Photos: Step inside new rentals at Atlanta's original department store

The whirlwind summer at South Downtown has seen an unprecedented number of business openings, a weeks-long tsunami of FIFA World Cup patronage and events, and more recently a redevelopment slowdown and several staff cuts.

But one permanent highpoint for the reviving district appears to be the completed, residential remake of 85 Peachtree, originally the historic Bass Dry Goods Building, which is offering the type of character and proportions not often seen with new Atlanta apartments.

The 1899 building is considered Atlanta’s original department store—and one of the first in the Southeast—but upper floors were mostly empty for the past half-century as the neighborhood hollowed out. Photos provided today to Urbanize Atlanta show that’s now changed.

According to Jon Birdsong, a partner with Atlanta Ventures, six of the building’s 26 apartments have been rented since leasing efforts began about a month ago.

Courtesy of Lucas Roberts/South Downtown

85 Peachtree offers 12 floorplans but no dedicated parking. [CLARIFICATION: 9:54 p.m., July 31: South Downtown officials send word the building does come with dedicated parking a 1/2 block away at their 76 Forsyth St. parking garage.] The apartments, however, are being marketed as “the most transit-connected [rentals] in the city,” within a quick walk or roll of two MARTA stations (Five Points and Garnett), protected bike lanes, and MARTA’s new A-Line Bus Rapid Transit route, which provides a link down to the Beltline’s finished Southside Trail.

The South Downtown team acquired the historic building for $3.3 million in foreclosure and has put roughly $25 million into its residential revival, officials have said.

Current rents start at $1,825, which gets a studio unit in 640 square feet.

The priciest remaining floorplan starts at $3,500 monthly for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom option in 1,222 square feet.

The smallest, least expensive floorplan currently offered at 85 Peachtree. 85peachtreeatl.com

85 Peachtree's largest floorplan still available counts just over 1,200 square feet. 85peachtreeatl.com

Perks include ceilings up to 14 feet, real hardwoods, Bosch appliances, and what’s generally called “a modern living experience rooted in timeless design.”

Communal spaces include an “urban rooftop amenity deck” with downtown views and a bike room onsite.

At base level is a large retail space, along with the apartments’ courtyard and a public paseo (formerly the 81 Peachtree St. building) where an original Atlanta Streetcar has been relocated:

This former Atlanta Streetcar, built in 1921, was found rotting in North Georgia by the Southern Railway Museum, stabilized, and transported to South Downtown for renovations. Plans call for turning it into a small restaurant, bar, or unique showpiece in the future. Courtesy of Lucas Roberts/South Downtown