This summer will mark three years since the Echo Street West project broke ground, signaling the largest private investment in English Avenue in generations. Now, one aspect of the new district that developers have excitedly emphasized since inception—an Atlanta BeltLine retail front porch, so to speak—is rounding into shape.
Since an aerial tour of the project in February, Echo Street’s multi-level retail frontage along the Westside BeltLine Connector has largely been completed, lending the district a place for people-watching and a front door for trail patrons.
Echo Street’s developer, Lincoln Property Company, recently said the 19-acre “village of ideas” is scheduled to open its $256-million first phase this spring. (Last week, project officials said Guardian Studios—a former factory warehouse turned artist community on site—has fully leased its 31 studios to a variety of local artists, with mediums ranging from photography to custom upholstery and mural-painting.)
The BeltLine retail frontage is expected to span 25,000 square feet, adding to 50,000 total square feet in Echo Street’s phase one. That includes adaptive-reuse Westside Motor Lounge, a food-and-beverage hub that’s been open since the fall along Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway.
Where multiple levels of retail patios have been installed in recent weeks as Echo Street's initial phase nears completion. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
Above the BeltLine retail is the 292-unit Vibe apartments, with 59 homes reserved as affordable housing, per developers. Elsewhere, a four-story, timber-built stack of offices called 765 Echo topped out in October. Beside that are common areas, a retail outbuilding, and a smaller loft-office component called 745 Echo.
We’ve asked Lincoln reps for an update on retail leasing for spaces adjacent to the BeltLine, and we’ll post any additional info that comes. For now, see how that aspect of the project looks today—and how it’s expected to function soon—in the gallery above.
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