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Images: Sky-high cocktails, Italian eats, concept switch set for new tower Josh Green Wed, 07/09/2025 - 12:53

Significant additions and changes are in store for the recently opened and tallest residential tower in West Midtown. 

Denver-based Sentral—a quickly growing property management company that operates multifamily buildings with both furnished and unfurnished units inspired by luxury hotels—has added the Stella at Star Metals building to its flex-living portfolio in Atlanta, officials announced today.  

The 22-story, Allen Morris Company luxury tower at 660 11th St. has started introducing 327 studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and penthouse apartments—some with skyline views described as unparalleled—to the Marietta Street Artery neighborhood and broader, growing West Midtown submarket. 

Project officials also announced today the Stella building has finalized two food-and-beverage concepts. Rabbit Ears, a cocktail lounge, will operate in a soaring space on the 18th floor with sweeping city views; meanwhile, at street level, northern Italian restaurant concept Füm will take space at Stella’s base. 

Both concepts will be operated by Grassfed Culture Hospitality, a Michelin-recognized firm, and residents of the Stella building will have priority access, according to officials. 

alt Planned interior aesthetic and views at the Stella building's high-floor cocktail bar concept. Stella at Star Metals/Allen Morris Company

Sentral’s flex-living apartments offer a short-term rental option for travelers, digital nomads frequently switching cities, and longer-term residents. Stella at Star Metals will mark Sentral’s second community in Atlanta, following the Sentral Star Metals multifamily building located a block to the west. 

As the tallest component of the $500-million Star Metals District to date, the Stella project broke ground in early 2023 and officially opened last month. Up to eight weeks of free rent is being offered on some Stella apartments. 

Otherwise, Stella rents start at $1,699 per month for 482-square-foot studios. The priciest plans currently offered begin at $6,600 monthly, which rents two bedrooms and two bathrooms in 1,326 square feet on the 18th floor. 

alt Copper-like cladding and curvatures on Stella at Star Metals' south face, toward downtown, as seen in March. Photos by Urbanize Atlanta

alt A two-story bar is planned for Stella's 18th floor, with these eastward views across the city.

Building amenities include an infinity-edge pool, a gym (with an outdoor component) curated by Peloton, a pet spa, screening room, and in-home dining options from Füm. In-home perks include Italian cabinetry, double-slider patio configurations for indoor-outdoor living vibes, and with penthouses, built-in dry bars and wine refrigerators, per Sentral reps. 

Eventually, the Stella building is expected to work in conjunction with a cluster of new buildings with an “urban forest” feel and large plaza space across three additional Star Metals phases.  

A year after it opened, Sentral West Midtown (originally called Star Metals Residences) transitioned to the flexible-living model that allows for rent arrangements of almost any period of time: a couple of days, a month, a quarter, or several years. Another high-profile new tower, the mixed-use Scout Living at Ponce City Market, operates a similar concept aiming to strike a balance between hotel flexibility and highly amenitized, furnished apartments. 

According to Sentral, the company has more than tripled its management portfolio since 2021 and now counts more than $5 billion of multifamily assets across the country. 

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Hapeville transformation; Johns Creek squabble; MARTA performance Josh Green Wed, 07/09/2025 - 11:06

**HAPEVILLE–**A sizable building on Hapeville’s main drag is prepping for a splashy new use. 

Where auto shop Woodco Transmission closed about two years ago at 641 N. Central Ave., the south ITP city’s main commercial thoroughfare, adaptive-reuse work on a swim school facility has begun.  

Swimmerman Swim School plans to open its indoor facilities for all skill levels and ages in 2026, marking the company’s third location. Others operate today on Amsterdam Avenue in Atlanta and in Henry County. 

Swimmerman bought the property following the previous owner’s death, and the deal continues a trend of family-owned auto shops in downtown areas closing or transitioning to other uses (see also: the former Reid’s Body Shop site in Reynoldstown) as dealer service centers and auto-repair chains gain market dominance, according to a Hapeville source. 

Here's a quick primer on what's bound for growing Hapeville now: 

alt Overview of the Central Avenue site where Swimmerman Swim School plans to open next year. Google Maps

alt Submitted

alt Recent interior renovation work at the former Hapeville auto shop. Submitted

alt Submitted

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**JOHNS CREEK—**Up in tony Johns Creek, things got heated at a recent city council meeting regarding a $40-million bond referendum that would go a long way toward funding a new 800-seat performing arts center envisioned as game-changer cultural attraction.

The performance hall—estimated to cost $60 million overall—could be a cornerstone of the Fulton County city’s 192-acre Town Center plan, walkable to the under-construction Medley mixed-use hub and a boardwalk project that broke ground last summer. An exact location for the performing arts center has yet to be determined. 

alt The vision for centralized waterfront space as part of the Creekside Park component near Johns Creek's City Hall. City of Johns Creek/Town Center Plan

alt Designated uses in specific Town Center zones. City of Johns Creek/Town Center Plan

As Appen Media relays, a June 26 city council meeting on the proposed referendum got rowdy, with one naysayer lambasting the funding strategy as “suspect” and another growling, “Shame on you” toward dissenters. The council remained split on the issue, 4 to 3, which means the decision to okay tax funding or not will ultimately be up to Johns Creek voters, possibly in November. Mayor John Bradberry and three other councilmembers voted in favor, constituting the majority.

CITYWIDE—After taking lumps for ill-timed delays and malfunctions during the 56th annual AJC Peachtree Road Race on July 4 (aka, Christmas for Atlanta rail transit), MARTA has distributed proof it aced another high-ridership test in recent weeks, per the agency.  

During the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup series of matches between June 16 and July 5, which saw tens of thousands of fans use transit in Atlanta, MARTA provided “safe, clean, reliable service” for “a world-class customer experience” with no significant incidents, agency officials said this week. 

The rough ridership tally for all recent matches was close to 98,000 trips, or 49,000 unique riders, with the peak coming during a July 5 quarterfinal between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, which saw about 25,000 trips, per MARTA. 

alt A juxtaposition of MARTA's first CQ400 train to be operational on tracks (left) and a current railcar. Courtesy of MARTA

MARTA deployed extra trains before and after matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and ran a pre-game shuttle train between Five Points and soon-to-be-renamed GWCC/CNN Center station. The agency also installed more than 500 Transit Ambassadors at stations throughout the system to provide assistance and directions and to answer questions. 

For MARTA, the recent fútbol extravaganza was considered a warm-up for the breathlessly hyped 2026 FIFA World Cup, which starts its eight Atlanta matches in June.

“With planned systemwide upgrades over the next year,” noted the MARTA recap, “including new trains, new Breeze faregates, ticket vending machines, and [an] open fare payment system, along with refurbished escalators and a new name for GWCC/CNN Center Station, MARTA stands ready to provide a world-class experience for soccer fans from around the world.”

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alt Overview of the Central Avenue site where Swimmerman Swim School plans to open next year. Google Maps

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alt Recent interior renovation work at the former Hapeville auto shop. Submitted

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Details emerge for Trilith Live entertainment hub as opening nears Josh Green Tue, 07/08/2025 - 16:47

With Georgia’s TV and film industry still on shaky post-strike ground but remaining active, a project is nearing the final stages of construction that leaders say will help expand the Peach State’s footprint in the entertainment world, with attractions for the general public as well.  

Billed as “Southside Atlanta’s premier entertainment destination,” the first phase of Trilith Live debuted earlier this year with two live sound stages (25,000 square feet each), greenrooms, production offices, and other facilities. 

Since then, phase one has tallied more than 200 live audience game show episodes filmed for national television. It’s also hosted rehearsals for several national (unspecified) acts prepping for current summer concert tours, according to Trilith officials. 

But that could seem like small potatoes compared to the public portion in the pipeline. 

alt Renderings for phase two's 51,000 square feet of outdoor programmable space, described as being "ideal for festivals, activations, and pop-ups." TrilithLive.com

Project officials this week said Trilith Live’s second phase is on pace to deliver in late 2025. Fresh renderings in marketing materials lend an idea how the next phase will look and function. 

The marquee attraction will be a 2,200-seat theater (400 seats larger than initially planned) designed to host concerts, conventions, and performing arts shows. 

Phase two will also include a luxury, multi-screen cinema—a facet that’s been in the works since Trilith was called Pinewood Forrest—with private viewing options. 

A 51,000-square-foot communal plaza for outdoor gatherings, festivals, and other activations is also in the works. Nearby will be a 730-space parking deck, which Trilith officials have called the first of its kind in Fayette County.  

Following construction, the 530,000-square-foot Trilith Live is expected to create hundreds of jobs for south metro Atlanta. 

“We are building the infrastructure to support everything from concerts to live TV tapings to conventions and meetings to community and arts events, all in one place,” said Matt McClain, Trilith Live general manager and executive director, in a project update today. 

alt Various aspects of Trilith Live phase two, as shown in promotional materials. TrilithLive.com

Mere farmland until its 2016 groundbreaking, Trilith today is a 235-acre, master-planned residential and mixed-use community about 30 minutes from downtown Atlanta. 

Last year the project marked a milestone by debuting its 193-key boutique hotel component, Trilith Guesthouse, with two food-and-beverage offerings. 

McClain predicted Trilith Live will beef up Georgia’s role in the national entertainment landscape by supporting all stages of television production and live entertainment. “It’s a major step forward,” he added, “for the creative economy in the region.”

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alt Various aspects of Trilith Live phase two, as shown in promotional materials. TrilithLive.com

alt Renderings for phase two's 51,000 square feet of outdoor programmable space, described as being "ideal for festivals, activations, and pop-ups." TrilithLive.com

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In wake of closures, West Midtown aims to make parking easier Josh Green Tue, 07/08/2025 - 14:58

Over the past year, much has been written about the wave of more than a dozen restaurant closures that’s plagued the area generally considered West Midtown. 

Alongside traffic congestion, parking—be it a lack thereof, or the high cost to do so—is consistently cited as a main culprit in an area lacking the alternate-transportation infrastructure, such as MARTA rail and mainline Beltline trails, enjoyed by other parts of town. 

In response, community leaders have devised a solution that could make hardcore urbanists shudder: making parking simpler and cheaper. 

The Upper Westside Community Improvement District, a local government entity covering six neighborhoods, has launched an interactive parking map function on its website that’s designed to make the growing district more accessible and convenient, officials announced today. 

The map breaks down how much parking costs (or how long it’s free/validated) at specific structure locations from The Works district down to blocks south of The Optimist, with a heavy emphasis on the Marietta Street Artery neighborhood. 

It also notes if EV chargers and bike racks are available. 

alt Look and functionality of Upper Westside Community Improvement District's new interactive parking map. Upperwestsideatl.org

Two-hour parking rates north of $10 are still common in the area, but local property owners have included reduced parking rates and more parking validations as part of efforts to spur more visitors, according to Upper Westside CID officials. 

Beyond the online tool, CID leaders and some property owners have deployed way-finding Upper Westside signage to help lead drivers to parking decks and rideshare drivers to safe, convenient drop-off and pick-up zones. Other signs point to bicycle parking in the area.

“The new map takes the guesswork out of parking costs, so planning visits to enjoy everything our shops and restaurants have to offer is effortless,” said Matt Bronfman, Jamestown CEO and part-owner of Westside Provisions District, in today's announcement. 

alt The view across the Star Metals District and Georgia Tech to Midtown and downtown. Photography by Jeremiah Cowan; courtesy of Oppenheim Architecture

Efforts to boost the area’s multimodal accessibility, such as the Howell Mill Complete Street project, are underway, but CID officials acknowledge that many trips to and from the district’s neighborhoods are still made by car. 

“The interactive parking map reflects the collaborative spirit of the Westside,” noted Adeline Collot, Upper Westside CID’s program director, in a statement. “We’re making it easier for people to discover, explore, and support this community.”

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alt Look and functionality of Upper Westside Community Improvement District's new interactive parking map. Upperwestsideatl.org

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Rebirth finally on tap for former Peachtree-Pine shelter, adjacent building Josh Green Tue, 07/08/2025 - 12:35

Eight years after the controversial Peachtree-Pine shelter permanently closed, new life appears to be on the horizon for its prominent, historic building and an adjacent property where downtown meets Midtown.

Emory University announced plans Monday to create more than 50 apartments for its healthcare employees across the street from Emory University Hospital Midtown by way of adaptive-reuse development for two existing buildings. Both are more than 100 years old, and Emory has brought in historic preservation experts to assist. 

Those structures include the longtime former shelter at 477 Peachtree St., which Emory bought in 2018 and now plans to restore its Peachtree Street façade. Emory completed an internal clean-up and abatement of the building earlier this year to prep for its conversion to housing, per officials. 

alt The former Peachtree-Pine shelter's Peachtree Street facade today. Emory University

Next door, Emory also plans to convert (and partially demolish) a building it purchased in 2019 at 489 Peachtree St. 

That structure, the Peasant Building, is in such poor condition the rear half will have to be cleaved off, a move that will allow for windows and natural light for some apartments at the former shelter next door, according to Emory. 

Emory filed Monday for a Special Administrative Permit with the city as a necessary step to move redevelopment forward. Federal and state tax credits will be required to offset initial capital costs and make repurposing the buildings viable, according to Emory officials. 

Robin Morey, Emory’s vice president of campus services and chief planning officer, said the resulting apartments will be “competitively priced housing” within a short walk of work for hospital employees. The project will also bring fresh commercial space to the area, per Morey. 

“In addition to helping with the recruitment and retention of our workforce,” Morey said in a statement, “our design will activate this area of the city with residential units and commercial uses.”

alt The 489 Peachtree St. building in relation to the former shelter next door. Google Maps

alt Looking north, how the longtime shelter building meets the corner of Peachtree and Pine streets near the Connector. Google Maps

All apartments will be reserved for Emory Healthcare staff within specific salary levels, such as nurses and medical technicians, but part of the 489 Peachtree St. building could be public in a way that helps support the community, per Emory. One possibility: a public daycare onsite. 

The adaptive-reuse project is considered in early phases now, and no construction timeline was specified. 

Emory officials pointed to the Peachtree Street location’s proximity to the interstate-capping Stitch greenspace and infrastructure project as a selling point, though federal cuts have recently threatened to yank more than $157 million in funding, jeopardizing that project’s scheduled 2026 groundbreaking. 

Officials told Urbanize Atlanta last month a city-approved tax measure, theStitch Special Services District, could be used to plug the funding gap and keep the Stitch’s design work and construction on track. 

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alt Looking north, how the longtime shelter building meets the corner of Peachtree and Pine streets near the Connector. Google Maps

alt The former Peachtree-Pine shelter's Peachtree Street facade today. Emory University

alt The 489 Peachtree St. building in relation to the former shelter next door. Google Maps

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Opinion: These Atlanta neighborhoods are still a smart buy in 2025 Josh Green Tue, 07/08/2025 - 10:52

Editor’s note: As we eclipse the halfway point of 2025, intown Atlanta real estate is generally showing fewer signs of cooling than thermometers. Median home sales prices in the city nipped $430,000 in May, according to Redfin data. That’s an increase of more than $100,000 in five years. Gulp.

So where do good ITP deals still exist, if they do?

alt Median home sales prices in the City of Atlanta for all housing types over the past five years, according to Redfin. Redfin.com

Bruce Logue, a Realtor and associate broker with the Bruce Logue Lifespaces Team at HomeSmart, recently contributed his 2 cents in the form of the following Letter to the Editor. Logue counts nearly 20 years of experience in the Atlanta market, and his six picks for good-investment neighborhoods (and one ITP city) in 2025 share some commonalities but are also markedly different.

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Dear Editor,

What are the top Atlanta neighborhoods for buyers and investors—or both at the same time—in 2025? Let’s have a look. 

According to a recent article from Realtor.com, one in every five homes in the Atlanta metro area are owned by an investor. [Editor’s note: That’s not necessarily an attribute.] Georgia was also cited in the same report as a state with some of the highest investor activity in the nation, with 15.9 percent of investors selling and 17.3 percent of investors buying properties. 

Reasons for investors to scoop up properties vary, from purchasing and reworking an older home to sell or charge rent for, to buying a property and waiting for its value to appreciate over time. Homebuyers, meanwhile, obviously need places to live. Atlanta boasts a dynamic economy and vibrant communities, with plenty of charming historic properties and modern multifamily units. 

If you're interested in partaking in Atlanta’s flourishing housing market, but unsure of where to begin looking for properties, I’ve identified the top locations within the Atlanta metro area for buying and investing in 2025. 

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WEST END
Laden with small breweries, coworking spaces, and historic charm, investors should consider the draw the West End currently has for renters right now. When comparing this neighborhood with areas such as West Midtown and Old Fourth Ward, West End offers a lower price point for both single-family and multifamily properties.

alt Overview of a forthcoming 23-unit townhome project between the Beltline and a Dunkin' in West End. Courtesy of Ackerman & Co.

Renters here appreciate its affordability, walkability, and young professional, creative atmosphere due to the presence of nearby colleges like Morehouse, Spelman, and Clark Atlanta University. What’s more, parts of the West End fall within federal opportunity zones, which provide significant tax incentives for long-term investors. The city also offers grants and assistance for investors looking to restore historic properties. 

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LAKEWOOD HEIGHTS
This up-and-coming neighborhood is another community that falls within opportunity zones, which offer major tax incentives for long-term investors. Lakewood Heights has experienced spill-over growth from areas like Chosewood Park, Pittsburgh, and Peoplestown, and is undergoing development within the entertainment industry as movie studios have moved their operations there. This once-blighted area is conveniently situated along the Atlanta Beltline and near downtown. 

alt Four options for adaptive-reuse and new construction in Lakewood Heights compiled in a March report this year. APS/Housing Innovation Lab/Atlanta Urban Development

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SYLVAN HILLS
Located north of the East Point area and close to the West End, Sylvan Hills is also experiencing attention from the entertainment industry as Tyler Perry’s studios are housed in the area. Businesses within the community have rallied around the film industry building in that area, revitalizing it. 

Sylvan Hills has great affordability and historic charm, boasts family-friendly attractions such as Perkerson Park and its 50 acres of playgrounds, a splash pad, and disc golf course, and is close to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Investors will note great rental opportunities due to the community’s proximity to Atlanta Technical and Metropolitan state colleges, as well as easy access to MARTA. 

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BANKHEAD
Bankhead has experienced major development proposals such as Quarry Yards—a $400-million project later scooped up by Microsoft for potential future redevelopment—and living there provides easy access to the beautiful trails and parks of the Atlanta Beltline. 

alt Heading south on Westside Trail Segment 4, now open to the public. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Investors should consider properties with proximity to the Bankhead MARTA station, which has plans to expand to accommodate longer trains for commuters in the area. This beautiful community boasts homes built in a historic architectural style, as well as Craftsman-style homes. 

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MECHANICSVILLE
This Southwest Atlanta neighborhood has long been overlooked, but it’s become a great destination for investors (and homebuyers intending to live there). Located close to Atlanta’s downtown, it boasts easy access to both MARTA and the interstate, making it prime for commuters to travel across the metro area. 

An adaptive-reuse redevelopment of the historic GE Towers is underway near MARTA, and there are underutilized properties near Rosa L. Burney Park that have been flagged for apartment development, which is anticipated to enhance livability and walkability. 

alt Plans for four-story units at 717 Pryor St. in Mechanicsville. Place Maker Design

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HAPEVILLE

(2023 “Best Atlanta Neighborhood” tournament champion)

alt Planned three-story facades along Dogwood Drive in Hapeville. The Hartwin Group/McNeal Development

This hidden gem of an ITP city is located conveniently close to the Atlanta airport. Due to its economic incentives as an enterprise zone, developers are buying large tracks of land and building upscale townhouses and new single-family homes to house jobseekers.  

The Aerotropolis Atlanta redevelopment project is located within Hapeville on the site of a shuttered Ford plant, and it’s anticipated to draw homebuyers to the area due to its major mixed-use and office spaces. What’s more, Hapeville’s revitalized downtown offers plentiful dining options and entertainment venues.

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Plans: Reopened Connector tunnel, more bike lanes in works for Midtown Josh Green Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:38

Even the wonkiest of Atlanta wonks might be unaware there’s a pedestrian tunnel underneath the Connector, seamlessly linking Georgia Tech to Midtown. It’s been closed to the general public for 17 years, with the exception of special occasions such as some Georgia Tech football games.  

But according to the latest alternative transportation plans being compiled by Midtown Alliance, the 3rd Street Tunnel could be part of a broader push to boost east-west connectivity across the growing subdistrict and beyond.

Midtown Alliance, a nonprofit coalition of business and community leaders, has started putting together plans for a multimodal overhaul of 3rd Street stretching between Piedmont Avenue and the tunnel. The project is in engineering and design phases now.

A reopened 3rd Street Tunnel—as Georgia Tech proposed in its first Comprehensive Campus Plan in two decades, released in 2023—would be required to open up 3rd Street connectivity beneath the Connector to all points west.

“[A]s retail, housing, and commercial development expands along and around 3rd Street in Midtown, providing multiple modes of transportation has become increasingly important,” as Midtown Alliance notes.  

Just south of 3rd Street, as one example, a massive Landmark Properties proposal with more than 2,230 bedrooms geared toward Georgia Tech students is scheduled to break ground this year. 

alt Scope of proposed 3rd Street changes in Midtown between Piedmont Avenue and the eastern blocks of Georgia Tech's campus. Midtown Alliance

alt Sidewalk enhancements and the tunnel entry, as seen looking east to Midtown in March. Google Maps

Currently, bike lanes on 3rd Street exist between Peachtree and West Peachtree streets, but those offer no buffer from vehicles and span just two blocks. Midtown Alliance is proposing to expand those lanes to the east and west and install protections for cyclists and micromobility device users.

To collect public input and outline plans, Midtown Alliance has scheduled a pop-up, drop-in public meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the corner of 3rd and Cypress streets. Staff will be on site to answer questions and detail the proposal.  

The tunnel between Georgia Tech and Midtown was closed by the university and Georgia Tech Police Department in 2008 due to crime concerns.

alt Eastern entry to the closed tunnel near Midtown's torch structure in March. Google Maps

alt Where a reopened tunnel would restore connectivity between Midtown and Georgia Tech between streets crossing over the Connector. Google Maps

Prior to shutting down the tunnel for public use, officials tried safety measures such as closing tunnel gates after midnight and adding more lighting, but after-dark criminal activity “such as vagrancy and robberies was still a problem for the area,” as the institute’s Technique newspaper relayed in June 2008.

On the flipside of the tunnel from Midtown, Georgia Tech has completed sidewalk widening and other streetscape enhancements on campus as part of broader efforts to lessen car-dependency and open up social spaces.

Swing up to the gallery for more imagery and context.

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alt Scope of proposed 3rd Street changes in Midtown between Piedmont Avenue and the eastern blocks of Georgia Tech's campus. Midtown Alliance

alt Where a reopened tunnel would restore connectivity between Midtown and Georgia Tech between streets crossing over the Connector. Google Maps

alt Sidewalk enhancements and the tunnel entry, as seen looking east to Midtown in March. Google Maps

alt Eastern entry to the closed tunnel near Midtown's torch structure in March. Google Maps

alt Tunnel patrons during a Georgia Tech football game day in September. Google Maps

alt State of the 3rd Street Tunnel, as seen from Georgia Tech's closed gates in 2018. Explore Atlanta/YouTube

alt Western entry to the tunnel under the Connector seven years ago. Explore Atlanta/YouTube

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Goal is to increase east-west connectivity across growing district, per Midtown Alliance

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Mixed uses bound for heart of Kirkwood's commercial village Josh Green Mon, 07/07/2025 - 11:47

One of eastside Atlanta’s walkable commercial nodes could soon become denser with new construction and a variety of uses.

Infill development is on the menu for a downtown Kirkwood site that operated for nearly a decade as Anna’s BBQ at 1976 Hosea L Williams Drive, according to new property owners.

In place of the former barbecue hotspot and parking lot, “residential, retail, and office [uses are] coming soon,” per a promotional website compiled by new owners Stryant, a Kirkwood-based developer.

The property is situated across the street from another mixed-use hub, Kirkwood Station, built in the mid-aughts. (Banner signage at the site proclaiming, “Coming soon! Krazy Stan’s Discount Mattress” is a joke, according to the property’s new ownership.) Exactly what redevelopment could look like has yet to be determined.

“We are still working on the plans,” Stan Sugarman, Stryant managing partner, wrote to Urbanize Atlanta via email. “The website will be updated once they are approved.”

alt The 1976 Hosea Williams Drive property in question, at left, while operating as Anna's BBQ in 2021. Google Maps

According to LoopNet, the property in question spans about a half-acre total, with the lone structure on site dating to the 1960s.

Its sale closed in late May for $910,000 after 33 days on market, per listings.

Elsewhere on the eastside, Stryant’s recent projects have included affordable housing ventures Ralph David House and an infill corner build at 111 Moreland Ave., both in Reynoldstown. The company’s preliminary plans for an affordable housing venture for formerly homeless people on church-owned property on one of Kirkwood’s best-known residential streets caused a stir among some neighbors this past spring.

alt Overview of the .47-acre property recently purchased by Stryant in Kirkwood. Google Maps

Other Stryant projects in the city have included the adaptive-reuse conversion of the 1912 George W. Adair School in Adair Park.  

Anna’s was in business in Kirkwood for nine years but shuttered in 2022 when owner Anna Phelps decided to retire and open a food truck. Following Anna’s closure, the building operated for a while as Georgia Boy BBQ.

What, dear Atlantans, should the next incarnation of this strategically located property look like?  

alt The central Kirkwood property, at right, in proximity to Kirkwood Station across the street. Google Maps

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alt Overview of the .47-acre property recently purchased by Stryant in Kirkwood. Google Maps

alt The central Kirkwood property, at right, in proximity to Kirkwood Station across the street. Google Maps

alt The 1976 Hosea Williams Drive property in question, at left, while operating as Anna's BBQ in 2021. Google Maps

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Site of popular eastside barbecue restaurant targeted for infill development

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High-rise to lord over Midtown's original Varsity shows signs of life Josh Green Mon, 07/07/2025 - 10:20

A Midtown tower that would rise in a high-profile location near a landmark restaurant and hundreds of thousands of daily commuters is showing signs of rumbling to life in coming months. 

Athens-based developer Landmark Properties in late 2024 unveiled designs for a revised, taller student-housing project at 680 Spring St. that would claim surface parking lots immediately north of The Varsity’s iconic original location.

On Wednesday, Landmark filed plans with the city for a foundation permit review that would cover structural components such as drilled piers, retaining walls, footings, and slabs for the 40-story building, according to Department of City Planning records. 

Signage along Spring Street at the site in question shows the deadline to appeal tree removal to make way for the student-housing build is today. 

When asked for a construction update last week, a Landmark spokesperson relayed via email: “We are still on track to break ground before the end of the year.”

The Landmark project would claim the final large surface parking lot on Spring Street south of 14th—now that Tech Square’s Phase 3 has risen—in an area that was formerly riddled with them. 

alt Department of City Planning tree removal signage at the 61 North Ave./680 Spring St. site on June 26. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt The most detailed look available for street-level retail plans and other aspects of the tower's base. Landmark Properties; designs, CNNA Architects

Renderings indicate the Olympics-era Centennial Tower at 70 3rd St.—colloquially known as torch tower, or the torch—will remain in place beside the new student housing high-rise. 

Landmark plans to develop a U-shaped tower standing 40 stories—up from 34 stories initially pitched—that would mark one of Midtown’s tallest buildings erected during the current development cycle. 

Other changes to Landmark’s proposal include a greater number of units, from 560 to 626, for a total of 2,235 bedrooms for students, according to plans submitted for review in December. (That’s 243 more bedrooms than were initially planned when the tower project came to light last year). 

alt Scope of the surface parking lot between Spring Street (right) and the downtown Connector today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt The roughly 2-acre site in question immediately north of the original Varsity location. Google Maps

Elsewhere, revised plans for 431 parking spaces (in a six-and-1/2-story podium, wrapped on three sides with student apartments) are less than the 554 parking slots initially pitched.

The amount of proposed ground-floor retail in the building, meanwhile, was bumped up from 8,100 to about 8,600 square feet.

According to the Midtown Development Review Committee, the tower’s southern drive near The Varsity would be an extension of Ponce de Leon Avenue and provide on-street parking.

The tower would claim about 2 acres of surface parking immediately north of The Varsity, near the point where North Avenue meets the downtown Connector, which the restaurant group leases to parking providers but has been looking to sell for several years. Next door, the eatery has been dishing chili dogs and frosted oranges for nearly a century.

For Landmark, the project would mark its fourth student-housing project in downtown and Midtown. Others include The Standard, a student-housing tower also standing just north of The Varsity's parking lots. More recently, the company completed the Legacy at Centennial tower downtown. 

The company has also made recent headlines in Atlanta for buying 40-acre Northcreek Office Park in Buckhead with plans to renovate. 

In the gallery above, find more context and images for the 680 Spring St. proposal as construction, by all indications, draws closer. 

alt The southern face of the 40-story Landmark Properties proposal between Spring Street (right) and the Connector. Landmark Properties; designs, CNNA Architects

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alt Department of City Planning tree removal signage at the 61 North Ave./680 Spring St. site on June 26. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Scope of the surface parking lot between Spring Street (right) and the downtown Connector today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt The roughly 2-acre site in question immediately north of the original Varsity location. Google Maps

alt The most detailed look available for street-level retail plans and other aspects of the tower's base. Landmark Properties; designs, CNNA Architects

alt Landmark Properties; designs, CNNA Architects

alt The southern face of the 40-story Landmark Properties proposal between Spring Street (right) and the Connector. Landmark Properties; designs, CNNA Architects

alt Original rendering showing perspective from the south for the 1,992-bed proposal. The scope has since been revised. Courtesy of Landmark Properties; designs, CNNA Architects

alt The Varsity property in the shadow of high-rise construction in December 2020.Shutterstock

alt The Varsity's iconic signage and main building in 2017. Shutterstock

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Plans call for 40 stories along one of Spring Street's last sizable parking lots

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Crane Watch: Street-level views of Atlanta's tallest new tower in decades Josh Green Thu, 07/03/2025 - 10:48

From street corners and patios across Midtown’s central business district, Atlanta’s tallest new building since the early 1990s is starting to make a definitive skyline mark. 

And there’s roughly 20 stories left to climb where West Peachtree and 12th streets meet. 

In recent weeks, photo essays on these pages have focused on 1072 West Peachtree viewpoints from the east, north, west, and high above. Now it’s time to check in from street level.  

Representatives with New York City-based developer Rockefeller Group have declined to provide 1072 West Peachtree construction updates as summer unfolds in Atlanta, other than to say the skyrise is on pace to top out in the fourth quarter of this year at 60 stories. 

Counting floors on site and in renderings suggests the tower’s glassy, prominent residential portion has now eclipsed the halfway point of construction above the wider base office, retail, and parking levels below. 

alt Construction progress on the 60-story 1072 West Peachtree tower as seen June 26, looking northwest across Midtown. 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. Since then, the tower’s height has surpassed the nearby “Google building,” the tallest, 31-story office component of Selig Development’s three-tower 1105 West Peachtree project. 

Rockefeller forecasted earlier this year the building will be finished in spring 2026, in time for global interest in Atlanta during eight FIFA World Cup matches beginning in June. It’s designed by Atlanta-based architecture firm TVS, in collaboration with Brock Hudgins Architects.  

The tower will count more than 350 upscale apartments total (some with 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. 

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. 

alt Looking northeast, the 1072 West Peachtree skyrise's stance over Spring Street, with other landmark Midtown buildings in the background. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt How base levels of the building's west facade relate to structures next door. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

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. No taller skyrise has been built in the city since 1992. 

Find a closer look at where the rising Midtown landmark stands today—quite literally, and from many angles—in the gallery above. 

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alt Construction progress on the 60-story 1072 West Peachtree tower as seen June 26, looking northwest across Midtown. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt The Rockefeller Group project's stance over Midtown, as viewed from 11th Street last week.Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt From the base of the Google-branded office building, 1105 West Peachtree, on 12th Street. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt The view in late June looking south on West Peachtree Street, with Epicurean Hotel Atlanta at left. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Skyward view from West Peachtree Street today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Spaces along West Peachtree Street that will see roughly 6,000 square feet of retail space, per Midtown Alliance. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt How the tower's fenced-off base levels meet 12th Street today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Western face of the 1072 West Peachtree parking podium. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt How base levels of the building's west facade relate to structures next door. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt 1072 West Peachtree's height in relation to The M by Radius apartments, across 12th Street to the north. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Looking northeast, the 1072 West Peachtree skyrise's stance over Spring Street, with other landmark Midtown buildings in the background. 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

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Roughly 20 stories left to climb at 1072 West Peachtree skyscraper over Midtown

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On Chamblee corner lot, project's first phase officially a go Josh Green Mon, 06/30/2025 - 11:48

Years in the making, a multifaceted Chamblee project that aims to fill an affordable-housing void is now officially under construction, continuing a wave of new development near Georgia’s second-busiest airport.  

The five-story, 67-unit first phase of Clairmont Family is underway at a corner site in the 4000 block of Clairmont Road, according to contractors McShane Construction Company.

The 2.8-acre site, situated between 5th and 6th streets, is just east of DeKalb-Peachtree Airport and south of historic downtown Chamblee, across the street from a greenspace called Clairmont Park. 

According to Mercy Housing Southeast, a nonprofit builder focused on affordable housing, the 67 apartments are the first phase of a multigenerational community and will aim to fill a “critical need for quality, workforce housing” in the growing area. 

A $5-million Georgia Invests in Housing grant is helping fund the project. 

alt Facade plans for the Clairmont Family venture's first phase along Clairmont Road near PDK airport. Mercy Housing Southeast; McShane Construction Company

alt Clairmont Family's site in relation to the airport and growing downtown Chamblee. Google Maps

Plans call for one to three-bedroom floorplans, in-home perks including granite countertops, plus an onsite laundry, outdoor lounge, and playground, along with 76 surface parking spaces, according to the contractor. 

“This is a rare opportunity to create affordable housing in an area with great surrounding amenities and services,” notes a Mercy Housing project summary. “[It’s] in one of the state’s best school districts, giving kids a strong foundation for success.”

No delivery date or range of rents for Clairmont Family has been specified. 

Chamblee city officials approved the multifamily project in summer 2021. At the time, Mercy Housing officials said another Clairmont phase will include senior housing, with all units reserved for residents earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income. The vacant site had been eyed by another developer for 39 townhomes, but those plans fizzled.  

alt The project site in March (at right) with Clairmont Park shown at left. Google Maps

Other recent Chamblee projects that have taken shape near PDK airport include The Foxtrot townhomes, a Dutch-inspired infill projectalso located on Clairmont Road. 

Just north of the airport, multifamily developments The Hawkins and Sky Harbor have joined a large new logistics hub along Chamblee Tucker Road in recent years. 

alt Clairmont Family's 4041 Clairmont Road site in relation to downtown Chamblee (top) and the nearby airport. Google Maps

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alt Clairmont Family's 4041 Clairmont Road site in relation to downtown Chamblee (top) and the nearby airport. Google Maps

alt The project site in March (at right) with Clairmont Park shown at left. Google Maps

alt Facade plans for the Clairmont Family venture's first phase along Clairmont Road near PDK airport. Mercy Housing Southeast; McShane Construction Company

alt Clairmont Family's site in relation to the airport and growing downtown Chamblee. Google Maps

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Owner: Retail bound for corner on Eastside Trolley Trail, near El Tesoro Josh Green Mon, 06/30/2025 - 13:45

Plans are moving forward in Edgewood for a boutique retail concept the property owner hopes will benefit from a steady stream of multipurpose-trail foot traffic next door. 

The project, situated on the northeast corner of the Whitefoord and Woodbine avenues intersection, could be a key cog in a hub of eating and drinking establishments planned for an eastside neighborhood that lacks a historic downtown section. 

Last year, a crumbling, 2,482-square-foot commercial building from 1945 was razed at the 142 Whitefoord Ave. site. It had been vacant for more than a decade, with a collapsed roof and trees growing inside. 

Today, the .26-acre site has more cachet than most, given its front-row status along the Eastside Trolley Trail, a popular Beltline-to-Kirkwood connector trail installed in 2023 by the PATH Foundation. Across the street, taqueria El Tesoro is so popular, lines often form around the block.

Sara Thurston, the lot’s new owner and a licensed real estate agent, tells Urbanize Atlanta she’s submitted plans to the City of Atlanta for building permits to move forward with infill development on what’s currently used as a dirt parking lot. 

alt The 142 Whitefoord Ave. infill site in question today, with the Eastside Trolley Trail at left. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Full scope of the Whitefoord Avenue infill site in question, currently being used for off-street parking. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Thurston’s plans, drawn up by Decatur’s Lightroom architecture firm, call for a retail building standing two stories, with a restaurant on the ground floor and offices and storage for the business above. What type of restaurant could operate there has yet to be determined, per Thurston. 

The same parking footprint as the previous building’s will be used again, and plans call for the building to be “thoughtfully designed to blend in with the current landscape of the corner,” per Thurston. 

No renderings or other visuals are publicly available. Negotiations and revisions with the city are ongoing, Thurston said. 

“I’m hoping to break ground in the next three months,” said Thurston. “As soon as I get the permit approved, I want to get started.” 

alt The 142 Whitefoord Ave. site's location at an Edgewood intersection with commercial uses and low-rise apartments. Google Maps

alt The site's proximity to El Tesoro taqueria, at center across the street. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

One hurdle is the site’s status as being in a FEMA flood zone, which Thurston says requires new construction to be at least four feet above ground level. That requirement doesn’t apply to existing structures for adaptive-reuse development, but Thurston says the previous building onsite was too deteriorated to salvage.  

“My goal is to have [the retail building] completed within a year of breaking ground,” she says. “I’m so excited about it.”

Across Whitefoord Avenue, the situation appears to be quieter at another food-and-beverage concept planned for the area. 

alt State of the former 1950s auto garage where Whitefoord Avenue meets Leslie Street today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Next to El Tesoro, to the north, plans were revealed in spring last year for turning a former 1950s auto garage into a local pizzeria and neighborhood market with patio seating in front and some parking in the rear.  

The building and business owner, longtime Edgewood resident Sid Weinstein, told Urbanize Atlanta he hoped to open that combo business by last fall at the latest, operating it seven days a week.

A year later, no signs of construction are visible within the tall chain-link fencing installed around the property.  

A banner on the auto garage building reads, “Getting closer … Your pizzeria, market & more …” but Weinstein declined to provide updates on where the project stands. 

alt The former auto garage's proximity to the taqueria next door, to the south. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

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alt The 142 Whitefoord Ave. site's location at an Edgewood intersection with commercial uses and low-rise apartments. Google Maps

alt The former building's exterior where Whitefoord and Woodbine avenues meet. Google Maps

alt The 142 Whitefoord Ave. infill site in question today, with the Eastside Trolley Trail at left. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt The site's proximity to El Tesoro taqueria, at center across the street. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Full scope of the Whitefoord Avenue infill site in question, currently being used for off-street parking. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Looking west across the infill site today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt State of the former 1950s auto garage where Whitefoord Avenue meets Leslie Street today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt The former auto garage's proximity to the taqueria next door, to the south. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

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Meanwhile, across the street in Edgewood, plans less clear for separate adaptive-reuse venture

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