LOCATION: English Ave, Atlanta, GA

STATUS: In progress

SERVICES PROVIDED: Development Guidance, Architecture, 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 medium density 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.

This project is a missing-middle, workforce housing residential development effort in the English Ave neighborhood and intends to offer a for-rent product. Twenty-four total housing units are proposed across two 12-plex buildings. 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.

Given the site’s location in a mixed-use area with direct access to the Route 1 and Route 50 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.

There is a limit to the amount of available land with proximity to both the BeltLine Connector and MARTA bus lines, as well as the future BRT line on Hollowell. This project represents a unique opportunity to provide a transitional scale of development with direct access to diverse modes of transportation. The vacant parcels are poised for redevelopment and the proposed use will more appropriately transition between the higher density uses to the North and the lower density of the surrounding neighborhood. This project hopes to serve as a model for supporting city and neighborhood goals of diverse, affordable, context-sensitive housing and is part of Westside Future Fund’s mission to deliver more equitable and attainable housing options to the residents of English Avenue.

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.” 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 is expected to be completed by end of 2025.