Come this weekend, Atlanta’s infamously restricted for-sale housing stock will be getting a considerable dose of supply.
Empire Communities—the formerly suburban homebuilder known as EA Homes that’s pivoted to infill, residential development around many of Atlanta’s core neighborhoods, from Pittsburgh to Buckhead—announced this week that more 700 new homes will come to market Saturday.
Those condo “stacks” and townhomes are coming together in three separate, large-scale projects under construction in disparate parts of the city, but with one thing in common: They’re all within a couple of blocks of the BeltLine trail corridor, if not directly on it. Prices will start in the low $300,000s.
Paul Corley, Empire’s regional president in Atlanta, said the company has “played an integral role in the development of the city’s urban core” since arriving intown in 2019, providing “a high-design, attainable home to an underserved missing middle,” per a media release. Empire’s past and ongoing projects include the colorful Kirkwood Paintbox townhomes, The Swift townhomes in Boulevard Heights, and a smaller Old Fourth Ward project called Empire 4Forty4 that sold out last year, among others.
On the eve of Empire’s sales bonanza, here’s a quick rundown of what’s on tap next, starting with the largest of three ongoing projects:
...
The 34-acre Empire Zephyr site at 1335 Boulevard SE, as construction began. (Note: Aerial is a screenshot, not a video.) Courtesy of Empire Communities
Located at 1335 Boulevard SE in Chosewood Park, Empire Zephyr is under development across 34 acres just south of the BeltLine’s Southside Trail corridor. It’s a mix of multifamily and townhomes that will start in the high $300,000s, according to project officials.
Amenities are set to include walking paths, a pool and clubhouse, a greenspace for community gatherings, and access to Boulevard Crossing Park, which is planned to eventually be expanded next door.
The Empire Zephyr 359-home layout, with Boulevard depicted at right. Courtesy of Empire Communities
Plans for the Empire Zephyr internal layout and clubhouse. Courtesy of Empire Communities
…
Now cleared, the Stein Steel site in Reynoldstown is shown here in relation to the BeltLine and Lang-Carson Park. Courtesy of Empire Communities
In Reynoldstown, the Stein Steel project (933 Kirkwood Avenue) is fully underway on the site of a century-old steel factory. It boasts a delectable 900 feet of frontage along the Eastside Trail, with multiple access points planned throughout the community.
Plans call for 211 units with “authentic character throughout,” with condos priced from the low $300,000s to the $600,000s. Townhomes, meanwhile, will start in the $500,000s. Empire officials say the project’s adaptive-reuse outdoor bar and eatery—Breaker Breaker, the only retail component, as recently spotlighted here—is still on pace to open late this summer.
The latest perspective on the full Stein Steel project, looking southwest, with the BeltLine's Eastside Trail shown behind new homes at top right.
Courtesy of Empire Communities
Looking southwest, toward Memorial Drive. Courtesy of Empire Communities
…
The Empire Longreen site, as infrastructure work began, in Blandtown. Courtesy of Empire Communities
Lastly, on the flipside of town, Empire Longreen is barreling ahead with 179 condo stacks and townhomes in historic Blandtown (981 Huff Road NW).
As with the Reynoldstown project, Longreen will see condos priced between the $300,000s and $600,000s; townhomes will begin in the low $500,000s and climb from there.
As Empire officials point out, the Longreen project is situated less than a block from the Northwest Trail route the BeltLine recently picked to snake through the area. A linear park is also in the works within the Longreen community.
How the Longreen project will meet Huff Road—and be demarcated with a monument. Courtesy of Empire Communities
• Photos: Infill home project ready for its closeup in Chosewood Park (Urbanize Atlanta)
