An infill development of massive scale appears to finally be moving forward next to downtown Avondale Estates’ growing roster of shops and eateries. And it’ll be larger than initially thought. 

City officials send word that a $350-million residential development will be unveiled at the Avondale Estates Board of Mayor and Commissioners meeting this evening. 

The news pertains to nearly 800 homes that will be developed along Laredo Drive in a partnership between Avila Real Estate and homebuilder Hedgewood Homes, both Atlanta-based companies. 

The mostly vacant, post-industrial development site span roughly 18 acres—about 5 acres larger than previously planned—at the northern edge of Avondale Estates’ well-known, Tudor-style downtown commercial village. 

Rough overview of the 18-acre site in question (prior to construction of The Dale commercial building at bottom) in relation to Avondale Estates' recognizable downtown. Google Maps

The immensity of the post-industrial site in question, as seen along Laredo Drive in 2023. Downtown is at left, and raised MARTA rail is at right. Google Maps

According to city officials, the residential venture now calls for 789 units total—a mix of luxury apartments, townhomes, and standalone houses. It’s expected to provide “Avondale Estates with a diversity of well-designed and well-built homes to meet the needs of multiple demographics,” in addition to new greenspaces, streets, and pathways, per an announcement today.  

The site was once a mill but most recently operated as a Fenner Dunlop conveyor belt manufacturing plant. That factory closed in 2009, was later razed, and the site has been idle ever since. Most of it is a huge, barren expanse of concrete. 

Another selling point for the location is Avondale Estates’ Town Green next door, where a flurry of restaurants and other businesses was recently announced as part of a new commercial flank called The Dale. 

How The Dale links up with the award-wining Town Green, which opened in summer 2022. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Avila—the firm behind The Kirkwood and newer Grant Park apartments fronting the Beltline's Southside Trail—purchased 13 and 1/2 acres of the site back in 2014. The project did show signs of life early last year when Avila received permits to perform grading and demolition work and implement upgrades such as erosion control.

Avila’s partner, Hedgewood, specializes in building distinctive townhomes and single-family projects with a European bent (think: leafy courtyards, archways, and plazas). Recent Hedgewood builds across Atlanta have claimed parking lots and underused land in places such as Lindridge-Martin Manor, Summerhill, and Lake Claire. The company is also behind the new luxury Delmont project in Buckhead’s Garden Hills. 

We’ve asked for development renderings and other details and were told by project reps those won’t be available until after today’s meeting. This story will be updated.  

Conceptual drawings from 2022 showed a dense new residential district sprouting from the land with a mix of 602 apartments, townhomes, and live-work-play units across eight buildings. But ambitions for the site are even larger now. 

...

Follow us on social media: 

Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram  

• Avondale Estates news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)