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Images: Mixed-use project The Hawkins forecasts opening date Josh Green Thu, 07/25/2024 - 08:09 Plans are coming into clearer focus for a Chamblee project that’s aiming to become a vibrant, communal hub a few blocks from the ITP city’s historic downtown.

Mixed-use development The Hawkins is scheduled to open in early 2025 at 3295 Hood Ave., just north of DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, the second busiest aviation hub in Georgia.

The 2.7-acre site is situated about three blocks east of MARTA’s Chamblee station. It’s one of three separate projects in various states of completion on three consecutive sites, having replaced vacant land and a pocket of single-family homes.

New York City-based Atlas Real Estate Partners bought nine separate single-family parcels in summer 2019 and assembled them for The Hawkins development. Atlas partnered with FIDES Development and broke ground along Chamblee Tucker Road in early 2023.

Revised plans for The Hawkins project's Chamblee Tucker Road frontage. Atlas Real Estate Partners; designs, Nelson Worldwide

Atlas Real Estate Partners

The Hawkins calls for 192 Class A apartments and 15,000 square feet of commercial and coworking space, which renderings show adding street life to a section of town formerly dotted with empty lots and surface parking. The location is being marketed as walkable to the MARTA station and downtown Chamblee entertainment, dining, and shopping that includes a Whole Foods.

According to Atlanta-based commercial advisory firm terra alma, which has been hired to lead retail leasing, seven retail suites with between 1,200 and 4,500 square feet will be offered at The Hawkins, next to a large new plaza designed to accommodate retail patios.

The firm is aiming to sign a variety of tenants, including a coffee bar and restaurants, nail and beauty salons, a boutique fitness concept, and medical services or a med spa, according to terra alma founder Edie Weintraub.

“The Hawkins is designed to blur the lines between residential and commercial spaces, creating a resimercial environment where living, working, and playing seamlessly integrate,” said Weintraub in a prepared statement.

How The Hawkins' retail spaces are expected to relate to the street. Atlas Real Estate Partners

Atlas Real Estate Partners

Parking for retail will be located toward the rear of the development, separate from residential parking, in an effort to boost residents’ security and comfort, project officials note.

The Hawkins will offer one to three-bedroom rentals (prices have yet to be released), with amenities that include a two-story clubroom, a pool, dog park, pet spa, bike storage, and indoor-outdoor fitness center, as designed by Nelson Worldwide architects. Another feature—a planned rooftop sky lounge—should make for compelling plane-watching at night.

The Hawkins’ apartments won’t be the only recent investments in the immediate area.

Just west of the project, toward downtown Chamblee, an affordable housing venture called Sky Harbor has recently delivered, backed by financing from both the city and federal coffers.

Meanwhile, immediately east of The Hawkins’ site, Stonemont Financial Group and Seven Oaks Company have started opening Chamblee International Logistics Park, a 30-acre industrial hub. It’s been called the first development of its kind within the Interstate 285 loop in two decades. 

Head up to the gallery for more context and images.

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3295 Hood Ave. 3300 Burk Drive The Hawkins Atlas Real Estate Partners Walker & Dunlop Chamblee Development New South Construction Nelson Worldwide Chamblee MARTA station Atlanta Development Multifamily Development Apartments Santander Bank DeKalb-Peachtree Airport Qualified Opportunity Zone FIDES Development Sky Harbor Stonemont Financial Group Seven Oaks Company Chamblee International Logistics Park Affordable Housing terra alma

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Revised plans for The Hawkins project's Chamblee Tucker Road frontage. Atlas Real Estate Partners; designs, Nelson Worldwide

How The Hawkins' retail spaces are expected to relate to the street. Atlas Real Estate Partners

Atlas Real Estate Partners

Atlas Real Estate Partners

Atlas Real Estate Partners

Shown prior to construction on three consecutive parcels, The Hawkins' site (in red) in relation to the Chamblee MARTA station, PDK, and downtown eateries and shops. Google Maps

Single-story brick homes on the site in 2022, with Chamblee Tucker Road shown at left. Google Maps

The recently opened Sky Harbor apartments, located immediately west of The Hawkins project at 2140 Chamblee Tucker Road. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Subtitle Chamblee development to include seven retail suites next to north ITP airport

Neighborhood Chamblee

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The Hawkins - 330 Burk Drive

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Images: Ponce City Market's next tower is ready for its closeup Josh Green Wed, 07/24/2024 - 13:02 As part of Ponce City Market’s phase-two growth spurt, a new tower that blurs the lines between amenitized apartments and hotel flexibility is prepping to open its doors after two years of construction.

Atlanta’s latest hospitality living concept, Scout Living, is accepting reservations starting in September for its 405 one and two-bedroom units that can be booked for a single night, a week, or months at a time.

Jason Fudin, CEO and cofounder of national flex-living operator Placemakr, called the project “a first-of-its-kind development in the U.S.” in an announcement this week.

The 21-story tower—located on the eastern edge of Ponce City Market’s block at 639 Glen Iris Drive—marks the third new-construction building to pop up around the adaptive-reuse landmark since it opened in 20215.

Scout Living’s units will differ from most traditional new Atlanta apartments by coming fully furnished (to include art on the walls and kitchens with all cooking equipment and utensils), along with hotel-style services and amenities. Laundry and dry-cleaning, housekeeping, and other services such as restocking of essentials will be available at the push of a button, per developer Jamestown.

Example of finished interiors at a larger, two-bedroom Scout Living unit. Courtesy of Jamestown

Floorplan for the smallest studio “micro” units offered in the building, with 397 square feet. Jamestown

Expect a pool on the roof (no pics available yet), a wellness studio, virtual check-in, a chef’s kitchen, and a lounge/coworking/private event space on the second floor, among other amenities.

Elsewhere, the building will include 12,000 square feet of retail at the ground floor—all of it with 21-foot ceiling heights intended for a food-and-beverage concept and convenience store with grab-and-go items, per Jamestown.

Lodging options at Scout Living start with studio units that count between 397 and 489 square feet. Those include a queen bed, washer and dryer, and kitchenette.

Member rates range in October, for instance, from a starting price of $216 per night for members, up to $268 and up per night on weekends. (Units with city views are $10 to $13 extra per night. Also, nonmembers can expect to pay around $40 more per night.)

For longer term stays, the studio options start at $1,500 per month.

Courtesy of Jamestown

A typical two-bedroom unit with around 750 square feet. Jamestown

Meanwhile, the priciest options are two-bedroom, two-bathroom units (723 to 787 square feet) with city views, full refrigerators, and in-unit laundry.

For nonmembers, those are going for $472 to $493 per night in October.

Longer-term stays for Scout Living’s two-bedroom options start around $2,900 monthly.

According to project leaders, an event team will be on site at Scout Living to “offer real, unfussy hospitality and help prearrange details for onsite events, including arranging shuttle service to and from the airport, curating and customizing a run of show, coordinating private chef experiences, and other special requests.”

Planned designs for 12,000 square feet of retail at the base of the Scout Living building. Courtesy of Jamestown

Jamestown began building on PCM and the BeltLine’s popularity in early 2022, breaking ground on the property’s first new ground-up tower, Signal House, an apartment building that’s now leasing (with rents up to $7,000 monthly) over the Eastside Trail.

That building also stands 21 stories, bookending PCM’s century-old former distribution center with new high-rise construction. (It was previously reserved for residents age 55 and over, but those restrictions have been removed.)

The campus expansion also includes 619 Ponce, a four-story mass timber loft office building that finished construction along Ponce de Leon Avenue in April.

Head up to the gallery for a preview of PCM’s second new tower as construction winds down.

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639 Glen Iris Drive NE Scout Living 619 Ponce Office at Ponce City Market Ponce City Market Jamestown Atlanta Offices Cross-Laminated Timber Heavy timber Timber construction Jamestown Properties Ponce Handel Architects Georgia-Pacific SmartLam Dothan CLT StructureCraft J.E. Dunn Flexible-Stay Units Placemakr Hospitality Living Flexible Living

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Positioning of new buildings around Ponce City Market's century-old main structure. Ponce City Market/Jamestown

Exterior of the 21-story hospitality living tower just west of Ponce City Market's main building. Courtesy of Jamestown

Planned designs for 12,000 square feet of retail at the base of the Scout Living building. Courtesy of Jamestown

West views toward Midtown from the Scout Living tower. Courtesy of Jamestown

Example of finished interiors at a larger, two-bedroom Scout Living unit. Courtesy of Jamestown

Courtesy of Jamestown

Courtesy of Jamestown

Courtesy of Jamestown

Courtesy of Jamestown

Courtesy of Jamestown

Courtesy of Jamestown

Courtesy of Jamestown

Courtesy of Jamestown

Floorplan for the smallest studio “micro” units offered in the building, with 397 square feet. Jamestown

A typical two-bedroom unit with around 750 square feet. Jamestown

Subtitle Scout Living project reveals pricing for (very) short and longer-term stays

Neighborhood Old Fourth Ward

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Snellville’s 9-building town center wraps construction, lands brewery Josh Green Tue, 07/23/2024 - 15:55 The pantheon of made-from-scratch city centers around metro Atlanta has a new entrant.

The City of Snellville and its development partners announced today The Grove at Towne Center—a centralized, live-work-play hub in the works for well over a decade—has completed construction where Scenic Highway meets U.S. Highway 78, a popular route between Atlanta and Athens.

Spread across nine buildings and 18 acres about 25 miles from downtown Atlanta, the $140-million project marked a public-private partnership between Snellville, national commercial real estate company CASTO, and Atlanta-based MidCity Real Estate Partners. It’s considered a walkable new social and jobs center for a century-old city that had lost almost all of its original structures over time.

Project leaders also pulled back the veil today on a “milestone” tenant—Crooked Can Brewing Company, a Florida-based, award-winning brewery and food hall operation founded in 2014.

For Crooked Can, the Snellville operation will mark its third, following brewery and market/food hall concepts in Winter Park, Fla. and outside Columbus, Ohio.

The Grove at Towne Center

According to Snellville officials, Crooked Can is scheduled to open by the end of this year, followed by several food vendors in the market/food hall portion shortly after that. The second floor of the two-story market building will be used as event space.

“From the beginning, our commitment has been to create a vibrant and dynamic gathering space for our community,” Snellville Mayor Barbara Bender said in an announcement. “Having an amazing operator like Crooked Can decide to bring their first location in the state [here] is so exciting to witness and be a part of.”

The Gwinnett County city of 21,000 has been kicking the tires on plans for a mixed-use downtown hub like Suwanee’s since city councilors adopted a masterplan back in 2011. At one point, city leaders envisioned creating Snellville’s version of Krog Street Market for a concept with “market” in the name. But in early 2021, ground finally broke on a town center with a much larger scale.

Overview of metro Atlanta's latest town center in southeastern Gwinnett County. The Grove at Towne Center

The Grove at Towne Center

At the core of the project is a commons portion with a splash pad, pavilion, and outdoor seating that’s representative of a chestnut oak grove where Snellville businesspeople met in the early 1900s.

Other components include: 288-unit multifamily building The Tomlin (with a row of townhomes); Northside Medical Snellville hospital; Thrive Coworking; a 750-space parking deck (more than 1,000 spaces were built overall); Gwinnett County’s Elizabeth H. Williams Library; and several food-and-beverage concepts.

Another facet is the first phase of the Snellville Greenway, a planned five-mile multi-use trail wending up to Lawrenceville.  

Head to the gallery above for more context and The Grove images.

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The Snellville project's location in relation to Atlanta and landmarks in the metro's northeast corridor. Google Maps

Overview of metro Atlanta's latest town center in southeastern Gwinnett County. The Grove at Towne Center

The Grove at Towne Center

The Grove at Towne Center

The Grove at Towne Center

The Grove at Towne Center

Subtitle Gwinnett city’s The Grove at Towne Center project had been over a decade in the making

Neighborhood Gwinnett County

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Images: Two-tower Midtown build has (partially) topped out Josh Green Tue, 07/23/2024 - 11:51 One component of a two-tower Midtown project that’s been closely followed by Atlanta development hawks for more than three years has reached its ultimate height.

The 1081 Juniper St. project—led by Charleston-based developer Middle Street Partners, alongside joint venture partner AECOM-Canyon Partners—has been officially named 12th and Juniper.

Johnson Bazzel, Middle Street’s president of development, tells Urbanize Atlanta the project’s southernmost tower—the one nearest to downtown, or the left if viewed from Piedmont Park—has recently topped out.

The tower to the north will rise roughly 20 feet taller than its sibling and is still climbing, according to Bazzel.  

Both buildings have staked a visible presence over highly patronized Midtown places, including numerous blocks along Peachtree Street and the Lake Clara Meer area in Piedmont Park, located a few blocks east. Plans call for a total of 487 apartments in both towers.

How the 12th and Juniper project has altered the Midtown skyline over Lake Clara Meer in Piedmont Park. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Where retail and building entries are being positioned along Juniper Street, behind fencing topped with barbed wire at a site that's seen Cop City protester disruptions. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Bazzel said the first 12th and Juniper apartments are expected to deliver in February, but rent prices won’t be finalized until likely early 2025.

At street level, two 5,000-square-foot retail spaces are being built at the bases of both buildings, wrapping 11th and 12th streets corners. 

“We have had positive momentum, but both [spaces] remain available,” Bazzel wrote via email this week.

The larger North tower will climb to 400 feet, offering 320 units across 36 stories; the South tower topped out at 380 feet, with 33 stories, larger floorplans, and what’s designed to feel like a more boutique offering of only 167 units, the development has said.

According to Midtown Alliance, the 12th and Juniper project will also include 690 parking spaces.

How the buildings currently peek over neighbors on 12th Street. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

The topped-out south tower (at right) and its sibling today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

The buildings that had housed two Midtown drinking and dining staples at the site—Einstein’s and Joe’s on Juniper—were razed two years ago, along with neighboring bungalows that’d been reshaped as businesses. The Metrotainment Cafes concepts, both hubs for Atlanta’s LGBTQ community, had operated on the block since the 1990s.

Demolition and infrastructure work at the Juniper Street site between 11th and 12th streets started in mid-2022, but developers didn’t declare the project officially underway until they’d secured $245 million in construction financing in December that year.

The development team also includes construction lenders Bank OZK and Related Fund Management, general contractor Brasfield & Gorrie, interior designer CID Design Group, and Brock Hudgins Architects.

Elsewhere in Atlanta, Middle Street has topped out its flatiron-shaped 400 Bishop development near Atlantic Station’s Target in Loring Heights, with 274 apartments in the pipeline there. And the company’s debut project in the city—the 323-unit The Boulevard at Grant Park—opened last year along a stretch of the BeltLine’s Southside Trail corridor now closed for construction. Mellow Mushroom plans to open a 3,400-square-foot, modernized version of its restaurants at that project this summer, with upgraded tech, an updated menu, and patios fronting the BeltLine corridor.  

Courtesy of Middle Street Partners

Middle Street officials have said the Midtown project will help reshape the northeast portion of district’s skyline, at a location they’ve called “the preeminent residential address in all of Atlanta—and by extension one of the best in the Southeast.”

In the gallery above, find a tour of construction progress today and a preview of what’s to come.

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1081 Juniper Street NE 1081 Juniper Two-Tower Midtown Project Middle Street Partners Metrotainment Cafes Brock Hudgins Architects Morris Manning & Manning Einstein's Midtown Construction Joe's On Juniper Atlanta Architecture Atlanta Development Atlanta Construction Atlanta Demolition AECOM-Canyon Partners Atlanta Skyline Bank OZK Related Fund Management Brasfield & Gorrie CID Design Group Best of Atlanta 2023 12th & Juniper 12th and Juniper

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How the 12th and Juniper project has altered the Midtown skyline over Lake Clara Meer in Piedmont Park. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

How the buildings currently peek over neighbors on 12th Street. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Beginning stages of cladding work on the northernmost building's northern face, toward Buckhead. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Where retail and building entries are being positioned along Juniper Street, behind fencing topped with barbed wire at a site that's seen Cop City protester disruptions. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

How brickwork has come together on parking levels at the two-tower Middle Street Partners project. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

The topped-out south tower (at right) and its sibling today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

The south-facing facade (toward downtown) of the southernmost 12th and Juniper tower today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

The larger tower, in the foreground, and the project's stance over Juniper Street. Middle Street Partners; designs, Brock Hudgins Architects

Retail slots planned for the buildings' bases along Juniper Street, looking south toward downtown. Middle Street Partners; designs, Brock Hudgins Architects

How the two-tower project is expected to look from Piedmont Park, where it's also now visible from the banks of Lake Clara Meer. Middle Street Partners; designs, Brock Hudgins Architects

Middle Street Partners; designs, Brock Hudgins Architects

From above Juniper Street, looking north. Middle Street Partners; designs, Brock Hudgins Architects

Middle Street Partners; designs, Brock Hudgins Architects

The block of Juniper Street in question in December 2018. Google Maps

Subtitle 12th and Juniper project targets early 2025 opening west of Piedmont Park

Neighborhood Midtown

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1081 Juniper Street Building 1 1081 Juniper Street Building 2

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Clara project brings nearly 300 apartments to Buford Highway Josh Green Tue, 07/23/2024 - 10:08 A few miles beyond the OTP borderline, a sizable new apartment venture is ready for its closeup along Buford Highway that’s being billed as a quieter alternative for renters that’s still convenient to walkable places.

Situated at 5420 Buford Highway in Norcross—a six-lane, north-south corridor—The Clara by Broadstone marks the latest bet on metro Atlanta by Alliance Residential Company, one of the country’s largest multifamily developers. (Three years ago, the firm opened another Norcross project with a townhome component and more industrial vibes called Broadstone Junction.)

With 280 one and two-bedroom units, The Clara is said to offer “the comforts and feel of a small town” near driving options into Atlanta and Central Perimeter, along with Gwinnett County job hubs in Peachtree Corners, such as Atlanta Tech Park. Norcross’ historic downtown is less than a mile away, to the southwest.

“There are so many advantages to Gwinnett,” said Noah Randall, Alliance’s managing director, in a project announcement. “It continues to be one of the fastest growing counties in Georgia, has a strong and diverse economic base and places an ongoing focus on innovation.”

So what’s it cost?

The 5420 Buford Highway project in relation to downtown Norcross. The Clara by Broadstone/Alliance Residential Company

The Clara by Broadstone/Alliance Residential Company

The least expensive Clara floorplan currently offered has one bedroom and one bathroom in 724 square feet for $1,567 monthly.

Unlike trendy intown neighborhoods, the priciest rentals at the Norcross project aren’t asking astronomical rents north of $5,000. The largest floorplan right now starts at $2,213 monthly, which gets two bedrooms and two bathrooms in 1,161 square feet.

Six weeks of free rent is currently being offered as an incentive.

In-home perks are listed as Samsung stainless-steel appliances, granite countertops, “hardwood-style” floors, and included side-by-side washers and dryers.

The Clara by Broadstone/Alliance Residential Company

The Clara by Broadstone/Alliance Residential Company

In terms of amenities, common areas at The Clara aimed for a “folk art farmhouse” theme with laidback vibes. Those include a coworking space, an outdoor dining area, a fenced pet park, a saltwater pool, and a 24-hour fitness center, among other perks.

Beyond Norcross, Alliance’s new apartment communities have spanned the metro in recent years, from nearby Peachtree Corners and relatively far-flung Cartersville to intown neighborhoods such as Grant Park, Bolton, and Kirkwood.

Find a closer look at the Norcross project in the gallery above.

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The 5420 Buford Highway project in relation to downtown Norcross. The Clara by Broadstone/Alliance Residential Company

The Clara by Broadstone/Alliance Residential Company

What's described as a “folk art farmhouse” motif in common areas. The Clara by Broadstone/Alliance Residential Company

The Clara by Broadstone/Alliance Residential Company

The Clara by Broadstone/Alliance Residential Company

The Clara by Broadstone/Alliance Residential Company

The Clara by Broadstone/Alliance Residential Company

The least expensive floorplan currently offered has one bedroom and one bathroom in 724 square feet. The Clara by Broadstone/Alliance Residential Company

The largest Clara floorplan currently offered. The Clara by Broadstone/Alliance Residential Company

The Clara by Broadstone's location in the northwest metro. The Clara by Broadstone/Alliance Residential Company

Subtitle Starting from $1.5K monthly, Norcross rentals called quieter but convenient alternative

Neighborhood Norcross

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Trail watch: Fresh BeltLine pavement spotted around Piedmont Park Josh Green Mon, 07/22/2024 - 15:27 Urbanists of Atlanta, rejoice: 25 years after the idea was initially hatched, the BeltLine’s multipurpose march through the heart of Piedmont Park has finally begun!

At multiple points around Midtown’s most famous greenspace, concrete slabs for the mainline, 22-mile BeltLine loop and two offshoot trails are now being poured.

The work is part of phase two of the Northeast Trail’s construction, the last missing piece before the ever-popular Eastside Trail links with other new BeltLine sections shooting north into Buckhead.

Construction of granite-clad walls and grading work is painting the picture of exactly where the BeltLine corridor will run through Piedmont Park in the unfinished section between Evelyn Street and Monroe Drive. An ADA-accessible ramp is also being installed between the trail and the park’s largest meadow areas.

Looking north toward Buckhead, a view of Northeast Trail construction Sunday from Piedmont Park's historic Park Drive Bridge. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

North of Park Tavern, a zigzagging concrete ramp is being installed to connect the BeltLine's Northeast Trail to Piedmont Park's main meadow. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Another section of Northeast Trail work, considered phase three, will reconfigure and implement safety measures where the BeltLine meets Monroe Drive. The intersection was shut down for a full week last month, and single-lane closures (on weekdays, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.) to finalize sidewalk construction are scheduled to wrap up in September.

Key changes at the intersection call for a new 10th Street bike lane, a raised pedestrian crossing, and new traffic signals at Monroe Drive and Kanuga Street.

Meanwhile, Piedmont Park’s Clear Creek bridge closed a few weeks ago, restricting some access to the popular gravel pathway (and interim BeltLine trail) that runs along the eastern side of the Midtown greenspace.

The gravel trail—referred to as the “Transit Trail” in BeltLine communications—will remain open to the public in largely the same state once construction of the BeltLine’s mainline trail is finished through Piedmont Park. The paved trail section will sit below the gravel trail and be separated by “dense planting,” a BeltLine rep recently told Urbanize Atlanta.

Construction on new stairs and a pathway connection immediately south of the Park Drive Bridge. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

The section of the Northeast Trail in question is scheduled to open in late fall, per ABI. Atlanta BeltLine Inc.

The bridge closure and refurbishment follow the completion of Segment 1, Phase 1 of the Northeast Trail earlier this year, which marked the first completed new BeltLine project to debut across the city in 2024.

As for the wooden Clear Creek bridge, a construction team is refurbishing the structure with a new boardwalk walkway and wooden handrails and replacing large timbers. That work is expected to last for another few weeks.

According to BeltLine officials, the Northeast Trail work through Piedmont Park and the connection to the Eastside Trail remain on schedule to be finished this fall.

Find more context—and a preview of what’s to come—in the gallery above.

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Looking north toward Buckhead, a view of Northeast Trail construction Sunday from Piedmont Park's historic Park Drive Bridge. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Progress of concrete slab pours on the next Northeast Trail section as of Sunday. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

North of Park Tavern, a zigzagging concrete ramp is being installed to connect the BeltLine's Northeast Trail to Piedmont Park's main meadow. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Where ramp work currently ends. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Looking south from the Park Drive Bridge, how the popular gravel interim pathway (at left) relates to the mainline BeltLine corridor.Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

How construction grading and wall work is coming together in the Northeast Trail corridor. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Where the gravel path meets the future Northeast Trail today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Construction on new stairs and a pathway connection immediately south of the Park Drive Bridge. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Bike lanes, plaza, and BeltLine street crossing plans in the works for where the Eastside Trail meets Monroe Drive. Atlanta BeltLine Inc.

How the Northeast Trail will travel through Piedmont Park to Monroe Drive, with Park Tavern shown at left. Atlanta BeltLine Inc.

View over the new crossing from near Park Tavern to the current Eastside Trail. Atlanta BeltLine Inc.

Overview of planned changes, with Piedmont Park and Park Tavern shown at right. Atlanta BeltLine Inc.

The section of the Northeast Trail in question is scheduled to open in late fall, per ABI. Atlanta BeltLine Inc.

Subtitle Segments of Northeast Trail to provide link between existing BeltLine sections in coming months

Neighborhood Midtown

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Avalon-style megaproject rebrands as groundwork barrels ahead Josh Green Mon, 07/22/2024 - 13:04 A mini-city lifestyle concept that’s drawn comparisons to Alpharetta’s Avalon and Forsyth County’s Halcyon has deployed fresh branding as site work continues in metro Atlanta’s northeast Interstate 85 corridor, which project leaders describe as one of Georgia’s fastest-growing markets.

Formerly called Thompson Mill Village, the VDC Development project has been rechristened “Arcadia 347,” as it’s being promoted as the metro’s “next major mixed-use, master-planned development.”

According to Matt McCord, a partner with Gainesville-based firm Norton Commercial, the rebranding is part of a push to accelerate marketing efforts to lease Arcadia 347’s commercial spaces and bring in other partners.

“Our brokerage team is very encouraged by the caliber of prospects—both regional and national—that have made site visits and expressed interest in the project,” McCord wrote via email.

Located at 6150 Thompson Mill Road, next to Chateau Elan’s resort and winery and a Northeast Georgia Medical Center campus, Arcadia 347 is expected to span some 108 acres and straddle the Gwinnett and Hall county line. (The majority of development—roughly 72 acres—would fall within Gwinnett County.)

Breakdown of planned uses and zoning designations. Norton Commercial

Extent of recent site work at Arcadia 347. Norton Commercial

As OTP mini cities go, the scope would be impressive. 

The site is situated 47 miles from downtown Atlanta, and its footprint would be larger than Avalon, with nearly three times the number of housing units as The Battery Atlanta.

Plans call for up to 1,540 residential units (a mix of condos, townhomes, apartments, and senior-living units), a 200-room hotel, and more than 783,000 square feet of commercial space, according to filings made with the State of Georgia in November.

For comparison, Avalon spans 86 acres today with much less retail (570,000 square feet) and a 330-room hotel.

According to Norton Commercial, the site is fully entitled now with all zoning approvals and utilities in place to start building, but when vertical construction could begin remains to be seen. McCord said, for now, the development team is continuing “to improve the site by performing site work and [other] development activities.”

According to the Development of Regional Impact filing made with the state—a requirement given Arcadia 347’s scope and potential impact on the area—the project is targeting 2028 for completion.

Norton Commercial

Overview of planned redevelopment across the 108-acre site on the Gwinnett and Hall counties border. Norton Commercial

Thompson Mill Village was initially approved by Hall County officials some 15 years ago, before the Great Recession put the kibosh on those plans. Now, VDC’s goal is to capitalize on recent growth stemming from both the Gainesville and metro Atlanta areas. Other significant developments in the area include a sprawling, under-construction venture called Reveille, which is expected to bring housing and commercial uses to a 512-acre site in South Hall County.

In the gallery above, find updated visuals and more context for Arcadia 347.

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The site in question spans more than 100 acres where previous development efforts were shelved during the Great Recession. Google Maps

Overview of planned redevelopment across the 108-acre site on the Gwinnett and Hall counties border. Norton Commercial

Breakdown of planned uses and zoning designations. Norton Commercial

Extent of recent site work at Arcadia 347. Norton Commercial

Overview of a planned residential section at Arcadia 347. Norton Commercial

Norton Commercial

Norton Commercial

Thompson Mill Village's proposed location in Atlanta's far northeastern suburbs. Google Maps

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Subtitle Rechristened "Arcadia 347," it calls for 1,500 homes, commercial district spread across 108 acres

Neighborhood Gwinnett County

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Images: Centennial Yards' next phase to include 'immersive dome' Josh Green Mon, 07/22/2024 - 10:43 As part of its next growth spurt, the massive redevelopment of Atlanta’s Gulch has officially landed a cutting-edge entertainment concept that project leaders are calling downtown’s next marquee attraction.

Centennial Yards Company has signed a long-term lease with immersive technology, entertainment, and media company Cosm to create a 70,000-square-foot, three-level venue like metro Atlanta hasn’t seen before at the doorstep of Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena.  

The Centennial Yards location will mark the third for Cosm and the first in the eastern U.S., following similar venues at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles and Grandscape in The Colony in Texas, north of downtown Dallas. The company uses a technology called Shared Reality to take visitors “beyond the front row” for major sporting contests, live performances, art shows, and other events, alongside a food-and-beverage program described as “elevated.”

Central to the Cosm experience at Centennial Yards will be an 87-foot diameter, 12K+ LED dome. The venue is being designed by architecture firm Gensler, which also designed the Signia by Hilton tower over The Benz, Atlanta’s tallest new hotel in four decades. Project officials say the Atlanta venue will expand on the foundational design of those in California and Texas while incorporating character that reflects Centennial Yards and the city at large.

Courtesy of Cosm

How the entertainment district is expected to meet Centennial Olympic Park Drive, near State Farm Arena. Courtesy of Centennial Yards Company

Cosm is the first confirmed tenant at Centennial Yards’ Sports and Entertainment District, which has broken ground in hopes of being open in time for FIFA World Cup matches in Atlanta, beginning in June 2026. Spread across 7.5 acres, the roughly 470,000-square-foot component is expected to include a 230-room, flagship hotel adjacent to the Atlanta Hawks’ arena and a large plaza. A two-story retail building and music venue are also in the plans.

The estimated $5 billion, mixed-use project’s broader goal is to transform 50 acres around the chasm the Gulch has been for generations into a vibrant, walkable area for visitors and residents. Centennial Yards’ first two towers—the 292-key Anthem hotel, and a 304-apartment building, both 19 stories—are climbing up from the Gulch now.

In coming months, according to Centennial Yards officials, Atlantans can expect to see two additional cranes erected over the area for construction of the entertainment and sports district, as site excavation and foundation installation continues. A ramp into the Gulch and a corner of the CNN parking deck will soon be demolished, according to developers.

How the next Centennial Yards phase is expected to meet Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (left), with active rail lines separating it from the Anthem hotel tower (back left) and The Benz. Courtesy of Centennial Yards Company

Courtesy of Cosm

Cosm’s timeline for opening in Atlanta—and its schedule of events when doors do open—has yet to be determined, according to project officials. (For a preview of the venue’s capabilities, see these clips for Cosm Creator artist Nancy Baker Cahill’s SEEK, a recent Copa America match, and a live UFC bout.)

Cosm has inked official partnerships with ESPN, the NBA, NBC Sports, TNT Sports, FOX Sports, the UFC, and others. Beyond live sports, the venue’s programming will include Cirque du Soleil’s production “O” and what are described as immersive art experiences from Cosm Studios Creator Program members.

Centennial Yards Company president Brian McGowan said construction in the Gulch is already proving “a historic, even emotional sight” for Atlantans who thought they’d never see that section of downtown revitalized.

“With existing, world-class sports venues and the addition of Cosm, Centennial Yards will become the center of gravity for entertainment in Atlanta, connecting people of all ages with an incredible combination of sporting events, music, bars, restaurants, and retail,” McGowan predicted in a prepared statement. “This is a big step forward for downtown Atlanta, and the surrounding areas are feeling the positive impact.” 

Find more context and fresh renderings in the gallery above.

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How the next Centennial Yards phase is expected to meet Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (left), with active rail lines separating it from the Anthem hotel tower (back left) and The Benz. Courtesy of Centennial Yards Company

Planned look of a plaza area at Centennial Yards' entertainment district. Courtesy of Centennial Yards Company

How the entertainment district is expected to meet Centennial Olympic Park Drive, near State Farm Arena. Courtesy of Centennial Yards Company

Main entry point to the entertainment district along Centennial Olympic Park Drive. Courtesy of Centennial Yards Company

Plans for the Cosm venue's exterior, at left. Courtesy of Centennial Yards Company

Courtesy of Cosm

Courtesy of Cosm

Courtesy of Centennial Yards Company

Courtesy of Centennial Yards Company

Courtesy of Centennial Yards Company

Subtitle Cosm concept is first signed tenant for under-construction, 8-acre entertainment district in Gulch

Neighborhood Downtown

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Centennial Yards - 125 Ted Turner Dr SW One Centennial Yards

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Should the Georgia Music Hall of Fame be reborn in Atlanta? Josh Green Fri, 07/19/2024 - 15:35 Perhaps it’s hard to believe, but nowhere in the Peach State will you find a facility honoring James Brown, the Allman Brothers, R.E.M., Outkast, the B-52s, Little Richard, Otis Redding, the Black Crowes, Usher, and so many other monumental, homegrown musical talents.

But here’s something Atlanta does have, especially in the case of up-and-coming downtown: available space.

Last month, Atlanta magazine took a deep dive into the “wobbly lifespan” of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, which existed in a facility on Macon’s Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from 1996 until 2011. (Tragically, the “first-class experience” was situated off lightly used Interstate 16—and not the vital north-south vacation artery that is I-75, as Macon writer Jerry Grillo chronicles.) On the bright side, most of the hall’s musical artifacts, statues, and plaques are being painstakingly preserved to this day at the University of Georgia, and people in high places seem at least mildly enthusiastic about the notion of creating another hall of fame.   

Which begs the question: where?

Coincidentally or not, a reader reached out this week to say he’s been nudging Underground Atlanta, via social media, to throw its artsy hat in the ring.

“I thought it would be a cool idea, since Underground is trying to be a center of culture like it always should have been,” he writes. “Something like the [Georgia Music Hall of Fame] would [bring] mainstream credibility if it were to ever happen.”

Steps away from Underground, the Atlanta Ventures team continues to add properties to a portfolio that already spans a massive 10 blocks and nearly a million square feet—most of it empty buildings and parking lots right now. (According to New Encyclopedia Georgia, the Macon museum spanned 43,000 square feet—enough to house thousands of costumes, photographs, sound recordings, artifacts, documents, sheet music, recording equipment, and other memorabilia from Peach State legends.)

And there’s mega-project Centennial Yards—we’re spit-balling here, it should be noted—where a full entertainment district spanning 8 acres is now under construction.

According to sources, preliminary discussions have been held about the possibility of building a $100 million FutureVerse museum in Centennial Yards, which would complement other tourist attractions in the area, including the World of Coke, Georgia Aquarium, and National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Does downtown have the right elements? Is it too saturated with tourist attractions already? Would people visit a Georgia-specific hall of fame? Or should we just do this on principle alone?

Homegrown musician Chuck Leavell—the Rolling Stones’ longtime pianist and organist, and a Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee in 2004—put it succinctly in an interview with the magazine, saying in part: “When you think of all the great music that has come out of this state, it’s just mind-boggling. It’s crazy that Georgia doesn’t have a music hall of fame.”

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Subtitle If so—where?

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Renderings vs. Reality: Glassy mixed-use tower nears completion Josh Green Fri, 07/19/2024 - 13:43 Twenty months after its ceremonial groundbreaking, a rare Atlanta spec office project in West Midtown’s Marietta Street Artery neighborhood has topped out and finished the bulk of exterior construction, adding oomph to the former warehouse district’s budding skyline.

So, for this latest installment of Renderings vs. Reality, let’s have a look at 1050 Brickworks.

Having replaced several low-rise commercial buildings where West Marietta Street meets Brady Avenue, the 250,000-square-foot, mixed-use project is a joint venture from Chicago developer Sterling Bay and Charlotte-based Asana Partners. It broke ground in late 2022 and now stands 14 stories over active railroad tracks leading into downtown.

1050 Brickworks' main facade today, with retail spaces fronting West Marietta Street and an elevated indoor-outdoor amenity level shown at left. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

As shown in renderings, plans for the 14-story facade at the corner of West Marietta Street and Brady Avenue.Courtesy of Sterling Bay/Asana Partners; designs, HKS

The office component is considered spec in that it moved forward with no pre-signed tenants, which project officials have acknowledged was a “bold move” and “high risk” in a market with high office vacancies where other (albeit larger) mixed-use ambitions have faltered.

As designed by architecture firm HKS, the building is set to include about 14,000 square feet of retail at its base.

Inquiries to Sterling Bay representative for updates on leasing and construction weren’t returned this week, but this story will be updated with any further information that comes.

Broadly speaking, 1050 Brickworks is aiming to help convert the neighborhood’s character from an industrial, former railroad district to a more walkable, mixed-use community. Another goal is to complement and anchor the 166,000 square feet of dining, retail, and service space next door at Brickworks, which Asana bought in 2020.

The spec office portion of the project as seen from 8th Street. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

View from the east, along West Marietta. Courtesy of Sterling Bay/Asana Partners; designs, HKS

1050 Brickworks marks Sterling Bay’s first foray into Atlanta. Asana, meanwhile, has been active acquiring and redeveloping property along the BeltLine’s Eastside Trail, including Krog Street Market and SPX Alley, in addition to acquisitions like Plaza on Ponce, the iconic shopping center where the Plaza Theatre operates.

As depicted in renderings, 1050 Brickworks’ perks are expected to include a fitness center, private library, a lounge and bar, outdoor workspaces, and private terraces for tenants. Other aspects call for a large deck overlooking the Atlanta skyline, some 12,000 square feet of amenities, and a parking deck with 549 spaces.

In the gallery above, see where the building stands today—and how that stacks up to artist renderings from two years ago.  

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• Marietta Street Artery news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta) 

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1050 West Marietta Street NW 1050 Brickworks Asana Partners HKS Sterling Bay Brickworks Kimley-Horn & Associates Home Park West Midtown Kimley-Horn Sterling Interest 788 West Marietta Street Seven88 West Midtown Atlanta Development Office Market Atlanta Construction CBRE Renderings vs. Reality Renderings

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How the 1050 Brickworks project stands today over active railroad lines and West Marietta Street (left), with downtown shown in the distance. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

The spec office portion of the project as seen from 8th Street. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

1050 Brickworks' main facade today, with retail spaces fronting West Marietta Street and an elevated indoor-outdoor amenity level shown at left. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

The 14-story building's stance over West Marietta Street today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

As shown in renderings, plans for the 14-story facade at the corner of West Marietta Street and Brady Avenue.Courtesy of Sterling Bay/Asana Partners; designs, HKS

Designs for retail operations along West Marietta Street at 1050 Brickworks. Roughly 14,000 square feet of street-level retail is planned. Courtesy of Sterling Bay/Asana Partners; designs, HKS

View from the east, along West Marietta. Courtesy of Sterling Bay/Asana Partners; designs, HKS

What's described as the project's collaborative main lobby. Courtesy of Sterling Bay/Asana Partners; designs, HKS

The building's 24/7-security arrangement. Courtesy of Sterling Bay/Asana Partners; designs, HKS

Plans for the tenant lounge and bar. Courtesy of Sterling Bay/Asana Partners; designs, HKS

The roof deck and top-floor indoor/outdoor amenity space. Courtesy of Sterling Bay/Asana Partners; designs, HKS

Plans for a fitness center. Courtesy of Sterling Bay/Asana Partners; designs, HKS

A meeting space at 1050 Brickworks. Courtesy of Sterling Bay/Asana Partners; designs, HKS

Example of a tenant terrace. Courtesy of Sterling Bay/Asana Partners; designs, HKS

An outdoor workspace overlooking Midtown. Courtesy of Sterling Bay/Asana Partners; designs, HKS

An early rendering depicting a transformation of the triangular site where West Marietta Street meets Brady Avenue. Courtesy of Sterling Bay/Asana Partners; designs, HKS

Prior to construction, low-rise commercial buildings shown on the West Marietta Street site in question. Google Maps

Subtitle Blending offices and retail, 1050 Brickworks project continues West Midtown vertical growth

Neighborhood Marietta Street Artery

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In Clarkston, project with large(ish) 'cottages' from $400Ks delivers Josh Green Fri, 07/19/2024 - 11:32 East of Decatur, just beyond the Interstate 285 loop, a new community is coming to market aimed squarely at intown homebuyers without OTP phobias who appreciate walkability but don’t want to share walls with neighbors.

The project, Parkside at Clarkston, is described as a pocket neighborhood with “pure cottage influences from the 1920s” and prices for new construction (the high $400,000s and up) that have long vacated more centrally located ITP areas around Atlanta.

According to officials with Southwyck Homes—the same homebuilders behind Ormewood Park pocket neighborhood Vernon Ormewood—the Clarkston project will eventually see 36 homes/cottages placed across a 6-acre site at the northern edge of the DeKalb County city, which is well-known for its global cultural diversity.  

Courtesy of Southwyck Homes

Parkside at Clarkston's location in relation to the DeKalb city's downtown area and, at left, Interstate 285. Google Maps

The East Avenue project is not a typical subdivision, per developers, because many homes will be alley-fed with porches facing a central mews component in an effort to showcase facades. The houses are solar-ready with EV charging options, per Southwyck.

The first eight single-family offerings at Parkside at Clarkston have been listed in recent weeks, priced from $491,800 to $503,600. (Just one Clarkston home has a higher asking price—much higher—at the moment.)

The two-story dwellings range from 1,866 to 2,106 square feet, each with three bedrooms and two and ½ bathrooms, plus two-car garages.

Perks of the location include proximity to downtown Decatur (about five miles to the southwest) and walkability to a recently renovated greenspace called Milam Park, which features a zero-entry pool, dog park, five tennis courts, a playground, and other amenities.

Additional greenspaces nearby—thus, the “park” in the project name—include the Forty Acres Nature Preserve, Stoneview Park, and the Clarkston Community Garden, per homebuilders.

Courtesy of Southwyck Homes

Marketing materials point to other destinations from Emory University’s campus to downtown Tucker and Memorial Drive as reasons to call this part of the metro home.

All in all, dear city dwellers, does it sound like a compelling deal? 

Swing up to the gallery for a closer look. 

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3899 East Ave. Clarkston Parkside at Clarkston Southwyck Homes Intown Cottages Atlanta Homes for Sale DeKalb County Clarkston Homes for Sale Forty Acres Nature Preserve Stoneview Park Clarkston Community Garden Milam Park OTP Eastern Suburbs Atlanta Suburbs

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Parkside at Clarkston's location in relation to the DeKalb city's downtown area and, at left, Interstate 285. Google Maps

Courtesy of Southwyck Homes

Courtesy of Southwyck Homes

Courtesy of Southwyck Homes

Courtesy of Southwyck Homes

Google Maps

Subtitle Location is marketed as short drive from Decatur. You buyin', ATL?

Neighborhood Clarkston

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Rethinking Five Points revival; 'drastic' transit cuts; ATL bike rodeo Josh Green Thu, 07/18/2024 - 17:22 DOWNTOWN—Just when it seemed the summer of drama over MARTA’s plan to remake Five Points station was on vacation, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is asking the transit agency to scrap its current (paused) plans for peeling off the station’s faulty canopy and consider a temporary, 10-year fix instead, according to the AJC.

The mayor has asked for a cost analysis on the temporary solution. But agency CEO Collie Greenwood expressed fears to MARTA’s board of directors today that compiling that cost comparison could take a full year—and ultimately bump up the cost of the $230-million remake of the canopy and surrounding plazas.

Other hazards of delaying, according to Greenwood, could be lost federal funding and lawsuits from contractors who were ready to begin demo work at MARTA’s largest and busiest station this month and had spent funds in doing so. Some board members, as the newspaper relays, have sided with Greenwood in being skeptical a delay of Five Points’ redo is the proper tactic.

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CITYWIDE—In a compelling but disconcerting report this week that’s alarmed local transit supporters, Saporta Report relays how a proposal to drastically reduce metro Atlanta’s Xpress commuter bus system could have real impacts on people’s lives—and why it’s a source of concern for suburban commuters and community leaders in places like Midtown, who fear an inundation of more cars.  

Officials say the plan—called “Redefining the Ride”—is necessary given Xpress’ precipitous drop in ridership since 2019, when average daily ridership was 7,685 commuters versus just 771 during the heart of the pandemic. According to officials with the ATL, or Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority, ridership has been steadily rising in more recent years but remains far below its pre-COVID peak. The solution, according to ATL, could be to slash the system’s current 27 routes (55 stops) to 10 routes (12 stops), while cutting the Xpress’ 27 park-and-ride lots to 17, all by sometime next spring.

Here’s a couple of graphics that paint the troublesome picture:

ATL Xpress; submitted

ATL Xpress; submitted

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BUCKHEAD—Who’s ready to rodeo—on two wheels?

The Atlanta Department of Transportation sends word that a “pedal together” bike safety rodeo is going down this weekend as a means of teaching kids skills and techniques needed to be safer bicyclists in the city. Fifty bike helmets are being donated by partner group Safe Routes to School, and all attendees will score safety items including bike lights and reflectors, plus tips on properly fitting helmets.

The free event takes place from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at Buckhead’s Mountain Way Common park (684 Mountain Drive NE). Other partners include Livable Buckhead, Propel ATL, Georgia Commute Schools, and the Safe Kids Fulton County Coalition.

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CHAMBLEE—The City of Chamblee and MARTA are planning to officially unveil the north ITP’s city latest public art installation Monday morning—a 2017 sculpture by artist Phil Proctor called “Metaphysica” that “explores the possibilities of physical existence… beyond the five human senses,” per officials. It was purchased by the Chamblee Public Arts Commission with funds from Georgia’s hotel-motel fees, which are meant for boosting tourism.

The sizable, vibrantly red piece will be placed on the Peachtree Road side of Chamblee’s MARTA station, and it looks like this:   

Courtesy of City of Chamblee

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Courtesy of City of Chamblee

ATL Xpress; submitted

ATL Xpress; submitted

Subtitle Real estate, architecture, and urban planning news from around Atlanta

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