The years-long quest to piece together a vibrant commercial core in the historic Westside neighborhood of Grove Park has taken a step forward this month. 

Invest Atlanta has approved a $1-million forgivable loan intended to help the Grove Park Foundation acquire two more properties along the neighborhood’s main thoroughfare, Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, and keep pushing economic development forward. 

The loan is being sourced from the Perry Bolton Tax Allocation District, according to Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development arm. 

Row of several Grove Park properties in question (the historic former theater is at right), looking south from above KIPP Woodson Park Academy. Invest Atlanta

Since its founding a decade ago, the Grove Park Foundation has spearheaded the neighborhood’s revitalization efforts and pushed for affordable housing, health and education additions, and other economic boosters. Recent wins include development of the Grove Park YMCA, KIPP Woodson Park Academy, and a 110-unit affordable housing project by Columbia Residential, each within a couple blocks of each other. 

In its reasoning for approving the loan for land acquisition, Invest Atlanta wrote that “additional property is needed [for Grove Park Foundation] to continue implementing the neighborhood’s transformation plan and economic development activity along the Donald Lee Hollowell [Parkway] commercial corridor.” 

Here’s a quick, mapped rundown of key happenings around the Westside commercial node: 

Broad overview of Grove Park's commercial district, with Atlanta's largest greenspace, Shirley Clarke Franklin Park, shown at top. Google Maps/UA

  1. Just south of the sprawling, 280-acre Shirley Clarke Franklin Park, the Grove Park YMCA and K-8 KIPP Woodson Park Academy opened four years ago.
  2. One of two parcels covered by the Invest Atlanta loan (1538 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway), this property is adjacent to The Corner, which is planned as a mixed-use hub on a neighborhood scale. The Corner calls for 24 affordable housing apartments reserved for tenants earning 50 percent of the area median income or less, open greenspace, retail space for small businesses, and a neighborhood banking center in partnership with Fifth Third Bank, per Invest Atlanta.
  3. Grove Park Foundation’s HQ and other newer offices.
  4. The former Grove Theatre building, a 1940s landmark, where the Grove Park Performing Arts Center is now scheduled to debut as a mixed-use hub of art and activity in early 2027. The foundation has owned the building since 2017.
  5. The 110-unit Columbia Canopy at Grove Park, an affordable housing initiative that opened three years ago—and quickly leased up.
  6. Roughly a block west of the theater site, Atlanta rappers Killer Mike and T.I. partnered to bring back legendary seafood restaurant Bankhead Seafood, which had closed in 2018. The revived concept opened just before Thanksgiving last year.
  7. The second property covered by Invest Atlanta’s loan (1740 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway) is planned to be transformed into a concept called the Civic and Business Innovation Hub, which will aim to “cultivate civic and entrepreneurial resources for the neighborhood.” The hub will include dedicated spaces for civic organizations—the Grove Park Neighborhood Association and NPU-J among them—while housing the Northwest Business Association, providing space for networking events and workshops. Also in the plans: coworking and gathering space for other nonprofits and a resource center for small businesses. 

Grove Park's boundaries in relation to Midtown, downtown, and Shirley Clarke Franklin Park (formerly Westside Park). Google Maps

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