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Study: Atlanta emerges as national leader for build-to-rent houses Josh Green Fri, 02/28/2025 - 08:09 When the Sugarloaf Landing project opened south of downtown Lawrenceville in January, its builders celebrated the fact that a dozen leases had been signed in a single month. 

For $2,400 per month (and up), the community offers 114 townhomes, all of them three-stories tall and less than 2,000 square feet. None of them are for sale. But like so many other new build-to-rent home ventures dotted across the metro, Sugarloaf Landing offers options for quick move-ins, fewer long-term commitments, and more room for renters to breathe than standard apartments. 

The project is indicative of a BTR trend that’s as hot in Atlanta as almost any other city in the country. 

That’s according to analysts with Point2Homes.com, a nationwide real estate listing portal for rental homes, who’ve been tracking the country’s BTR “boom” as housing prices and interest rates have ballooned. 

According to the study, metro Atlanta ranks third in the country for the number of BTR houses and townhomes in the pipeline, trailing only metro Phoenix and Dallas, respectively. 

The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell area currently counts more than 6,800 BTR units that are permitted or under construction across 43 different communities. 

That’s more units than most full states, including California, per Point2Homes’ findings.

Georgia, meanwhile, has emerged as a BTR leader on a statewide basis, with the fifth most units in the pipeline (9,872) in the U.S., a ranking led by Texas (21,812). When those homes deliver, the Peach State’s BTR housing stock will increase by nearly 87 percent, per the analysis. 

Metro Savannah ranks second in Georgia with 1,374 new rentals in development, with smaller metros such as Cartersville and LaGrange—where a BTR increase of 384 percent is projected—also charting high. 

Point2Homes, which uses Yardi Systems data, considered only forthcoming BTR communities with at least 50 standalone houses or townhomes. 

As with other metros, the BTR model has drawn criticism around Atlanta for claiming available land that could have gone to for-sale housing, where first-time homebuyers in particular could start to build wealth via equity. Advocates say it allows occupants flexibility that mortgages don’t.

The new Sugarloaf Landing in Lawrenceville features 114 townhomes, all of them for rent. Courtesy of Parkland Residential

As Point2Homes analysts note, BTR can offer relatively attainable options as urban areas become more crowded and expensive, pushing homeownership further from reach. Nationwide, the 110,000 single-family rentals under construction now are set to beef up BTR supply by nearly 54 percent, per the report.             

Meanwhile, according to a separate report last month, metro Atlanta home prices have surged by nearly 60 percent since the COVID-19 pandemic started.  

That means the median home sale five years ago around Atlanta was roughly $255,000, while today it’s $405,000, according to Georgia MLS’ tally for 2024.

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The new Sugarloaf Landing in Lawrenceville features 114 townhomes, all of them for rent. Courtesy of Parkland Residential

Subtitle For better or worse...

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Work launches on ‘major improvements’ for prized Roswell park Josh Green Thu, 02/27/2025 - 16:35 Work is officially underway on “major improvements” for a popular City of Roswell greenspace that dates back more than three decades and was due for updates, according to city leaders.  

Dignitaries gathered Tuesday for a groundbreaking ceremony at East Roswell Park, a multifaceted 9000 Fouts Road greenspace located about five and ½ miles southeast of downtown Roswell’s Canton Street. 

The 40-acre park, which debuted in the early 1990s amidst suburban Atlanta’s boom, counts amenities today that include a disc golf course, sprayground, rec center, Art Center, tennis courts, and multi-sport turf fields. 

Planned upgrades totaling $4.8 million will see better trail connectivity and ADA access, a bigger dog park, a new playground, stormwater management, and other improvements, per city officials. 

The park's 9000 Fouts Road location (in red) in relation to the Chattahoochee River and downtown Roswell. Google Maps

Some work, including the installation of new turf fields, was completed over the past two years, as the park had grown long in the tooth. 

The majority of funding for park upgrades is being sourced from a bond program Roswell voters overwhelmingly approved in November 2022, according to city officials. 

Weather permitting, all aspects of construction are expected to be finished by late this summer. 

Below is an overview of forthcoming park improvements, followed by a description of each facet of work, as provided by Roswell officials this week: 

Courtesy of City of Roswell

• A: New dog park and parking lot: The existing dog park will be expanded from 0.5 acres to 0.9 acres and will include irrigation improvements, as well as new landscaping, sod, trees, and an additional dog-watering station. The parking lot alongside the dog park will also be expanded.
• B: Art Center east parking and driveway improvements: The driveway at Art Center East will be reconfigured to include a new turnaround and drop-off area, as well as additional parking.
• C: Stormwater management upgrades: Erosion control and stormwater management systems, including water retention and detention ponds at the new dog park, will be installed to help mitigate runoff and prevent flooding and erosion.
• D: Trail connectivity: The park’s existing walking trail will be extended from the softball field parking lot to the Art Center, providing a complete pedestrian loop around East Roswell Park.
• E: New playground: The outdated playground in the southwest corner of the park, near Pavilion #2, will be replaced with all new equipment and landscaping.
• F: ADA accessibility improvements: Both park pavilions will receive accessibility improvements to better accommodate those with mobility issues. Additional ADA parking spaces will also be added at the multi-sport turf fields.

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The park's 9000 Fouts Road location (in red) in relation to the Chattahoochee River and downtown Roswell. Google Maps

Courtesy of City of Roswell

Subtitle $5M upgrades to include trail connectivity, new dog park, fresh playground

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Beltline: Some homes near trails appreciating by $50K per year Josh Green Thu, 02/27/2025 - 14:27 Like any Atlantan who owns a home near popular Beltline trails can attest, the city’s “glorified sidewalk” has translated to a financial boon for more than just developers and business owners.   

But according to Atlanta Beltline Inc., a program meant to lift up longtime residents who aren’t pulling large salaries near historically underserved sections of the 22-mile loop is also seeing positive results. 

During the pandemic autumn of 2020, Beltline officials launched the Legacy Resident Retention Program as an effort to preserve affordability for lower-income Atlanta homeowners who wish to stay put and not sell out. 

The program—financially backed by some of the city's largest corporations and most influential charities—has since lent property tax relief to 250 homeowners in what the Beltline considers “neighborhood stabilization areas” near southern and western trail corridors.

The resulting statistics, released this week as part of a Beltline affordable housing overview, could be eye-opening. 

The tax-relief program is open to residents who've owned their homes since at least March 2017 and earn at max 100 percent of the city’s Area Median Income. (In 2024, for a two-person household, that would mean an income limit of $86,000.) It essentially freezes some homeownership costs by covering the increase in property taxes beyond what they were in 2019.

The latest Beltline Northeast Trail section to open, in relation to Piedmont Park's dog park. Photo by LoKnows Drones; courtesy of Atlanta Beltline Inc.

Homeowners who’ve been in the program for at least a year have seen their home values appreciate by nearly $50,000 on average—and some have watched values balloon by more than $200,000 since entering, according to Beltline officials. 

Collectively, the 250 program participants have seen property values swell by $10.8 million, according to Fulton County tax records appraised value. Each homeowner has received an average of $2,174 in annual property tax assistance, per Beltline leadership.

In four years, the retention program has become Atlanta’s largest anti-displacement initiative and a tool for tackling the city’s infamous wealth disparities, per program leaders. 

“We want residents who lived in these neighborhoods for years before the Beltline was built to benefit from the economic opportunities, healthy living, and cultural vibrancy the Beltline creates,” said Rob Brawner, Atlanta Beltline Partnership executive director, in this week’s announcement. 

According to Brawner, nearly 2,000 Atlantans remain eligible for the program, and fundraising efforts to assist them are ongoing. 

Program donors to date include the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, Georgia Power, Rocket Community Fund, Delta Air Lines, Bank of America, Tull Charitable Foundation, Google, Truist, Kaiser Permanente, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

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Subtitle Retention program has translated to nearly $11M for low-income homeowners, agency reports

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Alpharetta's Main Street growth spurt continues with 'Uptown Rowe' Josh Green Thu, 02/27/2025 - 08:52 A residential growth spurt continues along a main Alpharetta traffic artery that’s being widened and made more approachable for pedestrians. 

Alpharetta-based Trilogy Investment Co. recently announced a 16-unit, luxury townhome venture called Uptown Rowe is moving forward along North Main Street. It’s joining other projects such as the Ronara homes and nearby mixed-use buildings bringing denser development just north of downtown Alpharetta. 

All townhomes at Uptown Rowe, the second Alpharetta project for Trilogy, will be for sale and not rentals, according to the builders. The project will be built by Rêve Homes, a homebuilding company Trilogy recently acquired. 

The wooded,  2.2-acre site in question is situated about a mile north of Alpharetta City Center in the 500 block of North Main Street, between Arrow Exterminators Pest Control and North Main Animal Hospital. 

Looking north, location of Uptown Rowe's 2.2-acre site in relation to Alpharetta City Center (bottom) and Avalon. Google Maps

Trilogy recently bought the site from Blue River Development, which is building another residential project, Mayfair on Main, on the flipside of downtown.  

A chief selling point for Uptown Rowe is walkability and “seamless access to shopping, dining, and entertainment,” according to a project announcement.  

Adjacent to the townhome site, the Georgia Department of Transportation is working on a $50-million reconstruction of North Main Street/Ga. Highway 9 that’s widening the corridor to four lanes for 3.6 miles between Upper Hembree Road and Windward Parkway. GDOT is also installing bike lanes, 10-foot sidewalks, on-street parking in places, ADA-friendly sidewalks, pedestrian lighting, and other features. 

Courtesy of Trilogy Investment Co.

Land development for Uptown Rowe is kicking off this month, according to project officials. 

The first move-ins are expected to come by the fourth quarter of 2026. No word yet on the range of townhome sizes and prices. 

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Looking north, location of Uptown Rowe's 2.2-acre site in relation to Alpharetta City Center (bottom) and Avalon. Google Maps

Courtesy of Trilogy Investment Co.

Subtitle Townhome project to claim wooded land near Alpharetta City Center

Neighborhood Alpharetta

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Visuals: Amsterdam Walk proposal over Beltline shrinks again Josh Green Wed, 02/26/2025 - 16:08 A massive redevelopment project that once promised to stand out among Beltline-adjacent projects around the city has been reduced to a more familiar scale, according to renderings obtained by Urbanize Atlanta. 

Following months of neighborhood meetings, complaints about traffic and other concerns, and substantial design revisions, leadership with both the Virginia-Highland Civic Association and Morningside Lenox Park Association voted in May last year to support the rezoning and redevelopment of commercial hub Amsterdam Walk. 

The former warehouse district, spread across 11 acres, has recently seen its cachet boosted by new segments of the Beltline’s Northeast Trail next door.

Work on the Portman Holdings project largely went quiet over fall and winter months, but it’s now set for review by two Atlanta City Council committees and another round of community input, according to VHCA officials. 

What arbiters will see is a substantially different project than what Portman last brought to the table in May as a compromise with neighborhood groups. 

The multifaceted Amsterdam Walk proposal as of last year, following a revision process that subtracted height. SOM architects/Portman Holdings

The proposal from the same angle today, per current Portman Holdings plans. SOM architects/Portman Holdings

Overall, the Amsterdam Walk project’s density will remain the same, 1.18 million square feet, as plans called for last year. 

But the arrangement and height of buildings—and thus, the amount of open plaza space—will be noticeably different. 

According to Portman’s latest designs, the number of buildings has been cut back from four to three, and those will stand a maximum of nine stories, as opposed to heights up to 17 stories initially proposed. 

With shorter and wider buildings, the plaza space will be reduced from earlier plans but will still meet the minimum 20 percent required by the city, according VHCA.

Office and retail space could land anywhere between 60,000 and 240,000 square feet, with 150,000 square feet being the current target. 

Revised designs for an Amsterdam Walk interior courtyard space. SOM architects/Portman Holdings

How the project would look when approaching from the Beltline's Northeast Trail. SOM architects/Portman Holdings

Meanwhile, the residential unit count could actually bump up from what plans showed (roughly 840 residences) last year. Revised plans call for between 940,000 and 1.12 million square feet of residential space—enough for between 940 and 1,100 units, according to VHCA officials. 

Another key design element calls for keeping Evelyn Street—the connection between Monroe Drive and Atlanta Botanical Garden—in its current location, instead of realigning it to be closer to Amsterdam Walk buildings. 

Instead, a new spur road will link Evelyn Street with Portman’s project, per VHCA. 

Portman officials first presented the redevelopment idea to both neighborhood groups in the summer of 2023. Specifics—and gripes—came later. 

Initially, plans called for new buildings standing between seven and 17 stories, with 900 new apartments, 90,000 square feet of commercial space, and 400,000 square feet of offices. At that scale, the proposal triggered neighborhood pushback that included a campaign of naysaying yard signs.

Alongside a host of conditions, plans approved in May by VHCA and MLPA officials scaled back everything but the amount of commercial or retail space. 

According to VHCA, the reduced density meant car trips would be slashed from an estimated almost 4,000 initially to 2,362 trips each day, or 41 percent less, per traffic models compiled last year. 

SOM architects/Portman Holdings

SOM architects/Portman Holdings

Under the current C-1 zoning classification, Portman’s buildings could have stood up to 225 feet tall at Amsterdam Walk.

The updated Amsterdam Walk plans will not be required to go through the NPU process again before city council members vote on the proposal, according VCHA. 

Alex Wan, District 6 Atlanta City Council member, is scheduled to host an online meeting March 3 regarding recent updates to the Amsterdam Walk project’s scope. Preregister for that meeting (and submit questions beforehand) right here. 

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The multifaceted Amsterdam Walk proposal as of last year, following a revision process that subtracted height. SOM architects/Portman Holdings

The proposal from the same angle today, per current Portman Holdings plans. SOM architects/Portman Holdings

SOM architects/Portman Holdings

SOM architects/Portman Holdings

Revised designs for an Amsterdam Walk interior courtyard space. SOM architects/Portman Holdings

SOM architects/Portman Holdings

How the project would look when approaching from the Beltline's Northeast Trail. SOM architects/Portman Holdings

Subtitle Density remains with Portman Holdings project, but height and plaza space cut back

Neighborhood Virginia-Highland

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Images: Gorgeous downtown ATL building makes 'Places in Peril' list Josh Green Wed, 02/26/2025 - 13:21 The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation today released the 20th edition of its closely watched 10 Places in Peril list, and two of those places are in metro Atlanta this year.

One of them—an architecturally significant, nearly century-old former substation building in the shadow of downtown skyscrapers—is facing threats of demolition for surface parking. 

Situated just east of revitalized Hurt Park, the 148 Edgewood Ave. structure was built in 1926 as a Georgia Railway and Power Company substation and “played a crucial role in powering downtown Atlanta,” according to the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s recap. 

It’s part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Register District, which the statewide preservation organization also considers threatened. 

The facade of 148 Edgewood Ave. today, situated between Hurt Park and the downtown Connector. Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

The Edgewood Avenue building was purchased in 1966 by Georgia State University, which has recently proposed demolishing it to clear space for a surface parking lot. A demolition permit has been signed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, according to the Places in Peril list. 

Downtown residents and Atlanta preservationists spoke out in opposition to demolition plans last fall, circulation a petition that now has more than 1,000 signatures. 

Though the building is a contributing structure in the historic district, GSU and the state’s Board of Regents have sovereign immunity “over the City of Atlanta’s zoning ordinances that would otherwise protect the building from needless demolition,” reads the petition. (Find more images of 148 Edgewood Ave. in the gallery above.)

The 148 Edgewood Ave. structure's location just east of downtown sky-rises. Google Maps

Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

For 20 years, the Places in Peril shortlist has aimed to spotlight significant cultural, historic, and archaeological resources across Georgia threatened by neglect, demolition, bad public policy, and inappropriate development.  

Also making the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s cut this year is a unique museum facility dedicated to transportation in Gwinnett County. 

Overview of Duluth's Southeastern Railway Museum today.Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

Duluth’s Southeastern Railway Museum, spread across 35 acres, includes a “remarkable collection of rolling stock” that showcases Georgia history (see: the retired MARTA train cars on site) and helps tell the story of transportation in America. Notable railcars in the museum’s collection include the 1911 Pullman Superb (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) and President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Marco Polo. 

“The museum thrives on a small staff and a team of dedicated volunteers,” noted preservation officials. “However, with over 90 pieces of historic rolling stock, the museum is limited in its capacity to restore and care for the whole collection.”

Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

The eight other sites on the 2025 Places in Peril list are:

Collier-Toomer House in Savannah (Chatham County); Crossroads Rosenwald School in Dixie (Brooks County); Gaissert Homeplace in Williamson (Spalding County); Miami Valley Peach Packing Barn in Fort Valley (Peach County); Historic Nicholsonboro Baptist Church in Savannah (Chatham County); Powell Opera House in Blakely (Early County); Historic Rock House in Thomson (McDuffie County); and Buckhead Town Hall and Jail in the town of Buckhead (Morgan County).

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The 148 Edgewood Ave. structure's location just east of downtown sky-rises. Google Maps

The facade of 148 Edgewood Ave. today, situated between Hurt Park and the downtown Connector. Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

Overview of Duluth's Southeastern Railway Museum today.Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

Subtitle Century-old structure could be razed for parking lot, per Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

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At Pullman Yards' doorstep, loft building on chopping block for development Josh Green Wed, 02/26/2025 - 08:01 Recent years have seen blocks around mixed-use district Pullman Yards spring to life with condos and townhome projects both for-sale and not. It appears that trend is set to continue. 

A 44-unit townhome development is in the works for a 206 Rogers St. property at the doorstep of Pullman Yards, across the street from its AlcoHall drinks and events concept and restaurants Fishmonger and Brick and Mortar. 

According to filings recently made with Atlanta’s Department of City Planning, the townhome project would include nine buildings total, with some live-work units.

A review process for the townhome proposal is ongoing, according to the city. 

Overview of the roughly 3 acres where townhomes are proposed at 206 Rogers St. NE. Google Maps

The townhomes would replace a longstanding, adaptive-reuse complex called The Warehouse Lofts, which has been home to residential units, furniture makers, artisans, a commercial photography studio, and other uses over the years. 

According to property managers Atlanta Loft Source, The Warehouse building was converted from industrial uses to lofts in 1986, marking one of the first conversions of its kind in the city. 

The roughly 3-acre property is situated just south of DeKalb Avenue, near Kirkwood’s western border with Edgewood. 

The converted Rogers Street warehouse in question, at left, and its proximity to Pullman Yards. Google Maps

We’ve reached out to development officials for more information on the townhome proposal, including information on a potential construction schedule and site plans. This story will be update if further details come. 

Have a look behind The Warehouse gates and inside lofts, as they stand today, over here. 

Parking and northern exteriors of The Warehouse Lofts today. Atlanta Loft Source

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Overview of the roughly 3 acres where townhomes are proposed at 206 Rogers St. NE. Google Maps

The converted Rogers Street warehouse in question, at left, and its proximity to Pullman Yards. Google Maps

Parking and northern exteriors of The Warehouse Lofts today. Atlanta Loft Source

Subtitle Plans call for townhome community along Kirkwood's Rogers Street

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MARTA to federal employees: Ditch your cars—take transit Josh Green Tue, 02/25/2025 - 16:02 Could the end of WFH flexibility for thousands of metro Atlantans spell good things for downtown businesses, new developments, and MARTA? Will it spur lasting vibrancy on some of the city’s oldest streets? Is traffic Armageddon coming? 

Those are among the unanswered questions swirling as a new post-pandemic era appears to be dawning downtown, with President Donald Trump mandating that federal agencies return employees to the office full-time, beginning this week. 

In response, MARTA has issued a message to reborn intown commuters and downtown workers forced to leave hybrid work behind: Leave the driving to us. 

The transit agency issued alternate-transportation tips and reminders today for workers trying to reach destinations such as the Richard B. Russell federal building, which stands near two of Atlanta’s most extensive redevelopment projects, Centennial Yards and Atlanta Ventures’ South Downtown. Both projects have debuted fresh retail offerings—comfort Thai food, coffee, and a brewery among them—since COVID-19 shuttered federal offices. 

MARTA predicts Trump’s mandate will translate to more congestion from single-occupancy vehicles on Atlanta streets and downtown parking becoming more expensive and scarce. 

As the AJC notes, downtown Atlanta counts one of the largest supplies of federal office buildings in the country—workplaces for thousands of government employees—outside of Washington D.C. 

“It can be difficult to get back into the habit of going into the office five days a week—it’s been an adjustment for many of us,” Collie Greenwood, MARTA general manager and CEO, noted in today’s announcement. “So, let MARTA drive, and you can listen to music or scroll on your phone during your commute and not have the added stress of traffic and parking.”

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As MARTA officials relay, Five Points station is the most convenient connection to downtown federal office buildings. It provides direct access to the Richard B. Russell building via a tunnel. 

Five Points is also the connecting point for all four MARTA rail lines and these 10 bus routes, as the transit agency notes:

Route 3 – Martin Luther King Jr Dr/Auburn Ave

Route 21 – Memorial Drive

Route 26 – Marietta Street / Perry Boulevard

Route 40 – Peachtree Street / Downtown

Route 42 – Pryor Road

Route 49 – McDonough Boulevard

Route 55 – Jonesboro Road

Route 186 – Rainbow Drive / South DeKalb

Route 816 – North Highland Avenue

Route 813 – Atlanta University Center

For the uninitiated, the following rail stations also serve downtown (and lest we forget the Atlanta Streetcar as well) ——>

Peachtree Center

Georgia State

Garnett

GWCC/CNN Center

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Subtitle For thousands now required to return to downtown offices full-time, MARTA offers tips

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Townhome project floated near historic Atlanta cemetery Josh Green Tue, 02/25/2025 - 14:05 In Southwest Atlanta, city-approved plans for a townhome venture are being offered for sale within walking distance of the Beltline and one of the Southeast’s most gorgeous historic graveyards. 

The 25-unit townhome proposal would replace a church property at 1591 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard in Westview. 

The 1.1-acre site is across the street from the largest civilian cemetery in the Southeast, Westview Cemetery. The scenic greenspace spans nearly 600 acres, dates to the 1880s, and has hosted more than 100,000 interments. 

In the other direction, the Beltline’s Westside Trail—and Enota Park, where a multifaceted expansion is set to kick off this year—is located about five blocks away. 

The 1591 RDA Boulevard site's proximity to Westview Cemetery (left) and soon-to-be-expanded Enota Park along the Beltline's Westside Trail. Google Maps

How the planned townhome venture would front Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard a block from the Southeast's largest graveyard. Terminus Design Group; via Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers

According to a Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers listing posted last week, the Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard site has been entitled for 25 townhomes, with a Special Administrative Permit already approved to begin development.

The $2.3 million asking price includes those plans and survey documents, per the listing. 

Fulton County property records indicate an LLC called RDA Development bought the 1.09-acre site from the church two years ago for $90,000.

The 25-unit site plans along RDA Boulevard. Terminus Design Group; via Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers

The Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard property in question in November. Google Maps

According to Coldwell Banker, the owner also owns five lots across the street, entitled for another five townhomes. Those parcels are asking $460,000 total. 

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The 1591 RDA Boulevard site's proximity to Westview Cemetery (left) and soon-to-be-expanded Enota Park along the Beltline's Westside Trail. Google Maps

How the planned townhome venture would front Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard a block from the Southeast's largest graveyard. Terminus Design Group; via Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers

The Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard property in question in November. Google Maps

The 25-unit site plans along RDA Boulevard. Terminus Design Group; via Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers

Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers

Subtitle Westview proposal would replace church property near Westside Trail

Neighborhood Westview

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Beltline leadership: Big year on tap for affordable housing near trails Josh Green Tue, 02/25/2025 - 11:45 Atlanta Beltline Inc. is taking stock this week of what leadership calls a monumental year for affordable housing delivery in the city, with several more trail-adjacent projects expected to take key steps forward in 2025. 

According to a tally released today, the Beltline in 2024 delivered 569 affordable housing units around Atlanta—or almost 90 percent more than its annual goal of 300 affordable homes. 

Examples included the 56-unit Stanton Park Apartments that opened last winter in Peoplestown (with rents starting at $542 monthly), backed by $2 million from the Atlanta Beltline Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

The Stanton Park facade at 1056 Hank Aaron Drive in Peoplestown. Stanton Park Apartments; Woda Cooper Companies/Parallel Housing Inc.

With 2024 in the books, Beltline leaders say they’ve reached 74 percent of their target to create or preserve 5,600 affordable housing units near trails by 2030, when the 22-mile, multi-purpose loop is scheduled to be finished. (Today, roughly 85 percent of the main Beltline is either finished or actively under construction, project officials have reported.) 

The Beltline—which has now banked 87 acres of land for redevelopment, from southern Buckhead to the Westside, Pittsburgh, and beyond—expects to again exceed its housing goals for 2025. 

The pace also suggests housing targets for 2030 will be surpassed, officials relayed this week. 

“We’re hitting our stride in making equitable development a reality,” Clyde Higgs, Beltline president and CEO, noted in an announcement.

As for the 2025 outlook, Beltline leadership issued these updates, including the latest on a scheduled groundbreaking:  

Trees Atlanta's new headquarters (bottom left), the Murphy Crossing property, and the Beltline's Westside Trail. LoKnows Drones; courtesy of Atlanta Beltline Inc.

• Murphy Crossing: Despite a recent setback that came when Beltline leadership parted ways and canceled a contract with Arizona developer Culdesac and its Atlanta-based partner Urban Oasis Development, Beltline leadership struck an optimistic tone this week for a 20-acre redevelopment that could see hundreds of housing units priced below market-rate. 

The Murphy Crossing site in 2025 will be rezoned to I-Mix, a designation that allows for dense economic development—combining commercial, residential, and even jobs-producing industrial uses on a single property—in underserved neighborhoods around the city. Public meetings regarding Murphy Crossing’s remake are expected to begin next month. 

Pittsburgh Yards and buildable acreage along a finished section of the Southside Trail. LoKnows Drones; courtesy of Atlanta Beltline Inc.

**• Pittsburgh Yards’ neighbor:**The 14-acreblank slate that is 346 University Ave. is also expected to undergo I-Mix rezoning in 2025, setting the stage for potential mixed-use growth. 

The Beltline paid $13.3 million for the Pittsburgh property in the summer of 2023, and community engagement and master-planning work continues. “The Beltline is currently in the planning phase and incorporating community feedback to shape the future of the site,” notes this week’s update.

Potential look of commercial frontage along the Beltline near Garson Drive.via Invest Atlanta/ABI

• Northwest Trail land: At the 579 Garson Drive site in southern Buckhead near Lindbergh, 130 units of affordable housing and roughly 10,000 square feet of below-market commercial space is in the works, as Northwest Trail construction progresses nearby. 

Beltline officials report the Atlanta City Council has approved rezoning for mixed-use development to move forward. The project remains in design phases but is expected to break ground in the fourth quarter of this year, per Beltline officials.

Chappell Road acreage west of Midtown today. TSW; courtesy of Atlanta Beltline Inc.

• Big Westside potential: The largest chunk of land in the Beltline’s portfolio—a 425 Chappell Road site spanning more than 31 acres—has been submitted to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for review as a Development of Regional Impact, a designation for projects big enough to effect multiple jurisdictions. Meanwhile, the site has received rezoning approval from the Atlanta City Council for redevelopment. 

According to Beltline leadership, predevelopment work for the first five blocks of development has started; that facet of the site calls for about 150 units of for-sale housing and roughly 5,000 square feet of affordable commercial spaces. The site is situated just south of Westside Park (now renamed for former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin) and MARTA’s Bankhead station. 

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Trees Atlanta's new headquarters (bottom left), the Murphy Crossing property, and the Beltline's Westside Trail. LoKnows Drones; courtesy of Atlanta Beltline Inc.

The Residences at Chosewood Park project. Courtesy of Atlanta Beltline Inc.

The 160-unit Englewood senior housing site last year. The Benoit Group and JM Wilkerson; courtesy of Atlanta Beltline Inc.

Chappell Road acreage west of Midtown today. TSW; courtesy of Atlanta Beltline Inc.

Pittsburgh Yards and buildable acreage along a finished section of the Southside Trail. LoKnows Drones; courtesy of Atlanta Beltline Inc.

Subtitle Nearly 600 units deemed affordable were delivered in 2024, according to agency summary

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Braves stadium scores new food hall, open-air bar for '25 season Josh Green Mon, 02/24/2025 - 14:59 When a fresh Atlanta Braves season begins in a few weeks, fans will likely notice several changes to the gameday experience around the eight-year-old ballpark.  

Those will include a new Truist Park food hall—dubbed the Outfield Market—and an open-air bar space adjacent to the famed Chop House, as team officials announced today. 

Consisting of eight food stalls, the Outfield Market is scheduled to debut ahead of the Braves’ home opener on April 4. It’ll be located on the Right Field Concourse, directly across from another new feature: a lounge section called The Pen above the Braves bullpen in right field. 

The food hall’s culinary roster has yet to be released, but team officials say it will “showcase flavors from across Braves Country and beyond.” (The Braves announced a regional search at the end of last season for fan-recommended grub from across the South.) Other food options will come from stadium catering partner Delaware North.

Other aspects will include a communal dining area, a 470-square-foot LED screen showing game action, and a Braves retail shop. 

The Braves partnered with Rossetti on the renovations, with Impact Development Management serving as advisor.via Truist Park/@truistpark

Meanwhile, a new open-air concept called Closer’s Bar will also be opening for this season. It’ll be situated adjacent to the Coors Light Chop House (just inside the Chop House Gate). Expect “an elevated cocktail menu with rotating signature drinks” alongside a new custom mural, per team officials. 

Another significant change will be found at Left Field Plaza, where the reimagined, expanded family amenity that is Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Park will be in full swing by the time games at The Battery Atlanta resume. Officials have said that space will accommodate more than twice as many families as the former Hope & Will's Sandlot area.

Other investments outside the walls of the MLB ballpark include a crop of office and residential buildings now finishing construction or rising up.

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The Braves partnered with Rossetti on the renovations, with Impact Development Management serving as advisor.via Truist Park/@truistpark

Subtitle Truist Park changes will join reimagined, expanded Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Park

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Report: Atlanta's first e-bike rebate program is working Josh Green Mon, 02/24/2025 - 13:42 If traffic in Atlanta seems a little bit lighter these days—okay fine, it doesn’t. But if it did, we might all have e-bikes to thank. 

Back in June, Atlanta became the first city in Georgia—and just the third in the Southeast, alongside Tampa and Raleigh—to offer an e-bike rebate program. The goal was to help ease a shift from car-dependent travel for Atlantans, cut back on transportation costs, and make e-bike ownership more affordable for a broader swath of society. 

Rebates were funded by a $1 million commitment from Atlanta City Council and administered by the Atlanta Regional Commission. Advocacy group Propel ATL led communal outreach efforts.

Eight months later, ARC officials say those e-bike rebates redeemed by a total of 579 Atlanta residents are paying dividends in numerous ways.

Rebate recipients report they’re opting for two wheels more often than four, reducing car trips to school or work by about 40 percent, according to an ARC survey. Nearly three quarters of them—74 percent—report riding their new e-bikes at least two days per week. 

Some other key findings of the Atlanta E-Bike Rebate Program 2024 Year-End Report: 

• Low and moderate-income Atlantans primarily benefited. Per ARC, 82 percent of rebate funds (that’s higher than the target 75 percent) were redeemed by income-qualified city dwellers earning 80 percent of the area median income or less.

• The 12 participating local bike shops benefited—to the tune of $1.2 million in bike and accessory sales for shops operating in the city.

• Roughly one-third (or 194 recipients) opted for cargo e-bikes designed to carry additional passengers and weight.

All told, 11,065 Atlantans applied for an e-bike rebate—that’s about 2 percent of the city’s total population—and recipients were picked from nearly every neighborhood in town, according to ARC officials. 

Four of nearly 600 Atlantans to receive e-bike rebates to date. Courtesy of Atlanta Regional Commission

One rebate recipient, Southwest Atlanta resident LaMiiko Moore (pictured top left above), called her cargo e-bike a commute-altering “game-changer” that she uses to transport her daughter around, visit friends, and run errands to the grocery store and other places. 

“I still have my car, but it now seems ridiculous to drive short distances when I can just hop on my e-bike,” Moore told the ARC. “I ride four to five times a week. Being on an e-bike helps you discover things that you’ll fly by in a car. It helps you see things differently.”

Bennett Foster, ARC’s managing director of mobility services, said the rebate program exceeded expectations overall and that ARC “would be thrilled to help administer another phase… should funding become available in the future.” (Hint hint, city council). 

Qualified Atlanta residents were eligible to receive $1,500 rebates for standard e-bikes, or $2,000 for the larger cargo e-bikes. (Americans generally spend around $2,000 on their first e-bike purchase, according to eBicycles.)

By our math, the average rebate recipient in Atlanta’s inaugural program received more than $1,700. 

“The recipients truly reflect our community,” said Atlanta Mayor and ARC board chairman Andre Dickens in an announcement. “They include students looking for cost-effective rides to class, parents juggling kids and a job, and older adults seeking recreation and community.”

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Four of nearly 600 Atlantans to receive e-bike rebates to date. Courtesy of Atlanta Regional Commission

Subtitle Roughly 2 percent of city's population applied for first round of rebates last year

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