Wave of new housing brewing for Summerhill parking lots

Urbanize Atlanta

Carter floats early plans for redeveloping former Turner Field lots

The Atlanta developer that’s transformed Summerhill’s business district from barren parking lots and empty buildings following the Braves’ departure is setting its sights on a new phase of housing in multiple forms.

That’s according to developer Carter’s executive vice president, David Nelson, who brought nascent plans this month for a mix of apartments, townhomes, and student housing before the Organized Neighbors of Summerhill, a volunteer community oversight group.

While it’s so early in the process that no development plans have been drawn, Nelson said the projects would rise in three separate locations just north of Georgia Avenue—all of them former Turner Field parking lots.

Nelson’s purpose before the board was to request a formal letter of support from the neighborhood.

For starters, Carter is beginning to put together a multifamily development on the north side of Summerhill’s new Publix, shown roughly as No. 1 in the above image.

How many units that might include wasn’t specified, but early plans call for a small amount of retail space—roughly 700 square feet—to be included, according to Jan. 4 ONS meeting minutes obtained by Urbanize Atlanta.

Meanwhile, across Hank Aaron Drive to the west, Carter will be proposing to build more student housing, with roughly 300 units and 650 beds, as shown as No. 2 in the above image.  

That would rise just north of the 565 Hank by Windsor Apartments, on parking lots currently leased to Grady Hospital staff for parking.

Lastly, according to Nelson, the development firm is considering building townhomes on a smaller parking lot that fronts Georgia Avenue, across the street from businesses including Hero Doughnuts and Buns, Maggie Murphy’s salon, and BOCA. No further details about the potential townhomes were provided.

During the meeting, neighbors voiced concerns about additional traffic; Nelson replied the housing will include a parking deck offering an amount of space similar to what’s currently being leased by Grady as surface parking.  

As a benefit to the neighborhood, according to Carter’s estimations, each parcel developed will reduce stormwater runoff by 50 percent, by way of engineered mitigation.

At the meeting, 30 ONS members voted in favor of drafting a letter of support for Carter’s plans, while three were not in favor, and four abstained.

By Josh Green, Urbanize Atlanta