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Developer: Quickly selling Savannah project adds land, beefs up scope Josh Green Tue, 08/05/2025 - 16:30

Following a surge of buyer interest, developers creating a new community on an island near historic downtown Savannah have closed on more land to expand the project’s scope and keep construction going.

National residential developer Trilogy Investment Company has acquired more than 7 acres on Hutchinson Island in Savannah’s River District, where 57 new homes are now slated to be built as part of The Isling at Savannah Harbor.

The purchase price for Trilogy’s second development parcel on the island was $9.8 million, per project officials.

Trilogy has partnered with Atlanta-based real estate investment firm Kingdom Estates on the project, which broke ground in March with promises of urban walkability in an island setting across the water from downtown.

The land acquisition follows what Trilogy calls strong sales momentum at the riverside enclave, where half of the initial Phase I home releases are under contract. The next round of homes will now be built according to demand and sales, rather than moving forward later as a second phase. Currently, nine houses are under construction, with more scheduled to go vertical soon, according to Trilogy officials.

alt Overview of infrastructure and a smattering of large houses and amenities put in place by previous developers at The Isling at Savannah Harbor's site. Courtesy of Trilogy Investment Company

alt The Isling at Savannah Harbor's planned walkable layout across the water from downtown. Courtesy of Trilogy Investment Company

Jason Joseph, Trilogy’s CEO and managing partner, said buyer response to The Isling has exceeded the company’s expectations. Savannah has notched impressive growth in recent years and emerged as a darling of national travel and “Best Of” lists, including the No. 4 spot on Travel + Leisure readers’ ranking of the 15 best U.S. cities last month.

“Having half of our initial release under contract is a clear testament to the demand and energy surrounding this one-of-a-kind community,” Joseph said in a project update. “This latest acquisition allows us to continue delivering thoughtfully designed homes without interruption, while reinforcing our commitment to shaping the future of Savannah’s urban residential landscape.”

The Isling project was formerly known as The Reserve at Savannah Harbor. The current developers partnered to acquire The Isling’s initial parcel for $17 million last year. Beyond the new construction, the site counts a few large homes and some infrastructure next to golf course links but little else.

The Isling’s property is set across the Savannah River from the city’s famed River Street, near the Talmadge Memorial Bridge. It’s a five-minute drive—or short ferry ride—from Savannah’s downtown Historic District, according to project leaders.

The initial phase will see 90 homes total—a mix of townhomes, duplexes, and single-family dwellings.

alt Example of home facades bound for The Isling. The architecture will include "inviting front porches, elevated foundations, and... natural materials such as brick, stucco, and wood that harmonize with the surrounding environment," per developers. Courtesy of Trilogy Investment Company

alt Overview of the 36-acre plan for Hutchinson Island, across the water from Savannah's River Street, facing away from downtown. Courtesy of Trilogy Investment Company

Prices listed so far start at $835,000 for a three-bedroom, four-bathroom townhome with 2,093 square feet.

The priciest offering to date—an estate home with four bedrooms and five bathrooms in 3,500 square feet—is asking $1.65 million. That home is under contract.

When completed, The Isling will see 198 residences in what officials call a mix of Coastal and Lowcountry architectural styles and floorplans meant to complement the island’s scenery. Planned amenities include bocce and pickleball courts, a resort-style pool, bountiful gardens, and a large clubhouse for events and gatherings.

Options will include single-family dwellings with city views, deep-water river homes, rowhomes, duets (that’s fancy speak for “duplex”), as well as golf course and terrace properties. Custom home design and build company Southern Coastal Homes is onboard for construction, in partnership with architecture firm A Classical Studio.

Trilogy reps have told Urbanize Atlanta the construction timeline calls for completing the full project in less than four years from now. Find more context and imagery in the gallery above.

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alt Overview of infrastructure and a smattering of large houses and amenities put in place by previous developers at The Isling at Savannah Harbor's site. Courtesy of Trilogy Investment Company

alt Overview of the 36-acre plan for Hutchinson Island, across the water from Savannah's River Street, facing away from downtown. Courtesy of Trilogy Investment Company

alt The Isling at Savannah Harbor's planned walkable layout across the water from downtown. Courtesy of Trilogy Investment Company

alt Example of home facades bound for The Isling. The architecture will include "inviting front porches, elevated foundations, and... natural materials such as brick, stucco, and wood that harmonize with the surrounding environment," per developers. Courtesy of Trilogy Investment Company

alt The project's location (circled) in relation to downtown Savannah and the city's airport. The Reserve At Savannah Harbor

alt View of the Talmadge Memorial Bridge's connection to Hutchinson Island. The new community will be located to the right. Shutterstock

alt View of Savannah's River Street from Hutchinson Island. Shutterstock

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The Isling at Savannah Harbor acquires 57 more homesites near river, historic downtown

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Preservationists scorn GSU decision to bulldoze 1920s downtown building Josh Green Tue, 08/05/2025 - 08:34

A statewide historic preservationist group is lambasting a decision by one of Atlanta’s leading universities to demolish a century-old building on Edgewood Avenue downtown.

The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation issued a statement today calling Georgia State University’s decision to raze the historic former substation at 148 Edgewood Ave. unfortunate, “short-sighted,” and an “avoidable loss.”

According to the preservationist agency, the Edgewood Avenue property—currently listed on Georgia Trust’s 2025 Places in Peril—remains structurally sound and ripe for adaptive-reuse redevelopment for another purpose, one that keeps architectural heritage in place while serving students. Subtracting the structure will diminish neighborhood character and negatively impact the integrity of the historic district, Georgia Trust leadership insists.

GSU intends to raze the building and replace it with greenspace for a Fraternity and Sorority Life Plaza that’s part of its broader College Town Downtown initiative. Per the university, bricks from the building would be incorporated into the plaza, and a mural on an adjacent wall of townhomes would pay homage to the demolished structure. (See a rendering of the proposed plaza over here.) That’s despite months of pushback from preservationists and alumni. A petition to save the structure has gathered 1,500 signatures.

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

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

According to preservationists pushing to save the building, the demolition would contradict GSU’s 2014 Campus Historic Preservation Plan that pinpointed the structure as being worthy of investment and long-term preservation.

“Georgia State’s decision to destroy this building… is mystifying,” said Georgia Trust president and CEO W. Wright Mitchell in a statement. “This is especially true since GSU simply intends to use the area for greenspace. By removing this building from the landmark district, GSU will erode the significance of the district and eradicate a tangible link to our city’s past.”

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 once played a key role in powering downtown Atlanta, according to the preservationist agency. It’s part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Register District, which the statewide preservation organization also considers threatened.

GSU acquired the property in 1966 and has used it for a number of academic purposes, including as the home of its photography department.

alt Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

alt Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

In other Edgewood Avenue news this week, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens' office says more protective bicycle lanes could be coming to the corridor as part of safety and infrastructure upgrades following a recent spate of gun violence.

**“**Plans are being evaluated to convert temporary bike lanes into permanent infrastructure, improving pedestrian safety and reducing congestion,” reads a Monday announcement from the city. 

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

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

alt Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

alt Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

alt Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

alt Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

alt Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

alt Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

alt Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

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148 Edgewood Ave. substation structure is part of Martin Luther King, Jr. Landmark District

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Crane Watch: Midtown high-rise now stands among Atlanta's tallest Josh Green Mon, 08/04/2025 - 16:52

As we’ve recently seen from points across town, Rockefeller Group’s 1072 West Peachtree project is making more of a mark on Atlanta’s skyline by the week. But as the high-rise approaches 50 stories tall, it’s starting to forge a visual impact on par with the city’s most iconic and tallest skyscrapers. 

According to our borderline obsessive tower tracking, the 60-story mixed-use venture has climbed roughly eight stories since mid-June

As August begins, crews are working on the 46th and 47th floors, by our count. That means the project still has more than a dozen stories to climb before adding the glassy winged flourishes depicted in renderings at top. 

Rockefeller reps have declined to provide construction updates this summer, other than to say 1072 West Peachtree is on pace to top out in the fourth quarter of this year—and to start delivering before Atlanta’s 2026 FIFA World Cup matches kick off in June. 

alt As seen from the north, the Rockefeller project in the context of two of Atlanta's top-three tallest buildings, One Atlantic Center (left) and Bank of America Plaza. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Vertical construction progress on the 60-story building has reached these levels today, according to our unofficial comparison of site photos and available renderings.Courtesy of Rockefeller Group

Rockefeller officials relayed in April that 1072 West Peachtree had finished its office and retail floors, en route to becoming both the tallest residential and mixed-use building in Atlanta, and the fifth tallest in the city overall. No taller skyrise has been built in the city since 1992. 

Since this past spring, the tower’s height has clearly surpassed the nearby “Google building,” the tallest, 31-story office component of Selig Development’s three-tower 1105 West Peachtree project. And it’s starting to rival the stratospheric heights of One Atlantic Center, Midtown’s tallest building at 820 feet (50 stories). 

As designed by Atlanta-based architecture firm TVS, in collaboration with Brock Hudgins Architects, the Rockefeller tower will count more than 350 upscale apartments total. Some will have the highest residential views in Atlanta to date. 

Below that, 224,000 square feet of Class A office space will occupy floors 11 to 18. Spanning a full acre, the tower’s 10th-floor amenity deck will include collaborative and lounge seating areas and a lawn for games, events, and other gatherings. 

alt Looking south at 1072 West Peachtree along Spring Street as the project nears 50 stories today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt West Peachtree Street view of Rockefeller Group’s planned 60-story Midtown project.Rockefeller Group; Brock Hudgins Architects; TVS

Rockefeller’s plans for the street-level retail component include multiple options for dining throughout the day. Those spaces will see coffee, casual grab-and-go, and sit-down restaurant additions to the block, per developers. 

According to Rockefeller reps, 1072 West Peachtree will ultimately stand 749 feet, making it Atlanta’s fifth tallest high-rise and supplanting Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel for the No. 5 spot. 

In the gallery above, find a closer look at where this rising new Midtown landmark stands today. 

alt Reflection of One Atlantic Center in 1072 West Peachtree's glassy northern face today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

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alt Construction progress today on the 1072 West Peachtree building, as seen from the north on Peachtree Road in Buckhead. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Looking south at 1072 West Peachtree along Spring Street as the project nears 50 stories today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Vertical construction progress on the 60-story building has reached these levels today, according to our unofficial comparison of site photos and available renderings.Courtesy of Rockefeller Group

alt Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt As seen from the north, the Rockefeller project in the context of two of Atlanta's top-three tallest buildings, One Atlantic Center (left) and Bank of America Plaza. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Reflection of One Atlantic Center in 1072 West Peachtree's glassy northern face today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt The tower's stance from the intersection of Spring and 14th streets today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

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Still more than a dozen stories to climb at Rockefeller Group's 1072 West Peachtree skyscraper

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GDOT wants your 2 cents about potential Atlanta-to-Savannah train Josh Green Mon, 08/04/2025 - 15:10

There’s another positive sign afoot that Georgia’s transportation authority is taking potential intercity rail transit between Atlanta and Savannah—and possibly other cities—seriously.

Back in March, the Georgia Department of Transportation conducted a public survey to gauge Georgians’ interest in a potential ATL-to-Savannah rail line. Another quick survey with a different slate of questions opened today. 

The latest questionnaire seeks information on Atlantans’ travel patterns to other parts of Georgia. Beyond Savannah, the survey asks how often, and for what purpose, ATLiens visit Athens, Macon, and Augusta, among other questions.  

According to GDOT’s Atlanta to Savannah Project Team, the survey takes on average five to 10 minutes. (Our test-run clocked in at less than four minutes.) The project website now also includes a recording of GDOT’s second stakeholder meeting. 

alt Georgia Department of Transportation

GDOT entered the public engagement phase early this year of what’s called the Atlanta-Savannah Intercity Passenger Rail Project.

Of course, significant hurdles and question marks stand between here and actual passenger rail service from Georgia’s capital to Savannah. But the fact that GDOT—a roads-first agency if there ever was one—is seriously studying the potential of rail has lent hope to alternate transportation enthusiasts.  

The $10 million study is funded with $8 million from the Federal Rail Administration awarded in 2023, plus a $2 million match from GDOT. 

It aims to produce what’s called a Service Development Plan for passenger rail between Georgia’s growing population centers and increasing demand for travel between them. The broader goal is to develop a program that helps guide the creation of an intercity rail network around the country, starting with rail projects deemed ready for implementation. 

alt The project study area in question covers a wide swath of Georgia. Georgia Department of Transportation

Amtrak is among the “successful private operators” that will be vetted for cost and feasibility for operating the rail line in Georgia, GDOT officials said earlier this year. (Amtrak has praised intown Atlanta as a strategic intercity rail hub location and last year requested nearly $30 million in federal funding to secure a development site at an undisclosed location here.)

The Atlanta-Savannah Intercity Passenger Rail Project—expected to span several years—will evaluate benefits and costs of the passenger rail line, weigh financial feasibility, and whittle down the range of service alternatives. 

Nothing resembling a construction timeline has been compiled, as no funding for final design and building the rail line has been identified. However, GDOT has said a cost-benefit analysis and the hunt for potential funding sources will come next year. 

GDOT’s goal is to complete the corridor’s Service Development Plan and then finish an Environmental Impact Statement by early 2028. 

Who’s ready to roll? 

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alt The project study area in question covers a wide swath of Georgia. Georgia Department of Transportation

alt Georgia Department of Transportation

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New survey seeks info on Atlantans’ travel patterns to Hostess City, other parts of Georgia

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Overhaul of Little Five Points gathering space officially kicks off Josh Green Mon, 08/04/2025 - 13:42

The beating heart of funky Little Five Points is set for an overhaul.  

After a decade of fundraising and planning, the Little 5 Points Improvement District last week broke ground on a renovation of Findley Plaza, a communal gathering hub bordering the intersection of the district’s many streets. 

According to the Little 5 Points Alliance, the most significant change at Findley Plaza will be a wide-open centralized space designed to host events and other activities, dotted with new benches and bike racks (yes, please). The plaza will also have access to electricity for programming. 

Behind construction fencing, crews have removed old trees that were struggling; plans call for replacing them with new Nuttall Oak trees, situated between the plaza and Moreland and Euclid avenues to provide a buffer and needed shade, according to the alliance. 

A L5P sculpture by Atlanta artist R.Land—known for his “Pray for ATL” hands and colorful, zany murals—will also be included, per a 2021 project recap. 

“The goal of the newly redesigned Findley Plaza is to create a flexible, community driven space that is welcoming to all,” the alliance wrote in 2021. 

alt Overview of Findley Plaza plans at the corner of Moreland and Euclid avenues. Little 5 Points Alliance/Little 5 Points Improvement District/Russell Landscape

alt Construction fencing erected around Findley Plaza—and swiftly tagged—last week. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

The remade plaza calls for more than 13,000 square feet of new impervious surfaces, per designs approved by the City of Atlanta and Urban Design Commission more than six years ago. Russell Landscape, Lichty Commercial Construction, and the city’s Department of Transportation are named as partners in the project. 

In addition to private donors and businesses, Park Pride, the Renew Atlanta bond program, and city council are credited as funding sources. Plans call for installing donor bricks in the plaza to acknowledge contributors. 

alt Opened-up plaza space and planned placement of new bike racks along Euclid Avenue. Little 5 Points Alliance/Little 5 Points Improvement District/Russell Landscape

alt Beginnings of plaza construction along Euclid Avenue today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

We’ve asked alliance officials for a construction timeline but hadn’t heard back as of press time. A project summary in 2021 said construction should take between six and nine months. 

All Little Five Points businesses will be open during the plaza renovation. 

Head up to the gallery for more Findley Plaza images and context. 

alt Plaza plans approved in 2019 by the city and its Urban Design Commission.Pond; via Little 5 Points Alliance

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alt Construction fencing erected around Findley Plaza—and swiftly tagged—last week. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Overview of Findley Plaza plans at the corner of Moreland and Euclid avenues. Little 5 Points Alliance/Little 5 Points Improvement District/Russell Landscape

alt Opened-up plaza space and planned placement of new bike racks along Euclid Avenue. Little 5 Points Alliance/Little 5 Points Improvement District/Russell Landscape

alt Little 5 Points Alliance/Little 5 Points Improvement District/Russell Landscape

alt Beginnings of plaza construction along Euclid Avenue today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Plaza plans approved in 2019 by the city and its Urban Design Commission.Pond; via Little 5 Points Alliance

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A decade in the making, Findley Plaza redo calls for open events space, more

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Images: People-friendly extension of Midtown street plows ahead Josh Green Mon, 08/04/2025 - 08:12

Slowly but surely, two formerly empty lots in Midtown are becoming a connective new street with space for more than cars. 

Sidewalk pouring, utility relocation, granite curb installation, and other work continues for the 15th Street extension that’s taking shape around two busy north-south traffic corridors, with hopes of opening soon. 

The 15th Street extension will create a multimodal, people-friendly, two-block link from the Arts Center MARTA station to Williams Street, near the downtown Connector. After breaking ground early last year, work on site has included rock blasting and removal.   

Previously, 15th Street dead-ended at West Peachtree Street, next to the AMLI Arts Center and Hanover Midtown apartment towers. 

alt Recent sidewalk installation between Spring and Williams streets, looking west toward Atlantic Station. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Courtesy of Midtown Alliance

That walled off access to the transit hub for sections of Spring Street, where hundreds of new residences have recently taken shape in buildings such as Mira at Midtown Union.

Atlanta Department of Transportation and Midtown Alliance project pages indicate the 15th Street extension is on pace to be mostly finished in September. (We’ve asked officials today if that timeline is still accurate and will update this story if not.) 

The extended street will slip between the apartment high-rises, the building that houses Whole World Improv Theatre, and Spectrum on Spring apartments, consuming what most recently functioned as a gravel parking lot and construction staging zone.  

In the works are three new lanes of public roadway between West Peachtree and Spring streets, including two left-turn lanes at both of those one-way streets. West of that, expect a single through-lane in each direction, connecting to Williams Street.  

Other features will include five-foot-wide bicycle lanes at sidewalk level in each direction, another five-foot zone dedicated to trees and street furniture, and 10-foot sidewalks on both sides of the street.

The bike lanes are designed to directly connect with the Arts Center MARTA station, recent residential and hotel developments, and other bike routes in the district, per Midtown Alliance. No bike lanes on Spring or West Peachtree streets currently exist near 15th Street, though. 

alt Construction progress between Spring and West Peachtree streets, next to the AMLI Arts Center tower (left). Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt The proposed look of two new blocks of 15th Street, looking west toward Atlantic Station from West Peachtree Street. Courtesy of Midtown Alliance

The full two-block extension has consumed Georgia Department of Transportation right-of-way. That eliminated the costs of acquiring real estate, project officials have said. 

After receiving a grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission, city and GDOT officials began work to design the 15th Street project back in summer 2017. 

In addition to fundraising, engineering, traffic, and environmental studies took place over the next few years. A hiccup involving the bidding process knocked the construction timeline back in fall 2022.

According to Midtown Alliance, the project was awarded to low bidder Reeves Young in December 2023, and construction began in earnest about three months later. 

More than $6 million was secured to build the project, with about half of that coming from GDOT and federal coffers. Midtown Improvement District funds and City of Atlanta impact fees have covered the bulk of remaining costs.

Find more project context and construction photos in the gallery above. 

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alt Courtesy of Midtown Alliance

alt Recent sidewalk installation between Spring and Williams streets, looking west toward Atlantic Station. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Looking north up Spring Street, toward 16th Street. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Construction progress between Spring and West Peachtree streets, next to the AMLI Arts Center tower (left). Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt The proposed look of two new blocks of 15th Street, looking west toward Atlantic Station from West Peachtree Street. Courtesy of Midtown Alliance

alt A section of the project showing 15th Street's new functionality. Courtesy of Midtown Alliance/Jacobs

alt Placement of the forthcoming 15th Street extension. Google Maps/Urbanize

Subtitle

Scheduled to open soon, 15th Street project is reconnecting street grid with multimodal access

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Images: Office-replacing Satellite Commons project to debut next month Josh Green Fri, 08/01/2025 - 13:02

Northeast of Atlanta, a multifaceted infill project is finishing construction that designers call a refreshingly walkable alternative to typical suburban development.

Satellite Commons, named for its location along Satellite Boulevard, is claiming a 40-acre former office site and parking lots across two phases in Duluth’s Sugarloaf area. It’s just north of the Interstate 85 junction with Ga. Highway 316, across the street from Mercedes-Benz of Atlanta Northeast, a large dealership. 

The site is the former headquarters of Fortune 500 company NCR, a financial telecommunications firm that made waves by uprooting from Gwinnett to a glassy high-rise complex in Midtown seven years ago. 

Officials with Nelson Worldwide, Satellite Commons’ architect of record, tell Urbanize Atlanta the project’s initial phase is finishing construction and scheduled to be completed in September.

alt Courtesy of Nelson

alt The vacant former NCR headquarters, prior to demolition in 2021. Google Maps

Phase one includes 350 apartments, 64 rental cottages, and 25,000 square feet of walkable retail and restaurant space. Another 350 multifamily units are in the pipeline for phase two.

Onsite perks include saltwater pools described as “resort-style,” fitness centers, clubhouses with coworking, pocket parks, business centers, conference rooms, and multi-use trails that link the community to the Gwinnett County Trail Network. Overall, the goal was to create a “seamless blend of modern living, retail convenience, and accessible recreation,” per an architectural overview.

On the retail front, the project is partially leased, and tenants have begun moving in. We’ve asked for a list of signed tenants and will update this story should that come.

alt Scope of the 40-acre site, in relation to I-85 and Ga. Highway 316 in Duluth. Google Maps

alt Rendering of the project's multifamily component. Courtesy of Nelson

John Lewis, a Nelson principal and multifamily national practice leader, says the project’s planning lends functionality, aesthetic cohesiveness, and a modern feel—for “not just another suburban center,” in other words.

“Unlike other nearby small to medium-sized suburban developments, which tend to be standalone retail or office… or residential apartments, Satellite Commons blends both residential and commercial within one pedestrian-friendly complex,” Lewis wrote in an email.

“It's a full experience,” he continued, “[with] daily necessities, amenities, recreation, and social spaces, all walkable and programmed. That is rare in the broader Satellite Boulevard area, where commercial corridors dominate.”

In the gallery above, find more context and all available imagery.

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alt The vacant former NCR headquarters, prior to demolition in 2021. Google Maps

alt Scope of the 40-acre site, in relation to I-85 and Ga. Highway 316 in Duluth. Google Maps

alt Rendering of the project's multifamily component. Courtesy of Nelson

alt Courtesy of Nelson

alt Courtesy of Nelson

alt Courtesy of Nelson

alt Courtesy of Nelson

alt Google Maps

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Multi-building Duluth complex replaces former Fortune 500 company headquarters

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Developer behind NHL push, billion-dollar project talks timelines, more Josh Green Fri, 08/01/2025 - 08:16

Back in June, hundreds of readers on these pages responded to a poll asking them to rate their confidence a National Hockey League team will return to metro Atlanta soon. The most popular response by an overwhelming margin (43 percent) was this: “Yes, it’s happening. Third time’s a charm.”

Clearly, Vernon Krause—the car dealership entrepreneur, aspiring megaproject developer, and driving force behind plans to lasso another NHL franchise for the metro—concurs. 

Since uncloaking plans for the $3-billion The Gathering at South Forsyth two years ago, Krause has assembled a powerful team, detailed the redevelopment vision for 100 acres he owns, and scored the Forsyth County Commission’s official blessing to move forward with a mixed-use project to rival The Battery Atlanta. But all of it—including $350 million in county tax incentives—hinges on the NHL deciding to award metro Atlanta its third pro hockey franchise. Krause said in June his team “is more energized than ever” as it prepares to meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to discuss possible league expansion.

NHL brass have given no indication when they’ll decide on expansion, but Bettman has said Atlanta’s past two failures to keep NHL franchises here (the Flames and Thrashers) won’t count against the region. He acknowledged the league has talked to “a couple of groups” striving to bring the NHL back to the metro, noting that Atlanta is a different market than when both previous teams fled north, in 1980 and 2011, respectively. Last month, the NHL and NHL Players’ Association locked in a new collective bargaining agreement, which was seen as necessary before expansion could be considered. 

alt The Gathering at South Forsyth; designs, SCI Architects

Back in Forsyth, Krause (owner of 29 car dealerships across the Carolinas, Florida, and Georgia) envisions The Gathering sprouting to life with 2,400 residential units and 1.6 million square feet of retail and office space, among other facets, in coming years. About $1 billion of the estimated $3 billion price tag would go toward the cornerstone 18,000-seat arena, which would also stage concerts and events.  

What follows are excerpts from a recent Krause interview with Alpharetta.com, republished here with permission, in which he outlines his ambitions for the prosperous north metro region. Q&A responses have been edited for length.

Krause on the initial impetus for trying to pull off a development of such scale:

“My passion for creating The Gathering at South Forsyth really came from something deeper—a passion to bring hockey back to Georgia, to the community where I spent 35 years raising my family and building my business. I looked around Forsyth County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, and saw a need for a destination that could bring people together. A place where families could spend the day, where businesses could thrive, where our youth could be inspired by sports, music, and innovation.

“I knew that if we didn’t create that kind of visionary space now, we’d miss a rare opportunity to help shape the future of this area in a meaningful, lasting way. So, The Gathering was born out of a sense of responsibility. I wanted to create a destination that reflects the energy and potential of this community, something we could all be proud of for generations to come.”

On how The Gathering would stand out as a suburban destination:

“We’re not just building an arena for a potential NHL team, [the project] is designed to be the entertainment hub for North Georgia—and the heartbeat of the Forsyth community. The Gathering will be a place where people can connect, celebrate and thrive. Whether it’s families enjoying the outdoor spaces, kids seeing a world-class sporting event for the first time, neighbors meeting at local restaurants, or entrepreneurs collaborating in innovative workspaces, The Gathering at South Forsyth will be the heart and soul of the community and truly a place where people can gather—right in their backyard without the hassle of traveling to downtown Atlanta.”

alt Results of an in-house poll in June. Urbanize Atlanta

How Forsyth’s bid for the NHL’s return stands out from others:

“[The Gathering] is a vision for the future of professional sports in the Southeast. What makes this development truly compelling is that it will be built from the ground up with the NHL in mind. We own the land. We have the support of the local government and the community. We’re designing a purpose-built, state-of-the-art arena in a thriving, high-growth corridor that already supports youth and adult hockey at a high level—and [we’re] not retrofitting a pre-existing space to fit a team.

Forsyth County is not only one the fastest-growing counties in Georgia and among the top in the nation, but also one of the healthiest and wealthiest counties. The community wants a destination they can visit, and [the project] will be that year-round destination. It’s an ecosystem of entertainment, retail, residential, and office space, all anchored by a team that fans can support and grow with. This isn’t a revival of past efforts. It’s a completely new playbook. And I believe it’s the one that finally gets it right for Georgia, for the NHL, and for generations of fans to come.”

On the vision for retail and new housing:

“One of the most exciting aspects of The Gathering is how it blends lifestyle and community. On the residential side, we’re planning a mix of living options from single-family homes to luxury apartments, all designed to offer walkability, convenience, and access to amenities right outside your door. Whether you’re a young professional, a growing family, or empty-nesters looking to downsize without sacrificing quality, there will be a place for you… Our retail offerings will provide a dynamic mix of local boutiques, national brands, and chef-driven restaurants. The vibrant environment will serve those who live, work, and visit from across the region and nation.”

alt The Gathering at South Forsyth; designs, Nelson

On next steps toward bringing it all to fruition:

“With the Forsyth County commissioners’ approval in hand, our team is moving into the next phase. We have assembled our package to present to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, which includes our vision of bringing an NHL expansion team to Georgia. We believe this project, with its built-in infrastructure, entertainment district, strong community, and passionate fan base, is the ideal location to grow the league in the Southeast. The ultimate decision rests with the NHL.”

The outlook on timelines:

“We anticipate The Gathering at South Forsyth to open in phases, with the first major phase projected for completion in 2028, depending on permitting and construction timelines. To the community of Forsyth County: thank you. Your support, engagement, and vision have helped shape [the project] into a destination that will not only bring entertainment and economic growth, but also a sense of pride and place for everyone who lives, works, and visits here. We’re excited about what’s ahead and can’t wait to welcome you when the doors open.”

alt A main street and retail corridor in the multi-billion-dollar proposal. The Gathering at South Forsyth; designs, Nelson

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Businessman Vernon Krause says The Gathering at South Forsyth's first phase poised to open in three years

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Exclusive: Old Fourth Ward project 'The Bowery' won't include grocery Josh Green Thu, 07/31/2025 - 13:54

The impact of Atlanta Medical Center’s closure three years ago is being felt by more than neighbors who depended on hospital care at the longstanding Old Fourth Ward facility. 

Developers behind a block-sized, mixed-use project that recently broke ground nearby say the hospital’s abrupt shutdown in November 2022—and a subsequent redevelopment moratorium enacted by the city that spanned two years—cost them a chance at landing the large-scale grocery option that many residents in the area need and want. 

As of 2023, that grocer was reportedly going to be another intown Publix. 

Wellstar’s shuttering of the hospital over financial concerns, and the city’s clampdown on property rezoning, “essentially scared away our grocer contacts,” Ben Yorker, Northwood Ravin development partner, tells Urbanize Atlanta. “The grocers felt that, with the closure, we had lost a major chunk of jobs and daytime population. And then questions lingered for some time as to what, exactly, would be replacing that use. 

“After trying to wait things out, we ultimately had to move forward without a grocer,” York continued. “It’s been a disappointment for us.”

Northwood Ravin, headquartered in Charlotte, is barreling ahead with the project’s demolition work in partnership with Atlanta-based Fuqua Development on underused land at a high-profile eastside intersection. The development team today shared the project’s first finalized rendering and more details—including the official name, “The Bowery at Old Fourth Ward”—that lend a clearer picture of what’s to come. 

alt The Bowery at Old Fourth Ward's first new rendering showing finalized plans for townhomes (left), retail, and apartments along Highland Avenue. Courtesy of Northwood Ravin/Fuqua Development

Plans have been percolating since 2022 on the vacant Old Fourth Ward block in question, situated along Boulevard between Highland Avenue and John Lewis Freedom Parkway. Demo work has taken down a shuttered house and the former Desperate Housewares Atlanta furniture store on site. 

According to York, the development will see three buildings total—two of them blocks of townhomes. Expect 273 apartments and 12 townhouse units overall. 

Plans also call for roughly 10,000 square feet of retail (hardly enough for a standard Publix now) at street level, with patio spaces. 

Another 2,000 square feet of retail or incubator space will be placed so that it faces a popular dog park next door, Freedom Barkway. The project’s 400-space parking deck will include 17 spaces reserved for dog park patrons, per York.  

alt Rough boundaries of the Old Fourth Ward property in question, where Highland Avenue meets Boulevard, just north of the neighborhood dog park. Google Maps

alt Prior to demolition work this month, the idle 3-acre site and shuttered Desperate Housewares Atlanta furniture store, seen here in 2024. Google Maps

Once demolition and other pre-development work finishes, York said construction should be ready to start in late fall this year. The developers estimate construction will wrap in early or mid-2028.  

On a positive note, York pointed to recent, large-scale demolition work at the former Atlanta Medical Center as a good sign for the neighborhood.

“It looks like a mixed-redevelopment project is finally in the works for the Wellstar property,” he said. “I understand that the grocery users are now back and anxious to be a part of that project.”  

alt Looking southwest, initial images of Fuqua Development's proposal distributed three years ago are shown next to John Lewis Freedom Parkway. Plans have been refined since. Submitted

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alt The Bowery at Old Fourth Ward's first new rendering showing finalized plans for townhomes (left), retail, and apartments along Highland Avenue. Courtesy of Northwood Ravin/Fuqua Development

alt Prior to demolition work this month, the idle 3-acre site and shuttered Desperate Housewares Atlanta furniture store, seen here in 2024. Google Maps

alt Rough boundaries of the Old Fourth Ward property in question, where Highland Avenue meets Boulevard, just north of the neighborhood dog park. Google Maps

alt An earlier rendering illustrating how the project will transform one corner of the Highland Avenue-Boulevard intersection. (Highland Avenue frontage is at left.) Northwood Ravin/Fuqua Development; 2023

alt An early look at the proposal's scope as it relates to Tribute Lofts, pictured at right. Submitted

alt Tentative breakdown of the Fuqua proposal as submitted to the city in 2022. Fuqua Development/Office of Zoning and Development

alt Looking southwest, initial images of Fuqua Development's proposal distributed three years ago are shown next to John Lewis Freedom Parkway. Plans have been refined since. Submitted

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Roswell's cure for downtown parking woes set to move forward Josh Green Wed, 07/30/2025 - 16:44

The aspirin for downtown Roswell’s parking headaches is about to start getting real, according to city officials. 

The north Fulton County city has scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony Aug. 7 for a tax-funded parking deck that officials view as an investment toward strategic long-term planning and growth, support for local businesses, and as ironic as it may sound, enhanced downtown walkability.  

The deck will rise on a corner where Green Street meets Ga. Highway 9 (Alpharetta Street), about a block east of Canton Street, a regional dining and shopping destination where finding parking can be tough. The site is also just south of the multi-building Southern Post development that replaced a dated shopping center, opening last year. 

“This parking deck is more than infrastructure—it’s a strategic investment in the future of our downtown,” said Mayor Kurt Wilson in a groundbreaking announcement today. 

alt Finalized plans for the downtown parking garage near a Green Street entry. Courtesy of City of Roswell

alt Rough approximation of where the nearly 400-space deck will rise, in relation to Canton Street (left) and other downtown landmarks. Google Maps

Plans call for the brick-clad, 395-space structure to echo the historic district aesthetically. Touches will include large windows for airflow and light, plus “architectural parapets and metalwork, tower-like corner stairwells, and variation in the depth of the exterior walls to add dimension and interest to the structure,” according to a project description. 

Roswell voters in 2022 approved nearly $180 million in bond funds that included $20 million for a new deck to help alleviate parking frustrations near Canton Street. Roswell leaders picked the site in question last year after evaluating eight potential locations. 

Back in March, Roswell’s mayor and city council unanimously approved a design-build contract with Winter Construction for the $14.5 million new parking deck, noting that it will rise within a few minutes’ walk of most downtown attractions. 

The construction schedule calls for opening the deck next summer. 

alt Winter Construction/City of Roswell

alt Winter Construction, via City of Roswell

The parking structure isn’t the only significant change planned for the immediate area. 

The Green Street Activation Plan, a tactic to increase safety and connectivity, will convert that street to a one-way, southbound road, with facets that include a new brick-paved, multi-use trail and improved lighting. 

The plan also calls for converting nearby Plum Street—a one-way thoroughfare located between Green and Canton streets—into a brick-paved, pedestrians-only, multi-use trail for direct access to downtown’s shopping and restaurant strip.

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alt Finalized plans for the downtown parking garage near a Green Street entry. Courtesy of City of Roswell

alt Rough approximation of where the nearly 400-space deck will rise, in relation to Canton Street (left) and other downtown landmarks. Google Maps

alt Winter Construction, via City of Roswell

alt Winter Construction/City of Roswell

alt The planned 395-space parking structure's location, in relation to Canton Street and other downtown attractions. Google Maps

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Neighbors hope petition, campaign will squash townhome proposal Josh Green Wed, 07/30/2025 - 13:31

Northwest of Midtown, an infill townhome proposal has rankled some Bolton neighbors who fear it will destroy nature and viable homes, raise taxes, dilute neighborhood charm, and clog streets with vehicles. They’ve recently started an online petition and yard-sign campaign to drive home concerns. 

Developers pitching the Bolton townhomes, meanwhile, contend the project will inject a growing and increasingly walkable part of Atlanta with relatively attainable housing the market needs. Despite two recent rejections from neighborhood boards, they’re working with the city and other agencies to move revised plans forward, undeterred.

Is it a case of NIMBYism run amok, or reasonable neighborly concerns in a swiftly changing area? Or something in between? 

The concept by Middle Housing Company—an Atlanta-based developer founded in 2020 that’s behind new duplexes in Howell Station, a 10-unit townhome project along Metropolitan Parkway, and cottages elsewhere in Bolton, among other projects—was first hatched in March. 

Initially, it called for 39 townhomes to replace two single-family houses at 1905 and 1911 La Dawn Lane; when combined with smaller adjacent, vacant parcels, the site would total about 2.6 acres. The properties in question are tucked just west of Marietta Boulevard, near the original Scofflaw Brewing Co. location, situated next to large single-family homes and the Clayburne Place condo complex. 

The site isn’t without unique perks. 

alt Imagery circulated as part of the campaign to stop townhome development in Bolton. Courtesy of Paul Swicord

alt Location of the four parcels totaling about 2.6 acres today. Courtesy of Middle Housing Company

The entire western border is the Whetstone Creek Trail, a leafy, two-mile PATH Foundation rails-to-trails project that will become part of the Centennial Olympic Park to Silver Comet Trail connection in coming years. The site is also about two blocks from Westside Village, a mixed-use project opened five years ago that counts a Publix, Spiller Park Coffee, and a number of other eateries and retailers. The latter is meant to serve as a commercial lynchpin for the so-called Upper Westside district.  

Derek Turner, Middle Housing Company’s founder and president, says his team met with neighbors and conducted surveys with 100 respondents earlier this year, before drawing up townhome plans and seeking rezoning that would allow for medium-density development. 

Pushback against those plans started before a Bolton Neighborhood committee meeting in June, during which a majority of participants voted against the townhomes. Ditto for an Neighborhood Planning Unit-D meeting that month; Turner estimates the vote was 60 percent against his project there. An online “Stop Rezoning” petition fighting the townhomes had collected 173 signatures, as of this writing. 

alt A recent yard-sign campaign urged neighbors to join the pushback against townhomes. Courtesy of Paul Swicord

alt The two La Dawn Lane single-family homes in question, at left, as seen in January. Google Maps

Bolton resident Paul Swicord, who lives directly across the street from the properties in question, says the current houses are in fine condition and reflect low-density charms that make the residential enclave unique. A website naysayers established states neighbors are “outraged” by the proposal, pointing to fears the new buildings and paved lots would trigger stormwater problems with nearby wetlands, among other issues.  

“I would go from looking at nature to two years of construction, before having a three-story wall to stare at,” Swicord said via email this week. Prior to future hearings on the matter, “we will make another big push for more signatures,” he said. 

According to Swicord, the neighborhood has been supportive of high-density development in the past, including the BRYKS Upper Westside project with its nearly 600 apartments. The difference, he says, is that those dense nodes have better access to main thoroughfares. 

“This will add 100 cars onto our limited-capacity neighborhood street” where afterschool and rush-hour traffic commonly back up now, said Swicord. “This [also] has the potential of escalating our home values and increasing taxes. We have elderly and fixed-income neighbors that may be forced to leave what was to be their forever home.”  

The Bolton townhome project was scheduled to come before Atlanta’s Zoning Review Board in early August, but Turner’s team has hit pause and headed back to the drawing board, to an extent. Middle Housing Company has yet to close on the La Dawn Drive properties, pending the outcome of the rezoning push. 

alt Revised site plan for the 38-home La Dawn Lane site. Courtesy of Middle Housing Company; B+C Studio

alt A rendering showing revised plans for an entrance to the planned Bolton community. Courtesy of Middle Housing Company

Within the next week, Turner plans to submit a revised site plan to the Office of Zoning. Officials there requested he resubmit the project for a classification called Planned Development—Housing, or PD-H, that sets different standards, limits the amount of buildable square footage, and helps ensure developers stick to promised plans, said Turner.   

In response to earlier community feedback, and following meetings with PATH Foundation and Department of Watershed Management officials, Turner said the original site plan has been revised to include “key improvements” without losing “attainable” housing. (Tentative plans call for the townhomes to start at roughly 1,800 square feet, with prices from the high $500,000s, per Turner.) 

Changes include the addition of a small public park, a PATH spur-trail connection through the site to Westside Village, stormwater fixes, and enhancements along the existing trail, both aesthetic and for pedestrian safety. Turner plans to take the revised, 38-home plans back to both the neighborhood association and NPU soon, though developers are only required to revisit the NPU, he said. 

“We’re doing it in good faith,” said Turner, “and I think it’s the right thing to do.”

Turner said his company’s goal, should all go well with zoning, would be to break ground on the 38-home project in the second quarter of 2026. For the time being, he’s actually renting and living in one of the La Dawn Drive homes in question, hoping to ride out the storm. 

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alt Location of the four parcels totaling about 2.6 acres today. Courtesy of Middle Housing Company

alt The two La Dawn Lane single-family homes in question, at left, as seen in January. Google Maps

alt A recent yard-sign campaign urged neighbors to join the pushback against townhomes. Courtesy of Paul Swicord

alt Imagery circulated as part of the campaign to stop townhome development in Bolton. Courtesy of Paul Swicord

alt A rendering showing revised plans for an entrance to the planned Bolton community. Courtesy of Middle Housing Company

alt Revised site plan for the 38-home La Dawn Lane site. Courtesy of Middle Housing Company; B+C Studio

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Developers contend tweaked, trailside Bolton concept will benefit area, add needed housing

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MARTA: Long pause for Atlanta Streetcar on horizon Josh Green Wed, 07/30/2025 - 08:14

Frequent streetcar riders and forthcoming Atlanta visitors should take note: The downtown trolley is going off the grid for a while. 

For the second time in two years, the Atlanta Streetcar will be pulled from service for several months, beginning Sept. 8, MARTA officials announced this week. Shuttle van service will be offered along the streetcar’s 2.7-mile loop around downtown and Sweet Auburn while the trolleys are offline. 

MARTA plans to suspend streetcar operations to allow Georgia Power to perform underground electrical line repairs considered urgent, and to complete scheduled infrastructure upgrades along the streetcar loop. 

According to MARTA, the streetcar shutdown will last roughly three to four months, but a MARTA shuttle wrapped to appear similar to streetcars will carry passengers along the route in the meantime. 

Streetcar fares are $1 per one-way trip, or $3 for a day pass. 

alt The Atlanta Streetcar (right) and its equally purplish-blue shuttle counterpart. Courtesy of MARTA

Georgia Power’s excavation work will require one lane closure between Courtland Street and Peachtree Center Avenue. Safety protocol forbids streetcars from operating along open construction areas, according to MARTA. 

MARTA plans to use the downtime to perform a deep cleaning along the streetcar route, update vehicles and signage, inspect and repair catenaries, trim trees, and refurbish stations, per the agency. 

Streetcar fans may recall all four of the transit vehicles were pulled from service and replaced with shuttles for more than three months in 2023. That pause came after engineers spotted wheel degradation issues on the streetcars that could have posed risks. 

Atlanta’s streetcar system opened a decade ago—behind schedule and substantially overbudget—with a 12-stop route of new tracks. It’s taken lumps for being stuck in traffic, shut down for some major events, and for pulling in dismally low ridership numbers, but it remains a valuable service for transit riders and downtown guests. 

Controversial, $230-million plans to expand the streetcar system to Ponce City Market via the Beltline were squashed by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ administration earlier this year. The city’s focus is now to implement streetcar service to the Old Fourth Ward near Krog Street Market, and along the Beltline’s Southside Trail, in conjunction with MARTA, though no timelines have been specified. 

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alt The Atlanta Streetcar (right) and its equally purplish-blue shuttle counterpart. Courtesy of MARTA

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