A row of aging, low-rise structures has been razed in preparation for the next tall building in a Howell Mill Road metamorphosis that’s stretched for a decade and a ½.

A small former church and several residential buildings recently became bulldozer bait in the 900 block of Howell Mill Road, between 10th and 9th streets.

Austin-based AC Residential Partners has teamed with longtime Atlanta developer Cartel Properties for the 489,000-square-foot venture, which is set to include about 25,000 square feet of retail, as well as a resident lobby, at the sidewalk level.

The 965 Howell Mill Road project is expected to stand 16 stories total over a five-story parking garage. AC Residential Partners initially brought plans for the 312-unit project to the city in 2021.

A row of buildings has been cleared from the 1.26-acre site in question along Howell Mill Road. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

How the mixed-use tower would meet the corner of 10th Street and Howell Mill Road. AC Residential Partners

The 1.26-acre site in question has been rezoned to allow for mixed-use development and consolidation of the former, smaller properties. A Special Administrative Permit for the project was issued last year, according to City of Atlanta Office of Building records.

The land assemblage is located directly across Howell Mill Road from the 13-story Osprey, developed by Toll Brothers Apartment Living and opened in September 2020. Other major projects within a few blocks include the growing Star Metals district, Interlock, and 8West.

According to city records, the Howell Mill Road property had been the source of several complaints filed since 2020 for issues ranging from overgrown grass and broken fences to a junk vehicle, broken windows, and trash.

Six trees were also removed from the site, with 21 expected to eventually be replanted in their place, according to Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation records.

The most recent development plans available called for 1.36 parking spaces per unit, or 322 spaces total, according to Cartel Properties.

Renderings indicate an elevated pool is planned along 9th Street, along with a large rooftop amenity space with lovely skyline views. 

The site's proximity to the 13-story Osprey apartments across the street, immediately to the west. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

The AC Residential Partners proposal, with Howell Mill frontage at center, facing left. The existing Osprey apartments are outlined across the street. AC Residential Partners

The apartment mix calls for 130 studios (expected rents: around $1,600 monthly), 116 one-bedrooms ($2,000), and 97 two-bedroom units (topping out around $2,500), as Atlanta Agent Magazine reported in early 2022, when the project was seeking zoning approvals. It's possible those projections have since changed. 

Marketing materials previously indicated the mixed-use building will deliver in 2024, but at this point, that won’t be realistic for a project of such size.

We’ve reached out to Cartel Properties about a construction timeline and will update this story with any further information that comes. AC Residential Partners could not be reached for comment this week.   

It's worth noting the Atlanta Mission complex is located just south of the project site and not included in development plans.

Property records indicate an LLC called Rohrig Investments 963 Howell Mill Road paid $6.1 million for the parcels in question between 2019 and December 2021. Cartel Properties was founded by George Rohrig.

Find more context and renderings in the gallery above.

...

Follow us on social media: 

Twitter / Facebook 

• Marietta Street Artery news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)