Next door to a cleared site where neighborhood pushback shot down a relatively dense Edgewood housing proposal last year, a project described as an innovative approach to mobility-focused housing and land use has suffered no such fate.
Located a few blocks from a transformed MARTA station and the Edgewood Retail District, a pocket neighborhood called Finley Street Cottages has created a full community from what had been two 1920s Craftsman bungalows with large yards. (Both old homes were restored and added to the range of offerings here; one includes three original fireplaces.)
Designed by Kronberg Urbanists + Architects and built by Fortis Homes, the “car-lite community” has begun leasing one to three-bedroom home options. Overall, it’s described as “preservation meets progress” by way of a “distinctive collection of homes for everyone,” where a common outdoor space, patios, and porches are designed to promote social interactions among neighbors.
The Edgewood location near a MARTA-connected mixed-use community and the Edgewood Retail District. Kronberg Urbanists + Architects
A communal space that serves as Finley Street Cottages' nucleus. Kronberg Urbanists + Architects
Eric Kronberg, the architecture firm’s founder, tells Urbanize Atlanta rental rates range from $1,600 to $3,000. Approximate sizes: from 550 square feet for one-bedrooms, 750 square feet for two-bedrooms, and three-bedroom homes up to 1,550 square feet. (Kronberg says rents will be discounted for residents who don’t have cars.)
But the community’s location, layout, and amenities (see: gated “bike zones” with plug-ins for e-bikes) could save residents up to $14,700 per year on vehicle ownership, according to Kronberg’s tabulations.
All are also cheaper housing options than those at highly amenitized, newer apartment buildings on Atlanta’s eastside, per the architect.
Kronberg considers the cottages a pilot project that shows what’s possible through incremental zoning reform—particularly modifications to parking requirements and accessory dwelling units.
“When talking about tradeoffs, we want to be expressly clear that we’re not saying everyone should make these choices to living smaller or car-lite,” Kronberg wrote in an email to Urbanize Atlanta. “We’re saying people should have options. If you value having a covered parking spot in a parking deck, a pool, and a fitness center, that’s great. If you don’t need or want these things, more attainable alternatives should be available.”
Kronberg Urbanists + Architects
Find more context and a much closer look at this unique Edgewood community in the gallery above.
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