LOCATION: English Ave, Atlanta, GA

SIZE: 33 units, 1,200 sqft retail

STATUS: In Progress

SERVICES PROVIDED: Main Street Redevelopment, Housing Choices

The development partner for this project is the­­­ Westside Future Fund (WFF). Their mission is “to advance a compassionate approach to neighborhood revitalization that creates a diverse, mixed‐income community, improves the quality of life for current and future residents, and elevates the Historic Westside’s unique history and culture.” In support of WFF’s mission, this proposed project will provide high density, mixed-use redevelopment, and greater affordability rates for current and future Westside residents. Additionally, this proposed project will keep with existing plans for the area, including the Westside Revive Plan, the Westside Land Use Framework Plan, and the English Avenue Community Redevelopment Plan.

The site is comprised of five vacant parcels facing Joseph E Boone Blvd. Development of this site takes advantage of the proximity to the newly constructed Kathryn Johnston Memorial Park and an underdeveloped commercial corridor. The site’s transit proximity positions it to be a transit-oriented development that does not heavily rely on cars.

Development of this site is compatible with existing plans for the area. Within its goals and objectives, the Westside Revive Plan recommends that projects within its scope “redevelop vacant and underutilized sites for housing and add ‘missing middle’ housing in existing neighborhoods as well as in catalyst sites and around transit.” The Westside Land Use Framework Plan proposes that projects “expand housing choice to improve affordability, attract a mix of resident income levels and reduce displacement” and “strengthen neighborhood commercial corridors with Mixed Use Medium Density land use along peripheral neighborhood corridors. These include Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard and Joseph E. Boone Boulevard.” The English Avenue Redevelopment plan aims to “promote diverse and quality housing types for existing and new residents” and “increase home ownership and improve rental opportunities.” The proposed project is in accordance with each of the aforementioned goals or objectives.

The project proposes four, three-story multifamily buildings and a micro-retail commercial building. The multifamily buildings are designed as a mix of 6Plex, 9Plex, and 12Plex building types with a mix of studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom units. The project proposes a total of 33 units. The project intends to offer workforce, for-rent product.  As a community amenity, the site has a shared community green, accessible to all residents. The project intends for this shared outdoor space to be used for play, informal gathering, and underground stormwater treatment. The commercial building is composed of three retail units. The project intends to rent these units to small, local businesses to use as a stepping stone between home-based businesses and larger, less accessible retail spaces. The commercial building will activate the street and further develop Joseph E Boone Blvd as a commercial corridor.

This project hopes to serve as a model for supporting city and neighborhood goals of diverse, affordable, context-sensitive housing. Given the site’s location in a mixed-use area with direct access to the Route 1 and Route 51 Marta lines, and because mixed-income housing is a vital community development tool to help staunch the rapid gentrification of this legacy Black community, the development partners believe that for-rent, workforce housing is the best use of this site.

The project is expected to be completed by end of 2025.