A year after demolition kicked off, an Old Fourth Ward multifamily development set to transform nearly a full city block in one of Atlanta’s hottest submarkets is topping out. 

The 633 Parkway Drive project, City Lights North Block, is rising between North Avenue and Ponce de Leon Avenue, roughly four blocks directly west of Ponce City Market. 

A portion of the Old Fourth Ward infill project will also have frontage along Boulevard, near its intersection with Ponce de Leon Avenue. It’s replacing a row of low-rise housing demolished several years ago and other structures more recently taken down. The Views at O4W, a cove of modern-style townhomes built prior to, and during, the COVID-19 pandemic stands across the street. 

Plans call for 187 apartments capped at rates deemed affordable, in a wide variety of sizes. 

North Block marks the fifth phase of City Lights, which is Massachusetts developer Wingate’s master-planned redevelopment of Bedford Pines, a cluster of HUD Section 8 multifamily buildings along and near Boulevard. 

Juxtaposition of existing residential dwellings (left) and forthcoming City Lights North Block units along Parkway Drive this week. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

City Lights North Block's location at 633 Parkway Drive.Google Maps

The North Block building will include amenities such as an after-school program, a business center with computers, a community room, fitness center, a central laundry facility on each floor, and a private courtyard. Access to public transportation has also been cited by project officials as a perk. 

According to Invest Atlanta reps, the economic development agency contributed a $35-million tax exempt loan to the project that closed early 2025, paving the way for construction to begin. 

The project’s estimated construction timeline is 18 months, meaning completion is scheduled for later this year, officials have told Urbanize Atlanta. The building is being reserved for tenants earning 60 percent of the Area Median Income or less.

The $78.9-million project is supported by a Housing Assistance Payment Contract with HUD, and residents will not pay more than 30 percent of their income, according to Invest Atlanta. 

Otherwise, listed rents for the building start at $1,400 monthly for studios with 536 square feet. 

Construction progress this week on 187-unit City Lights North Block, a few blocks west of Ponce City Market. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

The City Lights project's Boulevard frontage today, south of Ponce de Leon Avenue. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

The bulk of apartments (84 total) will be two-bedroom units asking $2,150 for 975 square feet. 

At the highest end, a single four-bedroom apartment will be offered in the building at $2,900 monthly for 1,302 square feet. 

Another component of the masterplan, Wingate’s Boulevard North, has risen about a block away. 

Once North Block finishes, just one more phase of Wingate’s City Lights public housing makeover will remain: City Lights South. Demolition and infrastructure work on that project is fully underway now. 

Find more context and images for the North Block project in gallery above. 

The 187-unit North Block project's Boulevard frontage, near a Wendy's. Geheber Lewis Associates, via Invest Atlanta

...

Follow us on social media: 

Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram  

• Old Fourth Ward news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)