Photos: New town (more or less) is sprouting on Atlanta's southside Josh Green Wed, 06/19/2024 - 15:19 South of downtown, one of the largest redevelopment projects across the City of Atlanta right now continues to come out of the ground, as its eventual scope comes into clearer focus.
Spread across 34 formerly vacant acres along Boulevard in Chosewood Park, Empire Zephyr began work in earnest two years ago, banking on Atlanta BeltLine proximity and cheaper land prices in a relatively under-the-radar area that’s now witnessing a wave of development.
Officials with developer Empire Communities tell Urbanize Atlanta the Zephyr project has been “wildly successful” with “rapid sales,” following price adjustments, and is building or about to break ground on 100 more townhomes in its latest phase, all scheduled to deliver in the third and fourth quarters of this year.
Zephyr's proximity to downtown is illustrated at this height. Unrelated senior housing and Upton apartments construction is shown at top left. Urbanize Atlanta
A new rendering depicting Zephyr's under-construction pool and clubhouse provided by developers this week. Courtesy of Empire Communities
The hilly, 1335 Boulevard site—which counts views in places to downtown and Midtown—is located roughly a mile due south of Zoo Atlanta. A couple of blocks north is the under-construction BeltLine Southside Trail that’s expected to fully open in early 2026.
Empire officials are now forecasting that Zephyr will eventually see 1,000 units of for-sale townhomes and multifamily dwellings built. Those will join pocket parks and what’s planned as a boutique retail village tucked in amongst the housing.
With Zephyr, Empire expanded its operations as a means to quickly create more inventory and meet high intown demand for housing—and to reset the current price range for two and three-bedroom townhomes to start the high $300,000s.
“By offering a range of floorplans at varying price points,” reads a company statement sent via email this week, “Zephyr ensures that everyone, from first-time homebuyers (two bedrooms) to families looking for more space (four-plus bedrooms), can find a home that suits their needs and budget.”
Colorful facades coming together this month that echo Empire's Paintbox townhome community in Kirkwood. Urbanize Atlanta
In terms of sheer scope on Atlanta’s southside, the Zephyr project is rivaled only by the 40-acre Sawtell proposal (crickets there) and mixed-use plans for Fort McPherson’s remaining 96 acres.
Zephyr marks another substantial bet for Canada-based Empire on both the southside (see: the Swift townhome community in neighboring Boulevard Heights) and along various sections of the BeltLine. The growing Empire Stein Steel on the Eastside Trail and Empire Longreen off the Westside and future Northwest trails are two examples.
As of now, a dozen Zephyr three-story townhomes are on the market, priced from $397,000 to $485,000, with two or three bedrooms and square footages ranging between 1,100 and 1,500.
Courtesy of Empire Communities
Where construction of Zephyr's centralized clubhouse stands today. Urbanize Atlanta
Amenities are set to include seven community pocket parks with open lawns, formal gathering spaces for events, outdoor seating including arbor swings, and a “hammock park,” developers tell Urbanize Atlanta. A modern-style clubhouse and pool, walking paths, and wide sidewalks are also in the works.
The project is situated near Chosewood Park's eponymous greenspace (where a ribbon-cutting for a new community playground was recently held) and just south of the BeltLine’s Boulevard Crossing Park, which is planned to eventually be expanded next door. (BeltLine officials completed land purchases needed to build that park in 2020, but it remains in planning stages.)
Swing up to the gallery for a drone tour of Zephyr today (literally, this morning) and fresh glimpses of what’s to come.
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1335 Boulevard SE Empire Zephyr Empire Communities Southside Boulevard townhomes Atlanta Townhomes Atlanta Homes for Sale Atlanta Construction Atlanta Development Beltline Southside Trail Infill Development master-planned communities master planned
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The Empire Zephyr project's 1335 Boulevard SE location, in relation to downtown Atlanta. Google Maps
Colorful facades coming together this month that echo Empire's Paintbox townhome community in Kirkwood. Urbanize Atlanta
Where construction of Zephyr's centralized clubhouse stands today. Urbanize Atlanta
Zephyr's proximity to downtown is illustrated at this height. Unrelated senior housing and Upton apartments construction is shown at top left. Urbanize Atlanta
Unrelated townhome development (at right) and future BeltLine park space located just north of the Zephyr site. Urbanize Atlanta
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View to Atlanta’s federal penitentiary at the end of Boulevard. Urbanize Atlanta
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A new rendering depicting Zephyr's under-construction pool and clubhouse provided by developers this week. Courtesy of Empire Communities
Exterior view of the forthcoming Zephyr clubhouse. Courtesy of Empire Communities
Greenspace against colorful facades. Courtesy of Empire Communities
Courtesy of Empire Communities
Courtesy of Empire Communities
Courtesy of Empire Communities
Courtesy of Empire Communities
The 34-acre Empire Zephyr site at 1335 Boulevard SE, as construction began. (Note: Aerial is a screenshot, not a video.) Courtesy of Empire Communities
Early plans for the Empire Zephyr internal layout and clubhouse. Courtesy of Empire Communities
The Empire Zephyr 359-home layout, with Boulevard depicted at right. Courtesy of Empire Communities
Subtitle Developer Empire says 1,000-home Zephyr project "wildly successful" so far in Chosewood Park
Neighborhood Chosewood Park
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