You are already thinking about the summer heat in Atlanta, so let’s fast forward to winter. I saw this on one of my favorite blogs today and thought it was a brilliant (but expensive) idea.

Most developers don’t install gas in their building due to the expense, but if you are like most Atlantan’s, you need and desire to sit by a warm fire in the winter. The latest crop of luxury buildings offer gas cooking appliances, but what do you do when you are in a building where gas isn’t an option.

One company called Conmoto has come up with a very creative solution – the Travelmate Portable Fireplace. This amazing smokeless fireplace is made of black powder-coated steel and glass with an adjustable steel fuel-holder which burns on bio-ethanol liquid fuel. The glass pane, which is held on with magnets, is only removed in order to light the fire. Once the glass pane has been replaced, the fuel tank can be opened and closed, using the stainless steel slide at the front of the fireplace, thereby allowing the flames to be regulated from the outside. Now the glass pane once again protects the fire and you can relax and enjoy the warmth it puts out.

You can carry this fireplace throughout your condo to set the mood anywhere you like – by the dining room table, the living room, the library or even on your terrace. This particular fireplace is 20″ h by 28″ w by 8″ d and weighs 55 pounds.

The bio-ethanol fuel burns for about 2.5 – 3.5 hours. What’s the fireplace cost? $3,300 (available from unicahome.com)

Check with your association to make sure they will allow you to use a product like this in your condo.

As work continues on the first phase of construction, I have to wonder when the developer is going to start releasing information on the condos. I suppose no news if good news in this case? If the Ritz is planning something special for this project, perhaps they are still getting their marketing together. That would be the only thing that makes sense. It is a little strange that nothing has been mentioned so far. At this stage in construction, usually buyers are making selections for finishes – which the developer needs to order. Maybe this will be a white box treatment? Any thoughts? I’d love to hear them.

With so many choices for restaurants in Atlanta, convenience plays a major part in deciding where to go eat. 10 Terminus Place residents will have a very easy life. Cousins recently announced two 2 additional restaurants which will open at Terminus 200 in 2009. For those living at 10 Terminus Place, you’ll have more room service choices than any other luxury condo building in Atlanta. Of course, if that wasn’t enough, you can always walk down the street to the soon-to-be-opened Buckhead Life restaurant, Fresh to Order, Craft and Neo (now open at the Mansion). 

III Forks and Cantina Laredo join other restaurants at Terminus, including AquaKnox, BrickTops, The Flying Biscuit Café, LOLA Bellini Bar & Restaurant and MF Buckhead. Oh… also Chick-fil-A and Dressed too.

The III Forks dining experience is like no other, warm and inviting. But it wouldn’t remain a favorite dinner and meeting venue night after night if it weren’t for the food. From thick signature cuts of USDA Prime Beef to ocean-fresh fish and buttery lobster, the food at III Forks is perfectly prepared. Everything is fresh, made when you order it. While many steak houses offer fish, few provide an equal and mouth-watering balance between fish and beef like III Forks. The III Forks wine cellar houses 4,000 bottles of the finest wines available from around the world. A cellar temperature of 58 degrees is maintained while white wines are stored at 45 degrees in an additional wine cooler. The wine room is complimented by another 1000 bottles housed throughout the restaurant.

Cantina Laredo serves authentic Mexican dishes in a sophisticated atmosphere. They offer daily fish specials, grilled chicken and steaks complimented by signature sauces such as chipotle-wine with portobello mushrooms or sautéed artichoke hearts and roasted red bell peppers. Cantina Laredo offers a menu that evokes the sophisticated gourmet tastes of Mexico City by combining traditional items with modern flares.

We have all seen renderings and floor plans for 1010, most of which I have studied over and over, but here is an insiders look at what’s going on inside. This was the second time I have been inside with a client and each time I am more impressed. The hallways leading to the units are really nice – textured paper covers the walls, the carpet has a timeless pattern with sections of deep chocolate brown every so often. As a resident, you aren’t going to grow tired of it after a year or two.

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I went to the 12th & MIdtown presentation last night. They didn’t release any new information, but they did go over the what would be in each phase of development (generally speaking). There were two presentations shown, one of which outlined the target demographics and also a “walk down peachtree” showing what the landscape could like like by 2012. It was really impressive to watch. 

The stores that will be lining Peachtree Street will mostly all be flagship stores. 12th & Midtown wants stores that either do not currently have a presence in Atlanta or companies that want to expand away from suburbia. The idea is to create a Midtown shopping, dining, working and living mecca. Atlanta is sure to become one of the top shopping destinations in the country.

I did manage to talk with quite a few people who attended the event. One person told me Saks Fifth Avenue was considering putting their store into one of the phases and Apple was also thrown into the mix. (I think Apple is leaning toward 999 Peachtree.) Ritz Carlton is planning to build a new hotel at 14th and West Peachtree. We’ll see if they put some luxury condos on top of the hotel. I suspect they will because many luxury chains are following the trend. In addition, another 5 star luxury brand will be setting up shop in a future 12th & Midtown phase. The brand wasn’t disclosed, but it’s going to be unique to Atlanta. Equinox Fitness Club will be entering the Atlanta market somewhere in 12th & Midtown.

Daniel Corp.’s and Selig Enterprises’ $1.1 billion 12th & MIdtown project will add up to 2.5 million-square feet of fabulousness over four city blocks. It will include more than 1,000 premium residences and up to 300,000 square feet of high-end retail. It will also feature two office towers — comprising 725,000 and 500,000 square feet of class A office space — and two boutique hotels.

Below: The Loews Hotel - (Completion in 2010) The building will have 60 luxury residences on top. Loews will be different from any other Loews in the chain. The Atlanta hotel promises to be more luxurious, upscale and  hip than any project they have done before.  

Sovereign is nearing completion (right along with Terminus) and is roughly 35% sold. With prices starting at $1,000,000, that’s great news for Regent Partners. According to what I have found out, many of the larger units seem to be going first, with buyers trying to get as much square footage as they can. The two available penthouses are also getting a good amount of attention. I suspect some savvy buyer will grab the penthouse with it’s own pool in the near future. 

The interior finishing work should be completed within a few weeks. Most of the floors have completed units ready for delivery (remember condos start on floor 28). The hardwood floors are installed, kitchens are ready for chefs and the terraces are ready for grand scale entertaining. In the public spaces, most of the work has been completed. The 42nd floor ”G” unit terrace pictured above (which happens to be around 478 square feet – huge for a condo) features an outdoor gas fireplace and glass panel insets along the railing for endless views.

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I was extremely happy to read this article today. All of my clients know I always go the extra mile for them. I’m so happy J.D. Powers and many home buyers recognize Keller Williams. 
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