Interesting AJC article—- via this morning’s N&R —— on the lack of development surrounding Turner Field:

The data reflects the widespread acknowledgment of Atlanta baseball fans: There’s little to do around Turner Field.

Fanplex, the failed miniature golf course and entertainment center created for Braves fans after games, has been closed since 2004. Several storefronts near Turner Field are boarded up. The closest supermarket is two miles away.

“They need more bars and restaurants around here,” said Jack Fullerton of Knoxville, Tenn., tailgating with a group of 10 outside the ballpark last weekend. “The area needs to be more fan-friendly.”

Hard to believe Turner Field is 15 years old, and given stadiums’ relatively short shelf life, you have to how long before calls are made foe a new downtown stadium.

This also shoots holes in the belief that stadiums attract development, something that should be kept in mind as Winston-Salem prepares to open its new taxpayer-funded stadium this week.

But something else jumped out at me when reading the AJC article:

This summer, the Atlanta Development Authority will ask developers for their ideas for retail, residential or mixed-use projects around the 15-year-old ballpark. The authority hopes to issue more than $100 million in bonds by year’s end to spur the development through its tax allocation district. Some are optimistic about the effort. Others are not.

The skepticism stems, in part, from complaints by homeowners that local neighborhood groups have done little with money from the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority for revitalization and recreational activities. The average annual total to the three groups is $424,545.75.

Last month, some residents asked the authority to conduct an independent audit of the groups, particularly the Summerhill Neighborhood Development Corp.

Forget about the bonds —we expect that from government —- but the audits of the neighborhood groups recalls that the Ole Asheboro Neighborhood Association would share in profits from the proposed luxury hotel here in downtown G’boro. I think the situation in Atlanta shows that turning funds over to neighborhood associations is problematic.

That said, the hotel project may or may not be dead. As for the other proposed fed stimulus project — a downtown Deep Roots market —- I would think the fact that the property is now for sale pretty much kills that deal. I can’t see anyone buying the property only to endure the red tape surrounding the bond financing.