continues to grow, more and more parking decks will be built. It is imperative that developers, builders, property owners and architects fully understand how the design of a deck will impact the environment."

"The best decks are those that are invisible...A badly designed deck does just the opposite. It often is a stand-alone building that everyone knows is a parking garage. And it likely will have a blank wall that kills any liveliness on the sidewalk. In short, a bad deck sucks the life out of an urban area."

"The bottom line for metro Atlanta is that urban design matters -- especially when it comes to parking decks."