Reader poll: Should Beltline reschedule cancelled Lantern Parade?
Reader poll: Should Beltline reschedule cancelled Lantern Parade?
Reader poll: Should Beltline reschedule cancelled Lantern Parade?
Josh Green
Mon, 05/05/2025 – 16:40
That rumble heard across intown Atlanta on Saturday afternoon wasn’t thunder—it was the 15th incarnation of the wondrous Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade being cancelled due to approaching, intense storms. (Okay, maybe thunder, too.)
It marked a rare occasion that the Lantern Parade, one of Atlanta’s most unique and coveted traditions, didn’t step off as planned. And it begged the question: Will the cancelled festivities be rescheduled, or will Atlantans have to wait until next year to whoop at hundreds of glowing creations meandering by on the Beltline?
Beltline spokesperson Keona Swindler tells Urbanize Atlanta a rescheduled date hasn’t been set as of today, but “we’ll share more information as soon as it’s available.” Sounds promising, if a bit noncommittal.
“It was hard to come that decision [to cancel the parade],” Swindler noted via email. “It is the highlight of our year!”
The Lantern Parade’s Westside Trail debut in 2022. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Described as a “beloved Atlanta celebration of creativity, community, and light” with giant glowing puppets and marching bands, the grassroots parade had humble beginnings in 2010, when a few hundred creative souls marched with LED lanterns down the shoddy dirt railroad corridor that’s become the Eastside Trail—with no spectators on the sidelines. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lantern Parade was drawing estimated crowds of 70,000 annually to the Eastside Trail, solidifying itself as a local tradition alongside the Dogwood Festival, Streets Alive, and Inman Park Festival, among others.
The pandemic paused the parade for two years, but in 2022 it reemerged on the flipside of town, illuminating a section of the Beltline’s Westside Trail beginning in Adair Park—and concluding with a huge party in the Lee + White district’s parking lots. Beltline officials declared the Westside Trail the parade’s permanent home last year.
Which means it’s time to take a community vote, via the reader poll below, just in case the powers-that-be are listening. If you’re in favor of a rescheduled parade, please do share dates that seem to make sense as well.
…
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• West End news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
Reader poll: Should Beltline reschedule cancelled Lantern Parade?
Josh Green
Mon, 05/05/2025 – 16:40
That rumble heard across intown Atlanta on Saturday afternoon wasn’t thunder—it was the 15th incarnation of the wondrous Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade being cancelled due to approaching, intense storms. (Okay, maybe thunder, too.) It marked a rare occasion that the Lantern Parade, one of Atlanta’s most unique and coveted traditions, didn’t step off as planned. And it begged the question: Will the cancelled festivities be rescheduled, or will Atlantans have to wait until next year to whoop at hundreds of glowing creations meandering by on the Beltline?Beltline spokesperson Keona Swindler tells Urbanize Atlanta a rescheduled date hasn’t been set as of today, but “we’ll share more information as soon as it’s available.” Sounds promising, if a bit noncommittal. “It was hard to come that decision [to cancel the parade],” Swindler noted via email. “It is the highlight of our year!”
The Lantern Parade’s Westside Trail debut in 2022. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Described as a “beloved Atlanta celebration of creativity, community, and light” with giant glowing puppets and marching bands, the grassroots parade had humble beginnings in 2010, when a few hundred creative souls marched with LED lanterns down the shoddy dirt railroad corridor that’s become the Eastside Trail—with no spectators on the sidelines. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lantern Parade was drawing estimated crowds of 70,000 annually to the Eastside Trail, solidifying itself as a local tradition alongside the Dogwood Festival, Streets Alive, and Inman Park Festival, among others.The pandemic paused the parade for two years, but in 2022 it reemerged on the flipside of town, illuminating a section of the Beltline’s Westside Trail beginning in Adair Park—and concluding with a huge party in the Lee + White district’s parking lots. Beltline officials declared the Westside Trail the parade’s permanent home last year. Which means it’s time to take a community vote, via the reader poll below, just in case the powers-that-be are listening. If you’re in favor of a rescheduled parade, please do share dates that seem to make sense as well.
…Follow us on social media: Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram • West End news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
Tags
Westside Trail
Beltline
Atlanta BeltLine
West End
Westview
Oakland City
Lantern Parade
Chantelle Rytter and her Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons
Lee + White
MDH Partners
Ackerman & Co.
Ackerman and Co.
Atlanta Traditions
Atlanta Festivals
What to do in Atlanta
Subtitle
If so, any suggestions as to when?
Neighborhood
Adair Park
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Before/After Images
Sponsored Post
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Reader poll: Should Beltline reschedule cancelled Lantern Parade?
Josh Green
Mon, 05/05/2025 – 16:40
That rumble heard across intown Atlanta on Saturday afternoon wasn’t thunder—it was the 15th incarnation of the wondrous Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade being cancelled due to approaching, intense storms. (Okay, maybe thunder, too.) It marked a rare occasion that the Lantern Parade, one of Atlanta’s most unique and coveted traditions, didn’t step off as planned. And it begged the question: Will the cancelled festivities be rescheduled, or will Atlantans have to wait until next year to whoop at hundreds of glowing creations meandering by on the Beltline?Beltline spokesperson Keona Swindler tells Urbanize Atlanta a rescheduled date hasn’t been set as of today, but “we’ll share more information as soon as it’s available.” Sounds promising, if a bit noncommittal. “It was hard to come that decision [to cancel the parade],” Swindler noted via email. “It is the highlight of our year!”
The Lantern Parade’s Westside Trail debut in 2022. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Described as a “beloved Atlanta celebration of creativity, community, and light” with giant glowing puppets and marching bands, the grassroots parade had humble beginnings in 2010, when a few hundred creative souls marched with LED lanterns down the shoddy dirt railroad corridor that’s become the Eastside Trail—with no spectators on the sidelines. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lantern Parade was drawing estimated crowds of 70,000 annually to the Eastside Trail, solidifying itself as a local tradition alongside the Dogwood Festival, Streets Alive, and Inman Park Festival, among others.The pandemic paused the parade for two years, but in 2022 it reemerged on the flipside of town, illuminating a section of the Beltline’s Westside Trail beginning in Adair Park—and concluding with a huge party in the Lee + White district’s parking lots. Beltline officials declared the Westside Trail the parade’s permanent home last year. Which means it’s time to take a community vote, via the reader poll below, just in case the powers-that-be are listening. If you’re in favor of a rescheduled parade, please do share dates that seem to make sense as well.
…Follow us on social media: Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram • West End news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
Tags
Westside Trail
Beltline
Atlanta BeltLine
West End
Westview
Oakland City
Lantern Parade
Chantelle Rytter and her Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons
Lee + White
MDH Partners
Ackerman & Co.
Ackerman and Co.
Atlanta Traditions
Atlanta Festivals
What to do in Atlanta
Subtitle
If so, any suggestions as to when?
Neighborhood
Adair Park
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Image
Before/After Images
Sponsored Post
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Developer Pitches 2.4M SF Georgia Data Center Campus
Developer Pitches 2.4M SF Georgia Data Center Campus
Atlas Development has filed plans to build a 2.4M SF data center campus near Rome, Georgia, the fifth major project the data center newcomer has proposed in the state so far this year.
Atlas Development has filed plans to build a 2.4M SF data center campus near Rome, Georgia, the fifth major project the data center newcomer has proposed in the state so far this year. Read MoreBisnow News Feed
Atlas Development has filed plans to build a 2.4M SF data center campus near Rome, Georgia, the fifth major project the data center newcomer has proposed in the state so far this year.
BREAKING: Star Metals developer sets sights on Eastside Beltline properties
BREAKING: Star Metals developer sets sights on Eastside Beltline properties
BREAKING: Star Metals developer sets sights on Eastside Beltline properties
Josh Green
Mon, 05/05/2025 – 14:56
An Atlanta Beltline-adjacent site in Reynoldstown where big development ideas have been kicked around for nearly two decades could finally see movement soon—but with a larger scope than ever planned before.
Officials with the Allen Morris Company, a Florida-based real estate firm with a growing Atlanta presence, tell Urbanize Atlanta they’re in talks to help develop a vacant, formerly industrial 930 Mauldin St. site in Reynoldstown that counts direct Eastside Trail access.
Allen Morris is entering a joint partnership with longtime property owners and developers Metzger & Co. The latter company in 2022 unveiled a revised, Perkins & Will-designed development vision for the site that would have blended retail and residential in a unique, Z-shaped structure, claiming one of the last large development sites left along Reynoldstown’s section of the Beltline.
But according to a neighborhood source, the project’s scope has recently grown to include the 205 Holtzclaw St. property immediately south of the Mauldin Street site, which the developers have purchased. Formerly home to the DooGallery, that site houses an empty lot and low-rise, warehouse-style buildings today.
Overview of the 930 Mauldin St. and 205 Holtzclaw St. properties in question alongside the Beltline’s Eastside Trail. Google Maps
Allen Morris and partners have scheduled a meeting Thursday to discuss rezoning and other details with the Reynoldstown Civic Improvement League, a volunteer community organization.
“Our intent is to work with RCIL to conceive a project that will be mixed-use with multifamily residential and retail,” Allen Morris officials wrote to Urbanize Atlanta today via email. “Construction timing, scope, and other details are highly conceptual until we receive feedback from RCIL.
“We look forward to working with the neighborhood,” the message continues, “to develop a project that inspires, impresses, and improves the lives of all who interact with it.”
Metzger & Co.’s development plans for Mauldin Street have been proposed, off and on, for more than 17 years, long before Beltline hysteria swept over the historic eastside neighborhood.
Back in 2008, the Beltline and Atlanta City Council approved a three-story, 108-unit building that Metzger & Co. had brought to the table, but it never went forward.
Eight years later, the developer pitched a larger project with 40 more apartments and about twice the height. City officials and neighborhood leaders vocally criticized that proposal’s lack of affordable housing, how it didn’t interface well with the Beltline, and for what they called poor construction meant for a 20-year life cycle. A rezoning application was unanimously rejected at an NPU meeting, and the project fizzled.
More recently, Metzger & Co.’s retooled plans called for 142 apartments (15 percent reserved as affordable housing) and 2,700 square feet of retail spaces fronting the Beltline, in a 140,000-square-foot building that would have topped out at six stories. But those designs, according to sources, have been scrapped, though they’d been approved by NPU and other neighborhood groups as part of a successful rezoning process in 2022.
As shown in 2022 renderings, overview of the project’s planned Beltline frontage, with the retail portion at bottom left. Note: These plans could be obsolete now. Perkins & Will; via City of Atlanta Office of Zoning and Development
How the long-vacant (but always artful) industrial site fronts Reynoldstown streets and the Eastside Trail today. Metzger & Co./Flippo Civil Design
According to LoopNet, the 1.3-acre Mauldin Street site is home to a 31,000-square-foot industrial building now. It last sold for $2.2 million back in 2006—cheap by today’s standards for Eastside Trail-adjacent acreage.
Elsewhere in Atlanta, Allen Morris, a national developer, is actively planning the final phases of its growing Star Metals District now, as the upscale Stella at Star Metals tower nears completion.
About two miles west of there, the company is putting together a massive Bankhead project along the Beltline’s Westside Trail that would also claim underused, formerly industrial properties.
Allen Morris also opened the Bryn House project in North Druid Hills in 2023.
…
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• Reynoldstown news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
Overview of the 930 Mauldin St. and 205 Holtzclaw St. properties in question alongside the Beltline’s Eastside Trail. Google Maps
As shown in 2022 renderings, overview of the project’s planned Beltline frontage, with the retail portion at bottom left. Note: These plans could be obsolete now. Perkins & Will; via City of Atlanta Office of Zoning and Development
According to previous renderings, how the completed 930 Mauldin St. project would look to Beltline patrons, with retail spaces depicted at left. Perkins & Will; via City of Atlanta Office of Zoning and Development
Stair-stepped plans for Holtzclaw Street frontage, away from the Beltline, per plans brought forward by Metzger in 2022. Perkins & Will; via City of Atlanta Office of Zoning and Development
How the long-vacant (but always artful) industrial site fronts Reynoldstown streets and the Eastside Trail today. Metzger & Co./Flippo Civil Design
Metzger & Co./Flippo Civil Design
Blueprints depicting BeltLine-adjacent retail spaces at the project’s north end, per 2022 plans. Metzger & Co./Flippo Civil Design
BREAKING: Star Metals developer sets sights on Eastside Beltline properties
Josh Green
Mon, 05/05/2025 – 14:56
An Atlanta Beltline-adjacent site in Reynoldstown where big development ideas have been kicked around for nearly two decades could finally see movement soon—but with a larger scope than ever planned before. Officials with the Allen Morris Company, a Florida-based real estate firm with a growing Atlanta presence, tell Urbanize Atlanta they’re in talks to help develop a vacant, formerly industrial 930 Mauldin St. site in Reynoldstown that counts direct Eastside Trail access. Allen Morris is entering a joint partnership with longtime property owners and developers Metzger & Co. The latter company in 2022 unveiled a revised, Perkins & Will-designed development vision for the site that would have blended retail and residential in a unique, Z-shaped structure, claiming one of the last large development sites left along Reynoldstown’s section of the Beltline.But according to a neighborhood source, the project’s scope has recently grown to include the 205 Holtzclaw St. property immediately south of the Mauldin Street site, which the developers have purchased. Formerly home to the DooGallery, that site houses an empty lot and low-rise, warehouse-style buildings today.
Overview of the 930 Mauldin St. and 205 Holtzclaw St. properties in question alongside the Beltline’s Eastside Trail. Google Maps
Allen Morris and partners have scheduled a meeting Thursday to discuss rezoning and other details with the Reynoldstown Civic Improvement League, a volunteer community organization. “Our intent is to work with RCIL to conceive a project that will be mixed-use with multifamily residential and retail,” Allen Morris officials wrote to Urbanize Atlanta today via email. “Construction timing, scope, and other details are highly conceptual until we receive feedback from RCIL. “We look forward to working with the neighborhood,” the message continues, “to develop a project that inspires, impresses, and improves the lives of all who interact with it.”Metzger & Co.’s development plans for Mauldin Street have been proposed, off and on, for more than 17 years, long before Beltline hysteria swept over the historic eastside neighborhood.Back in 2008, the Beltline and Atlanta City Council approved a three-story, 108-unit building that Metzger & Co. had brought to the table, but it never went forward.Eight years later, the developer pitched a larger project with 40 more apartments and about twice the height. City officials and neighborhood leaders vocally criticized that proposal’s lack of affordable housing, how it didn’t interface well with the Beltline, and for what they called poor construction meant for a 20-year life cycle. A rezoning application was unanimously rejected at an NPU meeting, and the project fizzled.More recently, Metzger & Co.’s retooled plans called for 142 apartments (15 percent reserved as affordable housing) and 2,700 square feet of retail spaces fronting the Beltline, in a 140,000-square-foot building that would have topped out at six stories. But those designs, according to sources, have been scrapped, though they’d been approved by NPU and other neighborhood groups as part of a successful rezoning process in 2022.
As shown in 2022 renderings, overview of the project’s planned Beltline frontage, with the retail portion at bottom left. Note: These plans could be obsolete now. Perkins & Will; via City of Atlanta Office of Zoning and Development
How the long-vacant (but always artful) industrial site fronts Reynoldstown streets and the Eastside Trail today. Metzger & Co./Flippo Civil Design
According to LoopNet, the 1.3-acre Mauldin Street site is home to a 31,000-square-foot industrial building now. It last sold for $2.2 million back in 2006—cheap by today’s standards for Eastside Trail-adjacent acreage.Elsewhere in Atlanta, Allen Morris, a national developer, is actively planning the final phases of its growing Star Metals District now, as the upscale Stella at Star Metals tower nears completion. About two miles west of there, the company is putting together a massive Bankhead project along the Beltline’s Westside Trail that would also claim underused, formerly industrial properties. Allen Morris also opened the Bryn House project in North Druid Hills in 2023….Follow us on social media: Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram • Reynoldstown news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
Tags
930 Mauldin Street SE
Metzger & Co.
BeltLine Development
Reynoldstown Civic Improvement League
Beltline
Atlanta BeltLine
Eastside Trail
Cabbagetown
90 Mauldin Associates
Cathy Woolard
Stein Steel
Perkins & Will
Perkins&Will
Flippo Civil Design
Watts & Browning Engineers
Allen Morris Company
The Allen Morris Company
BeltLine Construction
Reynoldstown Development
Reynoldstown Construction
Images
Overview of the 930 Mauldin St. and 205 Holtzclaw St. properties in question alongside the Beltline’s Eastside Trail. Google Maps
As shown in 2022 renderings, overview of the project’s planned Beltline frontage, with the retail portion at bottom left. Note: These plans could be obsolete now. Perkins & Will; via City of Atlanta Office of Zoning and Development
According to previous renderings, how the completed 930 Mauldin St. project would look to Beltline patrons, with retail spaces depicted at left. Perkins & Will; via City of Atlanta Office of Zoning and Development
Stair-stepped plans for Holtzclaw Street frontage, away from the Beltline, per plans brought forward by Metzger in 2022. Perkins & Will; via City of Atlanta Office of Zoning and Development
How the long-vacant (but always artful) industrial site fronts Reynoldstown streets and the Eastside Trail today. Metzger & Co./Flippo Civil Design
Metzger & Co./Flippo Civil Design
Blueprints depicting BeltLine-adjacent retail spaces at the project’s north end, per 2022 plans. Metzger & Co./Flippo Civil Design
Subtitle
Allen Morris Company in talks to help bring long-planned—but expanded—Reynoldstown build to fruition
Neighborhood
Reynoldstown
Background Image
Image
Associated Project
930 Mauldin Street
Before/After Images
Sponsored Post
Off Read More
BREAKING: Star Metals developer sets sights on Eastside Beltline properties
Josh Green
Mon, 05/05/2025 – 14:56
An Atlanta Beltline-adjacent site in Reynoldstown where big development ideas have been kicked around for nearly two decades could finally see movement soon—but with a larger scope than ever planned before. Officials with the Allen Morris Company, a Florida-based real estate firm with a growing Atlanta presence, tell Urbanize Atlanta they’re in talks to help develop a vacant, formerly industrial 930 Mauldin St. site in Reynoldstown that counts direct Eastside Trail access. Allen Morris is entering a joint partnership with longtime property owners and developers Metzger & Co. The latter company in 2022 unveiled a revised, Perkins & Will-designed development vision for the site that would have blended retail and residential in a unique, Z-shaped structure, claiming one of the last large development sites left along Reynoldstown’s section of the Beltline.But according to a neighborhood source, the project’s scope has recently grown to include the 205 Holtzclaw St. property immediately south of the Mauldin Street site, which the developers have purchased. Formerly home to the DooGallery, that site houses an empty lot and low-rise, warehouse-style buildings today.
Overview of the 930 Mauldin St. and 205 Holtzclaw St. properties in question alongside the Beltline’s Eastside Trail. Google Maps
Allen Morris and partners have scheduled a meeting Thursday to discuss rezoning and other details with the Reynoldstown Civic Improvement League, a volunteer community organization. “Our intent is to work with RCIL to conceive a project that will be mixed-use with multifamily residential and retail,” Allen Morris officials wrote to Urbanize Atlanta today via email. “Construction timing, scope, and other details are highly conceptual until we receive feedback from RCIL. “We look forward to working with the neighborhood,” the message continues, “to develop a project that inspires, impresses, and improves the lives of all who interact with it.”Metzger & Co.’s development plans for Mauldin Street have been proposed, off and on, for more than 17 years, long before Beltline hysteria swept over the historic eastside neighborhood.Back in 2008, the Beltline and Atlanta City Council approved a three-story, 108-unit building that Metzger & Co. had brought to the table, but it never went forward.Eight years later, the developer pitched a larger project with 40 more apartments and about twice the height. City officials and neighborhood leaders vocally criticized that proposal’s lack of affordable housing, how it didn’t interface well with the Beltline, and for what they called poor construction meant for a 20-year life cycle. A rezoning application was unanimously rejected at an NPU meeting, and the project fizzled.More recently, Metzger & Co.’s retooled plans called for 142 apartments (15 percent reserved as affordable housing) and 2,700 square feet of retail spaces fronting the Beltline, in a 140,000-square-foot building that would have topped out at six stories. But those designs, according to sources, have been scrapped, though they’d been approved by NPU and other neighborhood groups as part of a successful rezoning process in 2022.
As shown in 2022 renderings, overview of the project’s planned Beltline frontage, with the retail portion at bottom left. Note: These plans could be obsolete now. Perkins & Will; via City of Atlanta Office of Zoning and Development
How the long-vacant (but always artful) industrial site fronts Reynoldstown streets and the Eastside Trail today. Metzger & Co./Flippo Civil Design
According to LoopNet, the 1.3-acre Mauldin Street site is home to a 31,000-square-foot industrial building now. It last sold for $2.2 million back in 2006—cheap by today’s standards for Eastside Trail-adjacent acreage.Elsewhere in Atlanta, Allen Morris, a national developer, is actively planning the final phases of its growing Star Metals District now, as the upscale Stella at Star Metals tower nears completion. About two miles west of there, the company is putting together a massive Bankhead project along the Beltline’s Westside Trail that would also claim underused, formerly industrial properties. Allen Morris also opened the Bryn House project in North Druid Hills in 2023….Follow us on social media: Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram • Reynoldstown news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
Tags
930 Mauldin Street SE
Metzger & Co.
BeltLine Development
Reynoldstown Civic Improvement League
Beltline
Atlanta BeltLine
Eastside Trail
Cabbagetown
90 Mauldin Associates
Cathy Woolard
Stein Steel
Perkins & Will
Perkins&Will
Flippo Civil Design
Watts & Browning Engineers
Allen Morris Company
The Allen Morris Company
BeltLine Construction
Reynoldstown Development
Reynoldstown Construction
Images
Overview of the 930 Mauldin St. and 205 Holtzclaw St. properties in question alongside the Beltline’s Eastside Trail. Google Maps
As shown in 2022 renderings, overview of the project’s planned Beltline frontage, with the retail portion at bottom left. Note: These plans could be obsolete now. Perkins & Will; via City of Atlanta Office of Zoning and Development
According to previous renderings, how the completed 930 Mauldin St. project would look to Beltline patrons, with retail spaces depicted at left. Perkins & Will; via City of Atlanta Office of Zoning and Development
Stair-stepped plans for Holtzclaw Street frontage, away from the Beltline, per plans brought forward by Metzger in 2022. Perkins & Will; via City of Atlanta Office of Zoning and Development
How the long-vacant (but always artful) industrial site fronts Reynoldstown streets and the Eastside Trail today. Metzger & Co./Flippo Civil Design
Metzger & Co./Flippo Civil Design
Blueprints depicting BeltLine-adjacent retail spaces at the project’s north end, per 2022 plans. Metzger & Co./Flippo Civil Design
Subtitle
Allen Morris Company in talks to help bring long-planned—but expanded—Reynoldstown build to fruition
Neighborhood
Reynoldstown
Background Image
Image
Associated Project
930 Mauldin Street
Before/After Images
Sponsored Post
Off
Self-storage project overlooking Atlanta’s marquee park tops out
Self-storage project overlooking Atlanta’s marquee park tops out
Self-storage project overlooking Atlanta’s marquee park tops out
Josh Green
Mon, 05/05/2025 – 13:46
A controversial Virginia-Highland project has taken shape with sweeping views across Piedmont Park, the Beltline corridor, and Midtown’s skyline—but with minimal windows for enjoying the scenery.
The self-storage facility project at the doorstep of two marquee, walkable intown attractions, the Beltline’s Eastside/Northeast trails and Piedmont Park, has reached its maximum height of five stories, according to building plans and a recent site visit.
Two low-rise commercial buildings were demolished at the site last year (1011 Monroe Drive and 597 Cooledge Ave.) that had most recently housed Cantoni Furniture and Illuminations Lighting. The high-profile corner is located a few yards from where the Beltline’s popular Eastside Trail and new Northeast Trail section link to each other with an expanded, improved pedestrian crossing at Monroe Drive.
Public Storage, a national self-storage provider, is building a larger facility to replace those structures. That use has drawn the ire of both neighborhood leaders and Beltline development arbiters.
The company hasn’t clarified exactly what it’s building, or when it plans to deliver, despite repeated requests for more information throughout most of 2024. Inquiries this week to Public Storage officials have also not been returned.
How the Public Storage project relates to the recently enhanced Atlanta Beltline pedestrian crosswalk at Monroe Drive. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Public Storage/Atlanta BeltLine DRC
The construction timeline is important to parts of Atlanta beyond the Monroe Drive site.
On the flipside of Piedmont Park, the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s $150-million expansion project hinges on the Public Storage facility project being finished and open.
The Garden’s 8-acre expansion will consume adjacent land where Public Storage has operated for years. In exchange, the Garden is swapping the Monroe Drive property, which it bought for $13.5 million in 2023, with Public Storage, so the company can maintain a presence in the area.
The Botanical Garden also bought Public Storage’s facility on Piedmont Avenue, immediately north of the current gardens, for a reported $40 million.
Drawings shared by Public Storage representatives in early 2023 with the Atlanta Beltline Design Review Committee—following several design updates—lend an idea what’s in store for the intown corner.
According to those plans, the self-storage project would include office space (and bike racks) with a large, Botanical Garden-themed mural on one wall.
The lack of retail space or residential uses such as townhomes peeved Beltline DRC members during planning stages in 2023. They criticized the project as presented as “a missed opportunity” and “a use that does not belong on the Beltline or anywhere near it.”
Building permits indicate the self-storage facility will stand five stories—its height today. A competing business, Extra Space Storage, has long operated another self-storage facility next door on the same block, along Kanuga Street.
The project’s northern face along Cooledge Avenue. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Proximity of the Self Storage site (in red) to the Eastside Trail, Piedmont Park, and Extra Space Storage immediately to the south. Google Maps
Botanical Garden officials told Urbanize Atlanta in November they hope to break ground on the expansion in late 2025, with completion sometime in 2027. But that’s all contingent on Public Storage relinquishing their current building on the Garden’s expansion site.
Head up to the gallery for more context and photos showing how the Va-Hi self-storage build relates to Monroe Drive and the Beltline today.
…
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• Virginia-Highland news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
Proximity of the Self Storage site (in red) to the Eastside Trail, Piedmont Park, and Extra Space Storage immediately to the south. Google Maps
State of previous buildings on site as of early 2023, with a competing self-storage facility visible next door. Google Maps
How the Public Storage project relates to the recently enhanced Atlanta Beltline pedestrian crosswalk at Monroe Drive. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
The 1011 Monroe Drive project has reached its max height, if renderings submitted to Beltline DRC officials are any indication. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
The west elevation overlooking Piedmont Park and Midtown today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
The project’s northern face along Cooledge Avenue. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Public Storage/Atlanta BeltLine DRC
Self-storage project overlooking Atlanta’s marquee park tops out
Josh Green
Mon, 05/05/2025 – 13:46
A controversial Virginia-Highland project has taken shape with sweeping views across Piedmont Park, the Beltline corridor, and Midtown’s skyline—but with minimal windows for enjoying the scenery. The self-storage facility project at the doorstep of two marquee, walkable intown attractions, the Beltline’s Eastside/Northeast trails and Piedmont Park, has reached its maximum height of five stories, according to building plans and a recent site visit. Two low-rise commercial buildings were demolished at the site last year (1011 Monroe Drive and 597 Cooledge Ave.) that had most recently housed Cantoni Furniture and Illuminations Lighting. The high-profile corner is located a few yards from where the Beltline’s popular Eastside Trail and new Northeast Trail section link to each other with an expanded, improved pedestrian crossing at Monroe Drive. Public Storage, a national self-storage provider, is building a larger facility to replace those structures. That use has drawn the ire of both neighborhood leaders and Beltline development arbiters. The company hasn’t clarified exactly what it’s building, or when it plans to deliver, despite repeated requests for more information throughout most of 2024. Inquiries this week to Public Storage officials have also not been returned.
How the Public Storage project relates to the recently enhanced Atlanta Beltline pedestrian crosswalk at Monroe Drive. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Public Storage/Atlanta BeltLine DRC
The construction timeline is important to parts of Atlanta beyond the Monroe Drive site. On the flipside of Piedmont Park, the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s $150-million expansion project hinges on the Public Storage facility project being finished and open.The Garden’s 8-acre expansion will consume adjacent land where Public Storage has operated for years. In exchange, the Garden is swapping the Monroe Drive property, which it bought for $13.5 million in 2023, with Public Storage, so the company can maintain a presence in the area.The Botanical Garden also bought Public Storage’s facility on Piedmont Avenue, immediately north of the current gardens, for a reported $40 million.Drawings shared by Public Storage representatives in early 2023 with the Atlanta Beltline Design Review Committee—following several design updates—lend an idea what’s in store for the intown corner. According to those plans, the self-storage project would include office space (and bike racks) with a large, Botanical Garden-themed mural on one wall.The lack of retail space or residential uses such as townhomes peeved Beltline DRC members during planning stages in 2023. They criticized the project as presented as “a missed opportunity” and “a use that does not belong on the Beltline or anywhere near it.” Building permits indicate the self-storage facility will stand five stories—its height today. A competing business, Extra Space Storage, has long operated another self-storage facility next door on the same block, along Kanuga Street.
The project’s northern face along Cooledge Avenue. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Proximity of the Self Storage site (in red) to the Eastside Trail, Piedmont Park, and Extra Space Storage immediately to the south. Google Maps
Botanical Garden officials told Urbanize Atlanta in November they hope to break ground on the expansion in late 2025, with completion sometime in 2027. But that’s all contingent on Public Storage relinquishing their current building on the Garden’s expansion site. Head up to the gallery for more context and photos showing how the Va-Hi self-storage build relates to Monroe Drive and the Beltline today. …Follow us on social media: Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram • Virginia-Highland news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
Tags
1011 Monroe Drive
Public Storage
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Virginia-Highland Civic Association
Atlanta Construction
Atlanta Development
Self-Storage
Self-storage development
Self-storage facilities
Piedmont Park
Eastside Trail
Beltline
Atlanta BeltLine
Rycon Construction
Extra Space Storage
Images
Proximity of the Self Storage site (in red) to the Eastside Trail, Piedmont Park, and Extra Space Storage immediately to the south. Google Maps
State of previous buildings on site as of early 2023, with a competing self-storage facility visible next door. Google Maps
How the Public Storage project relates to the recently enhanced Atlanta Beltline pedestrian crosswalk at Monroe Drive. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
The 1011 Monroe Drive project has reached its max height, if renderings submitted to Beltline DRC officials are any indication. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
The west elevation overlooking Piedmont Park and Midtown today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
The project’s northern face along Cooledge Avenue. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Public Storage/Atlanta BeltLine DRC
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Public Storage facility near Piedmont Park claims properties next to enhanced Beltline trails
Neighborhood
Virginia-Highland
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Self-storage project overlooking Atlanta’s marquee park tops out
Josh Green
Mon, 05/05/2025 – 13:46
A controversial Virginia-Highland project has taken shape with sweeping views across Piedmont Park, the Beltline corridor, and Midtown’s skyline—but with minimal windows for enjoying the scenery. The self-storage facility project at the doorstep of two marquee, walkable intown attractions, the Beltline’s Eastside/Northeast trails and Piedmont Park, has reached its maximum height of five stories, according to building plans and a recent site visit. Two low-rise commercial buildings were demolished at the site last year (1011 Monroe Drive and 597 Cooledge Ave.) that had most recently housed Cantoni Furniture and Illuminations Lighting. The high-profile corner is located a few yards from where the Beltline’s popular Eastside Trail and new Northeast Trail section link to each other with an expanded, improved pedestrian crossing at Monroe Drive. Public Storage, a national self-storage provider, is building a larger facility to replace those structures. That use has drawn the ire of both neighborhood leaders and Beltline development arbiters. The company hasn’t clarified exactly what it’s building, or when it plans to deliver, despite repeated requests for more information throughout most of 2024. Inquiries this week to Public Storage officials have also not been returned.
How the Public Storage project relates to the recently enhanced Atlanta Beltline pedestrian crosswalk at Monroe Drive. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Public Storage/Atlanta BeltLine DRC
The construction timeline is important to parts of Atlanta beyond the Monroe Drive site. On the flipside of Piedmont Park, the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s $150-million expansion project hinges on the Public Storage facility project being finished and open.The Garden’s 8-acre expansion will consume adjacent land where Public Storage has operated for years. In exchange, the Garden is swapping the Monroe Drive property, which it bought for $13.5 million in 2023, with Public Storage, so the company can maintain a presence in the area.The Botanical Garden also bought Public Storage’s facility on Piedmont Avenue, immediately north of the current gardens, for a reported $40 million.Drawings shared by Public Storage representatives in early 2023 with the Atlanta Beltline Design Review Committee—following several design updates—lend an idea what’s in store for the intown corner. According to those plans, the self-storage project would include office space (and bike racks) with a large, Botanical Garden-themed mural on one wall.The lack of retail space or residential uses such as townhomes peeved Beltline DRC members during planning stages in 2023. They criticized the project as presented as “a missed opportunity” and “a use that does not belong on the Beltline or anywhere near it.” Building permits indicate the self-storage facility will stand five stories—its height today. A competing business, Extra Space Storage, has long operated another self-storage facility next door on the same block, along Kanuga Street.
The project’s northern face along Cooledge Avenue. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Proximity of the Self Storage site (in red) to the Eastside Trail, Piedmont Park, and Extra Space Storage immediately to the south. Google Maps
Botanical Garden officials told Urbanize Atlanta in November they hope to break ground on the expansion in late 2025, with completion sometime in 2027. But that’s all contingent on Public Storage relinquishing their current building on the Garden’s expansion site. Head up to the gallery for more context and photos showing how the Va-Hi self-storage build relates to Monroe Drive and the Beltline today. …Follow us on social media: Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram • Virginia-Highland news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
Tags
1011 Monroe Drive
Public Storage
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Virginia-Highland Civic Association
Atlanta Construction
Atlanta Development
Self-Storage
Self-storage development
Self-storage facilities
Piedmont Park
Eastside Trail
Beltline
Atlanta BeltLine
Rycon Construction
Extra Space Storage
Images
Proximity of the Self Storage site (in red) to the Eastside Trail, Piedmont Park, and Extra Space Storage immediately to the south. Google Maps
State of previous buildings on site as of early 2023, with a competing self-storage facility visible next door. Google Maps
How the Public Storage project relates to the recently enhanced Atlanta Beltline pedestrian crosswalk at Monroe Drive. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
The 1011 Monroe Drive project has reached its max height, if renderings submitted to Beltline DRC officials are any indication. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
The west elevation overlooking Piedmont Park and Midtown today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
The project’s northern face along Cooledge Avenue. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Public Storage/Atlanta BeltLine DRC
Subtitle
Public Storage facility near Piedmont Park claims properties next to enhanced Beltline trails
Neighborhood
Virginia-Highland
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Before/After Images
Sponsored Post
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Delta One Lounge could expand to Atlanta — but airport real estate presents challenge
Delta One Lounge could expand to Atlanta — but airport real estate presents challenge
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport may one day be home to the exclusive Delta One Lounge.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport may one day be home to the exclusive Delta One Lounge. Read MoreBizjournals.com Feed (2019-09-06 17:16:48)
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport may one day be home to the exclusive Delta One Lounge.
Delta One Lounge could expand to Atlanta — but airport real estate presents challenge
Delta One Lounge could expand to Atlanta — but airport real estate presents challenge
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport may one day be home to the exclusive Delta One Lounge.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport may one day be home to the exclusive Delta One Lounge. Read MoreBizjournals.com Feed (2022-04-02 21:43:57)
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport may one day be home to the exclusive Delta One Lounge.
Wells Fargo Forecloses On Westside Portfolio For Half Of 2021 Price
Wells Fargo Forecloses On Westside Portfolio For Half Of 2021 Price
One of the nation’s largest banks is now in possession of a portfolio of Atlanta office and retail buildings leased to a brewery, an events space and a Michelin-starred restaurant.
One of the nation’s largest banks is now in possession of a portfolio of Atlanta office and retail buildings leased to a brewery, an events space and a Michelin-starred restaurant. Read MoreBisnow News Feed
One of the nation’s largest banks is now in possession of a portfolio of Atlanta office and retail buildings leased to a brewery, an events space and a Michelin-starred restaurant.
As taxes climb, Atlanta launches special fund to combat displacement
As taxes climb, Atlanta launches special fund to combat displacement
As taxes climb, Atlanta launches special fund to combat displacement
Josh Green
Mon, 05/05/2025 – 08:09
For longtime, older Atlantans feeling the pinch of rising property taxes, relief could be on the way.
Invest Atlanta has opened the application process for a program designed to provide legacy residents in the city with financial support to ease the burden of rising property taxes and keep them in their homes.
The Anti-Displacement Tax Relief Fund, launched in partnership with the City of Atlanta, will cover property tax increases above the city’s base amount over a 20-year period for anyone who qualifies (and continues to qualify over time). City officials have allocated $10 million for the program from private resources, with the Centennial Yards Housing Trust Fund being a primary source, according to Invest Atlanta.
The Anti-Displacement Tax Relief Fund application period ends May 31 this year.
According to Invest Atlanta, qualified applicants must be age 60 or older, an Atlanta resident since 2015 (though priority will go to homeowners of more than 15 years), have a household income of 60 percent AMI or less, and be currently enrolled in qualifying homestead exemption programs, among other requirements.
Invest Atlanta
The tax-relief issue is critical now because Atlanta’s rapid development and growth has put many longstanding community members and seniors at risk of displacement from the very neighborhoods they helped stabilize and build up, according to the program’s backers.
According to Dr. Eloisa Klementich, Invest Atlanta president and CEO, a pilot program in 2024 accepted 105 applicants and saved legacy residents $41,405 in property tax increases. The agency expects 245 applications this year as the relief efforts spread citywide.
“These payments, for some, represent more than a 30-percent increase to their tax bill,” Klementich said in a program announcement. “For those on fixed income it becomes very difficult to absorb.”
Invest Atlanta has teamed with Forward as the program’s administration contractor to help with community outreach, application support (it’s available in 68 languages via phone, text, and email), and eligibility screening “in a way that uses taxpayer dollars efficiently,” per the agency. The program is one component of a broader city strategy to mitigate housing instability and aim for equitable growth.
“By providing direct financial assistance to our Atlanta seniors for a 20-year period, we aim to not only alleviate the burden of escalating property taxes—particularly in areas of rapid gentrification—but also to empower residents to achieve greater stability,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, an Invest Atlanta chair, in the announcement. “This program is a significant step toward ensuring that our seniors and legacy residents feel secure in their homes and are not forced to relocate due to financial pressures.”
More details on the program can be found online here, or by calling 855-582-3973.
…
Follow us on social media:
Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram
- Affordable housing news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
As taxes climb, Atlanta launches special fund to combat displacement
Josh Green
Mon, 05/05/2025 – 08:09
For longtime, older Atlantans feeling the pinch of rising property taxes, relief could be on the way. Invest Atlanta has opened the application process for a program designed to provide legacy residents in the city with financial support to ease the burden of rising property taxes and keep them in their homes. The Anti-Displacement Tax Relief Fund, launched in partnership with the City of Atlanta, will cover property tax increases above the city’s base amount over a 20-year period for anyone who qualifies (and continues to qualify over time). City officials have allocated $10 million for the program from private resources, with the Centennial Yards Housing Trust Fund being a primary source, according to Invest Atlanta. The Anti-Displacement Tax Relief Fund application period ends May 31 this year. According to Invest Atlanta, qualified applicants must be age 60 or older, an Atlanta resident since 2015 (though priority will go to homeowners of more than 15 years), have a household income of 60 percent AMI or less, and be currently enrolled in qualifying homestead exemption programs, among other requirements.
Invest Atlanta
The tax-relief issue is critical now because Atlanta’s rapid development and growth has put many longstanding community members and seniors at risk of displacement from the very neighborhoods they helped stabilize and build up, according to the program’s backers. According to Dr. Eloisa Klementich, Invest Atlanta president and CEO, a pilot program in 2024 accepted 105 applicants and saved legacy residents $41,405 in property tax increases. The agency expects 245 applications this year as the relief efforts spread citywide. “These payments, for some, represent more than a 30-percent increase to their tax bill,” Klementich said in a program announcement. “For those on fixed income it becomes very difficult to absorb.” Invest Atlanta has teamed with Forward as the program’s administration contractor to help with community outreach, application support (it’s available in 68 languages via phone, text, and email), and eligibility screening “in a way that uses taxpayer dollars efficiently,” per the agency. The program is one component of a broader city strategy to mitigate housing instability and aim for equitable growth. “By providing direct financial assistance to our Atlanta seniors for a 20-year period, we aim to not only alleviate the burden of escalating property taxes—particularly in areas of rapid gentrification—but also to empower residents to achieve greater stability,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, an Invest Atlanta chair, in the announcement. “This program is a significant step toward ensuring that our seniors and legacy residents feel secure in their homes and are not forced to relocate due to financial pressures.” More details on the program can be found online here, or by calling 855-582-3973. …Follow us on social media: Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram Affordable housing news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
Tags
Anti-Displacement Tax Relief Fund
Invest Atlanta
Affordable Housing
affordable housing
Atlanta Affordable Housing
Tax Relief
Legacy Residents
senior housing
Atlanta Seniors
Atlanta Property Taxes
Atlanta Taxes
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens
Mayor Andre Dickens
Forward
Subtitle
$10M Invest Atlanta initiative aimed at helping legacy residents across city
Neighborhood
Citywide
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Sponsored Post
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As taxes climb, Atlanta launches special fund to combat displacement
Josh Green
Mon, 05/05/2025 – 08:09
For longtime, older Atlantans feeling the pinch of rising property taxes, relief could be on the way. Invest Atlanta has opened the application process for a program designed to provide legacy residents in the city with financial support to ease the burden of rising property taxes and keep them in their homes. The Anti-Displacement Tax Relief Fund, launched in partnership with the City of Atlanta, will cover property tax increases above the city’s base amount over a 20-year period for anyone who qualifies (and continues to qualify over time). City officials have allocated $10 million for the program from private resources, with the Centennial Yards Housing Trust Fund being a primary source, according to Invest Atlanta. The Anti-Displacement Tax Relief Fund application period ends May 31 this year. According to Invest Atlanta, qualified applicants must be age 60 or older, an Atlanta resident since 2015 (though priority will go to homeowners of more than 15 years), have a household income of 60 percent AMI or less, and be currently enrolled in qualifying homestead exemption programs, among other requirements.
Invest Atlanta
The tax-relief issue is critical now because Atlanta’s rapid development and growth has put many longstanding community members and seniors at risk of displacement from the very neighborhoods they helped stabilize and build up, according to the program’s backers. According to Dr. Eloisa Klementich, Invest Atlanta president and CEO, a pilot program in 2024 accepted 105 applicants and saved legacy residents $41,405 in property tax increases. The agency expects 245 applications this year as the relief efforts spread citywide. “These payments, for some, represent more than a 30-percent increase to their tax bill,” Klementich said in a program announcement. “For those on fixed income it becomes very difficult to absorb.” Invest Atlanta has teamed with Forward as the program’s administration contractor to help with community outreach, application support (it’s available in 68 languages via phone, text, and email), and eligibility screening “in a way that uses taxpayer dollars efficiently,” per the agency. The program is one component of a broader city strategy to mitigate housing instability and aim for equitable growth. “By providing direct financial assistance to our Atlanta seniors for a 20-year period, we aim to not only alleviate the burden of escalating property taxes—particularly in areas of rapid gentrification—but also to empower residents to achieve greater stability,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, an Invest Atlanta chair, in the announcement. “This program is a significant step toward ensuring that our seniors and legacy residents feel secure in their homes and are not forced to relocate due to financial pressures.” More details on the program can be found online here, or by calling 855-582-3973. …Follow us on social media: Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram Affordable housing news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
Tags
Anti-Displacement Tax Relief Fund
Invest Atlanta
Affordable Housing
affordable housing
Atlanta Affordable Housing
Tax Relief
Legacy Residents
senior housing
Atlanta Seniors
Atlanta Property Taxes
Atlanta Taxes
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens
Mayor Andre Dickens
Forward
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$10M Invest Atlanta initiative aimed at helping legacy residents across city
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Tech firm: Downtown Atlanta megaproject lands buyer, back on table
Tech firm: Downtown Atlanta megaproject lands buyer, back on table
Tech firm: Downtown Atlanta megaproject lands buyer, back on table
Josh Green
Fri, 05/02/2025 – 15:33
In downtown Atlanta, a mixed-use proposal of immense scale that tumbled into foreclosure two years ago is back on the table and set to move forward in some capacity, according to a technology firm with a growing interest in Sunbelt real estate.
Officials with an LLC called Forge Atlanta Asset Management have signed a Letter of Intent to buy and redevelop the massive Forge Atlanta project where downtown’s underutilized, industrial southernmost blocks meet Castleberry Hill, according to an announcement issued Thursday.
That LLC is 80 percent owned by Webstar Technology Group, which describes itself as a pioneer in the “tokenization of real estate assets” with a goal of redeveloping “urban and resort landscapes through smart design, community focus, and cutting-edge technology.”
Previously called Forge Atlanta, the 3-million-square-foot downtown proposal is referred to in Webstar communications as The Forge Project, or simply The Forge.
How the 10-acre Forge Atlanta project would lord over I-20, as seen looking west, toward West End.Courtesy of Urbantec Development Partners
According to Webstar, The Forge’s site is “fully entitled and shovel-ready” with direct access to MARTA rail and Interstate 20. If previous renderings are any indication, the transformative scope of the project would add a new dimension to downtown.
The development mix would include “boutique and condo hotel rooms,” flex spaces, a sports entertainment complex, restaurant and retail, a cultural center, and other residential facets. The site’s current zoning allows for the highest density in the city, according to Webstar.
Life-sciences components that were integral to the former Urbantec Development Partners proposal for the site—initially called Artisan Yards—are not mentioned.
“This acquisition marks a significant milestone in Webstar’s strategic expansion into high-density urban development,” Ricardo Haynes, Webstar’s CEO, said in the announcement. “With this LOI, we are poised to bring new life to Atlanta’s urban core while creating long-term value for our investors and stakeholders.”
We’re reached out to Webstar officials for information on when The Forge development could break ground, and what components would be built first, and we’ll update this story with any additional details that come. Webstar notes in the release that further information on The Forge site’s acquisition and financing structure will be revealed in coming weeks.
Webstar says its committed to tokenizing The Forge using blockchain technology. That means, through digital securities offerings, investors “will be able to purchase fractional ownership in the project via dividend-paying digital tokens, offering unprecedented liquidity and transparency in commercial real estate investing,” per the announcement.
Forge Atlanta, looking east toward Summerhill. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
The Forge Atlanta proposal as seen from over Interstate 20. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
It’s not Webstar’s first big proposal in North Georgia to make a splash this year.
In February, the tech company picked veteran firm Nelson Worldwide to lead architectural design of a $650-million concept called Bear Village Resort in Commerce, about 65 miles northeast of Atlanta off I-85. Nelson Worldwide’s work includes the Medley project in Johns Creek, The Battery Atlanta, St. Regis Hotel in Buckhead, and a new town coming together in Forsyth County, among other sizable projects. According to Webstar, Nelson Worldwide is also now onboard to help bring The Forge to fruition.
Back in September, Atlanta-based investment firm SSG Realty Partners listed for sale The Forge’s 10-acre redevelopment site (asking price: $86 per square foot) at the intersection of Ted Turner Drive and Whitehall Street. SSG called the area downtown’s “Ring of Fire” and “one of the most dynamic development corridors in the Southeastern U.S.,” in that it’s undergoing more than $10 billion in investment, per the sellers’ estimates.
The 10-acre property had been purchased by Urbantec for $26 million in early 2021, before going back to its lender in early 2023.
The acreage is immediately south of the former Gulch property where CIM Group’s Centennial Yards has begun transforming a 50-acre slice of downtown with new ground-up development. Atlanta Ventures’ South Downtown holdings and renovation endeavors are just north of the site, and other walkable attractions in the area include Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, and the Reverb by Hard Rock Hotel.
Forge Atlanta’s former site plan, illustrating possible building arrangements, uses, and a potential “Highline” pedestrian bridge link to Castleberry Hill. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
According to early site plans, Forge Atlanta would have erected seven buildings around a central plaza, with a potential pedestrian bridge spanning active railroad lines to Castleberry Hill.
The site was formerly the distribution center for Gourmet Foods International, which relocated to a larger facility in Decatur several years ago, setting the stage for redevelopment that has yet to find footing—unit, just maybe, now?
…
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• Downtown news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
The 10-acre site where Ted Turner Drive meets Whitehall Street in the broader context of downtown. Courtesy of SSG Realty Partners
Closer look at the acreage in question, just north of Interstate 20. Courtesy of SSG Realty Partners
How the 10-acre Forge Atlanta project would lord over I-20, as seen looking west, toward West End.Courtesy of Urbantec Development Partners
The Forge Atlanta proposal as seen from over Interstate 20. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
Forge Atlanta, looking east toward Summerhill. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
Forge Atlanta’s former site plan, illustrating possible building arrangements, uses, and a potential “Highline” pedestrian bridge link to Castleberry Hill. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
Location of the 10 acres where Forge Atlanta’s cluster of high-rises is proposed. Google Maps
Tech firm: Downtown Atlanta megaproject lands buyer, back on table
Josh Green
Fri, 05/02/2025 – 15:33
In downtown Atlanta, a mixed-use proposal of immense scale that tumbled into foreclosure two years ago is back on the table and set to move forward in some capacity, according to a technology firm with a growing interest in Sunbelt real estate. Officials with an LLC called Forge Atlanta Asset Management have signed a Letter of Intent to buy and redevelop the massive Forge Atlanta project where downtown’s underutilized, industrial southernmost blocks meet Castleberry Hill, according to an announcement issued Thursday. That LLC is 80 percent owned by Webstar Technology Group, which describes itself as a pioneer in the “tokenization of real estate assets” with a goal of redeveloping “urban and resort landscapes through smart design, community focus, and cutting-edge technology.”Previously called Forge Atlanta, the 3-million-square-foot downtown proposal is referred to in Webstar communications as The Forge Project, or simply The Forge.
How the 10-acre Forge Atlanta project would lord over I-20, as seen looking west, toward West End.Courtesy of Urbantec Development Partners
According to Webstar, The Forge’s site is “fully entitled and shovel-ready” with direct access to MARTA rail and Interstate 20. If previous renderings are any indication, the transformative scope of the project would add a new dimension to downtown. The development mix would include “boutique and condo hotel rooms,” flex spaces, a sports entertainment complex, restaurant and retail, a cultural center, and other residential facets. The site’s current zoning allows for the highest density in the city, according to Webstar.Life-sciences components that were integral to the former Urbantec Development Partners proposal for the site—initially called Artisan Yards—are not mentioned. “This acquisition marks a significant milestone in Webstar’s strategic expansion into high-density urban development,” Ricardo Haynes, Webstar’s CEO, said in the announcement. “With this LOI, we are poised to bring new life to Atlanta’s urban core while creating long-term value for our investors and stakeholders.”We’re reached out to Webstar officials for information on when The Forge development could break ground, and what components would be built first, and we’ll update this story with any additional details that come. Webstar notes in the release that further information on The Forge site’s acquisition and financing structure will be revealed in coming weeks.Webstar says its committed to tokenizing The Forge using blockchain technology. That means, through digital securities offerings, investors “will be able to purchase fractional ownership in the project via dividend-paying digital tokens, offering unprecedented liquidity and transparency in commercial real estate investing,” per the announcement.
Forge Atlanta, looking east toward Summerhill. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
The Forge Atlanta proposal as seen from over Interstate 20. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
It’s not Webstar’s first big proposal in North Georgia to make a splash this year. In February, the tech company picked veteran firm Nelson Worldwide to lead architectural design of a $650-million concept called Bear Village Resort in Commerce, about 65 miles northeast of Atlanta off I-85. Nelson Worldwide’s work includes the Medley project in Johns Creek, The Battery Atlanta, St. Regis Hotel in Buckhead, and a new town coming together in Forsyth County, among other sizable projects. According to Webstar, Nelson Worldwide is also now onboard to help bring The Forge to fruition. Back in September, Atlanta-based investment firm SSG Realty Partners listed for sale The Forge’s 10-acre redevelopment site (asking price: $86 per square foot) at the intersection of Ted Turner Drive and Whitehall Street. SSG called the area downtown’s “Ring of Fire” and “one of the most dynamic development corridors in the Southeastern U.S.,” in that it’s undergoing more than $10 billion in investment, per the sellers’ estimates. The 10-acre property had been purchased by Urbantec for $26 million in early 2021, before going back to its lender in early 2023. The acreage is immediately south of the former Gulch property where CIM Group’s Centennial Yards has begun transforming a 50-acre slice of downtown with new ground-up development. Atlanta Ventures’ South Downtown holdings and renovation endeavors are just north of the site, and other walkable attractions in the area include Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, and the Reverb by Hard Rock Hotel.
Forge Atlanta’s former site plan, illustrating possible building arrangements, uses, and a potential “Highline” pedestrian bridge link to Castleberry Hill. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
According to early site plans, Forge Atlanta would have erected seven buildings around a central plaza, with a potential pedestrian bridge spanning active railroad lines to Castleberry Hill. The site was formerly the distribution center for Gourmet Foods International, which relocated to a larger facility in Decatur several years ago, setting the stage for redevelopment that has yet to find footing—unit, just maybe, now? …Follow us on social media: Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram • Downtown news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
Tags
Ted Turner Drive at Whitehall Street
CBRE
Forge Atlanta
Urbantec Development Partners
The Forge
MARTA Garnett station
Artisan Yards
The Gulch
Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates
MARTA
Cushman & Wakefield
222 Mitchell Street SW
Kimley-Horn
Kimley-Horn & Associates
Morris Manning & Martin
Jae Kim
Dallas
Fortune 500
SSG Realty Partners
Gourmet Foods International
Ring of Fire
Centennial Yards
McCall Railroad LLC
McCall Railroad
Images
The 10-acre site where Ted Turner Drive meets Whitehall Street in the broader context of downtown. Courtesy of SSG Realty Partners
Closer look at the acreage in question, just north of Interstate 20. Courtesy of SSG Realty Partners
How the 10-acre Forge Atlanta project would lord over I-20, as seen looking west, toward West End.Courtesy of Urbantec Development Partners
The Forge Atlanta proposal as seen from over Interstate 20. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
Forge Atlanta, looking east toward Summerhill. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
Forge Atlanta’s former site plan, illustrating possible building arrangements, uses, and a potential “Highline” pedestrian bridge link to Castleberry Hill. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
Location of the 10 acres where Forge Atlanta’s cluster of high-rises is proposed. Google Maps
Subtitle
Webstar Technology Group sees new path forward for 3M-square-foot Forge Atlanta proposal
Neighborhood
Downtown
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Tech firm: Downtown Atlanta megaproject lands buyer, back on table
Josh Green
Fri, 05/02/2025 – 15:33
In downtown Atlanta, a mixed-use proposal of immense scale that tumbled into foreclosure two years ago is back on the table and set to move forward in some capacity, according to a technology firm with a growing interest in Sunbelt real estate. Officials with an LLC called Forge Atlanta Asset Management have signed a Letter of Intent to buy and redevelop the massive Forge Atlanta project where downtown’s underutilized, industrial southernmost blocks meet Castleberry Hill, according to an announcement issued Thursday. That LLC is 80 percent owned by Webstar Technology Group, which describes itself as a pioneer in the “tokenization of real estate assets” with a goal of redeveloping “urban and resort landscapes through smart design, community focus, and cutting-edge technology.”Previously called Forge Atlanta, the 3-million-square-foot downtown proposal is referred to in Webstar communications as The Forge Project, or simply The Forge.
How the 10-acre Forge Atlanta project would lord over I-20, as seen looking west, toward West End.Courtesy of Urbantec Development Partners
According to Webstar, The Forge’s site is “fully entitled and shovel-ready” with direct access to MARTA rail and Interstate 20. If previous renderings are any indication, the transformative scope of the project would add a new dimension to downtown. The development mix would include “boutique and condo hotel rooms,” flex spaces, a sports entertainment complex, restaurant and retail, a cultural center, and other residential facets. The site’s current zoning allows for the highest density in the city, according to Webstar.Life-sciences components that were integral to the former Urbantec Development Partners proposal for the site—initially called Artisan Yards—are not mentioned. “This acquisition marks a significant milestone in Webstar’s strategic expansion into high-density urban development,” Ricardo Haynes, Webstar’s CEO, said in the announcement. “With this LOI, we are poised to bring new life to Atlanta’s urban core while creating long-term value for our investors and stakeholders.”We’re reached out to Webstar officials for information on when The Forge development could break ground, and what components would be built first, and we’ll update this story with any additional details that come. Webstar notes in the release that further information on The Forge site’s acquisition and financing structure will be revealed in coming weeks.Webstar says its committed to tokenizing The Forge using blockchain technology. That means, through digital securities offerings, investors “will be able to purchase fractional ownership in the project via dividend-paying digital tokens, offering unprecedented liquidity and transparency in commercial real estate investing,” per the announcement.
Forge Atlanta, looking east toward Summerhill. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
The Forge Atlanta proposal as seen from over Interstate 20. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
It’s not Webstar’s first big proposal in North Georgia to make a splash this year. In February, the tech company picked veteran firm Nelson Worldwide to lead architectural design of a $650-million concept called Bear Village Resort in Commerce, about 65 miles northeast of Atlanta off I-85. Nelson Worldwide’s work includes the Medley project in Johns Creek, The Battery Atlanta, St. Regis Hotel in Buckhead, and a new town coming together in Forsyth County, among other sizable projects. According to Webstar, Nelson Worldwide is also now onboard to help bring The Forge to fruition. Back in September, Atlanta-based investment firm SSG Realty Partners listed for sale The Forge’s 10-acre redevelopment site (asking price: $86 per square foot) at the intersection of Ted Turner Drive and Whitehall Street. SSG called the area downtown’s “Ring of Fire” and “one of the most dynamic development corridors in the Southeastern U.S.,” in that it’s undergoing more than $10 billion in investment, per the sellers’ estimates. The 10-acre property had been purchased by Urbantec for $26 million in early 2021, before going back to its lender in early 2023. The acreage is immediately south of the former Gulch property where CIM Group’s Centennial Yards has begun transforming a 50-acre slice of downtown with new ground-up development. Atlanta Ventures’ South Downtown holdings and renovation endeavors are just north of the site, and other walkable attractions in the area include Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, and the Reverb by Hard Rock Hotel.
Forge Atlanta’s former site plan, illustrating possible building arrangements, uses, and a potential “Highline” pedestrian bridge link to Castleberry Hill. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
According to early site plans, Forge Atlanta would have erected seven buildings around a central plaza, with a potential pedestrian bridge spanning active railroad lines to Castleberry Hill. The site was formerly the distribution center for Gourmet Foods International, which relocated to a larger facility in Decatur several years ago, setting the stage for redevelopment that has yet to find footing—unit, just maybe, now? …Follow us on social media: Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram • Downtown news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
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The 10-acre site where Ted Turner Drive meets Whitehall Street in the broader context of downtown. Courtesy of SSG Realty Partners
Closer look at the acreage in question, just north of Interstate 20. Courtesy of SSG Realty Partners
How the 10-acre Forge Atlanta project would lord over I-20, as seen looking west, toward West End.Courtesy of Urbantec Development Partners
The Forge Atlanta proposal as seen from over Interstate 20. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
Forge Atlanta, looking east toward Summerhill. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
Forge Atlanta’s former site plan, illustrating possible building arrangements, uses, and a potential “Highline” pedestrian bridge link to Castleberry Hill. Urbantec Development Partners; designs, Nelson Wakefield Beasley & Associates; via Office of Zoning and Development/submitted
Location of the 10 acres where Forge Atlanta’s cluster of high-rises is proposed. Google Maps
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Webstar Technology Group sees new path forward for 3M-square-foot Forge Atlanta proposal
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Can Alpharetta support an NHL team at North Point Mall? City leaders begin to look into it.
Can Alpharetta support an NHL team at North Point Mall? City leaders begin to look into it.
Alpharetta’s development authority kick-started the process of evaluating the demand for a major sports and entertainment venue at a revitalized North Point Mall.
Alpharetta’s development authority kick-started the process of evaluating the demand for a major sports and entertainment venue at a revitalized North Point Mall. Read MoreBizjournals.com Feed (2019-09-06 17:16:48)
Alpharetta’s development authority kick-started the process of evaluating the demand for a major sports and entertainment venue at a revitalized North Point Mall.