South of downtown, village of mixed-income housing is taking shape

A new village-style development of relatively affordable homeownership options is making visible progress on the southside.

Browns Mill Village, a mixed-income community by Atlanta Habitat for Humanity and Cityscape Housing, was announced three years ago as an effort to capitalize on Atlantans’ growing interest for living in less expensive areas south of downtown.

Plans call for building more than 130 houses, duplexes, and townhomes across 31 acres surrounded by towering evergreens in the Orchard Knob neighborhood, situated just east of Interstate 75 near Lakewood Amphitheatre, about five miles from downtown.

According to Atlanta Habitat, model home construction was completed in fall 2021, and recent aerial footage shows the village continuing to expand on new streets from there. Invest Atlanta recently approved $2 million in Housing Opportunity Bond Funds to help fund the construction of 64 more single-family, for-sale units.

The overall site plans calls for 75 energy-efficient, craftsman-style houses at Browns Mill Village. They’ll stand one or two stories, with between 1,400 and 1,600 square feet and three or four bedrooms.

In another section called SouthTown at Browns Mill Village, Cityscape Housing and Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership plan to build 59 townhomes and duplexes—all but 12 of them reserved for buyers earning 80 percent or less of the area median income, with down payment assistance available.

According to Atlanta Habitat, the project is offering interest-free, 30-year mortgages from $750 per month. HOA fees are also required, to cover the cost of keeping up front lawns, amenities, and common areas.

All mortgages include property taxes, insurance, and a home maintenance fund, though applicants are limited to first-time homeowners. As with all Habitat homes, to help offset construction costs, homebuyers are expected to help build their homes in conjunction with volunteers and corporate, civic, and faith-community sponsors.

Beyond the residences, plans for Browns Mill Village include a central, 1.5-acre park, a pavilion, a community garden, recreation areas, and wraparound services for homeowners.

Beyond the neighborhood amenities, Habitat officials point to nearby attractions such as Browns Mill Golf Course, the Urban Food Forest, and the 211-acre Southside Park (with its own nature preserve) as perks of living in the area.

For a primer, head to the gallery above. Find more information about the project on the Browns Mill Village website.

• Letter to Editor: How ‘affordable housing success’ came to ATL’s southside (Urbanize Atlanta)