A boutique residential project is taking shape that Chamblee city officials have applauded as a compelling example of infill development on a challenging lot that could spur additional investment along a main artery of the DeKalb County city.

Situated across the street from DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, seven-unit The Foxtrot is finally seeing vertical construction after formally breaking ground two years ago on a vacant corner lot. (The unorthodox name is a nod to aviation.)

According to Atlanta-based homebuilder and development company Roma Fine Homes, The Foxtrot is inspired by Dutch designs, specifically the concept of a central woonerf, or the Dutch term for “living yard,” a shared space that’s meant to mingle people with vehicles. (If the term sounds familiar, a concept that called for turning downtown Atlanta's signature street into its own woonerf was proposed several years ago—but didn’t exactly take off.)

The Euro-centric design style has gained traction in the U.S. (if not yet in Atlanta), with the intent to create tighter spaces that slow down vehicles and encourage people to step outside and congregate, project officials told Urbanize Atlanta in 2022.

Each 3960 Clairmont Road townhome will have a roof deck overlooking the airport (with runway views), arranged in what’s almost a full rectangular pattern around the central common space.

Construction progress this month where 8th Street meets Clairmont Road in Chamblee, across the street from DeKalb-Peachtree Airport. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Planned facades where Clairmont Road meets 8th Street in Chamblee. Designs are by Wright Gardner Architect, with civil engineering by Kaizen Collaborative. Courtesy of Roma Fine Homes

All homes will have two-car garages accessed via the courtyard. Ground floors will include live-work space in hopes of engaging the community, while upper floors will incorporate what project heads call an unusual amount of glass for natural light and views.

Homebuilders have predicted the design will stand out enough in the Clairmont corridor to help serve as a new gateway to the City of Chamblee, which is experiencing its own influx of downtown development nearby.

The townhomes will range between 1,600 and 2,000 square feet, with one smaller unit offering two bedrooms and the rest three, according to Roma Fine Homes. Designs are by Wright Gardner Architect, with civil engineering by Kaizen Collaborative.

How the seven townhomes will be arranged around a central yard. Courtesy of Roma Fine Homes

Airport views from the corner lot in question, as seen in February 2022. Google Maps

We’ve asked project leaders for information on The Foxtrot’s price points and ETA—and reasons for the construction delay. (A project rep in 2022 said a broad range of pricing was expected.) We’ll update this story with any additional information that comes.

UPDATE: 5 p.m. Monday, April 15: According to Darron Kusman, Roma Fine Homes managing director, prices at The Foxtrot will range from the low-$600,000s to the mid-$800,000s, with the first units scheduled to deliver this winter. As to the construction delay, Kusman adds: “[Federal Aviation Administration] approval took longer than anyone expected, and there was no communication or response from the government as to when the review would be complete. While we were waiting on the FAA, SVB collapsed, impacting our local banking partner. We were forced to secure new funding once approval was in hand.” 

Swing up to the gallery for more context and images.

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