Following 18 months of construction they describe as “grueling,” an Old Fourth Ward couple’s latest intown project could set a positive example, they hope, for the prospects of “missing middle” housing in Atlanta—a move toward density where other projects have faltered after pushback.
Having replaced a modest brick bungalow at 547 Winton Terrace (for years an empty lot), apartments at the new boutique building called Winton Flats are starting to come to market in Old Fourth Ward, a couple of blocks from Ponce City Market and Historic Fourth Ward Park.
It’s by the same design-build firm, Sunny Etc., that introduced modern new townhomes to Mechanicsville with the Metro Ville project a few years ago.
Company heads Sal Lalani and Senya Zaitsev tell Urbanize Atlanta the Winton Flats project was the first to move forward with the City of Atlanta’s new zoning typology—MR-MU, for missing middle—back in 2019. Their idea, from the outset, was to avoid building “another expensive duplex” and instead create a multi-unit option with the same scale that would accommodate a wider range of renters, in terms of ages and incomes, says Zaitsev.
The Winton Flats project (at bottom) in the context of residential Old Fourth Ward with Midtown beyond. Courtesy of Sunny Etc.
Created in 2018, MR-MU zoning districts allow for smaller apartment buildings—up to 12 units—in hopes of supplying more housing options and affordable rentals near intown transit.
Now finished with eight units and one parking space per apartment, the three-story Winton Flats aims to blend Scandinavian design with inspirations the architect-builder couple took from a trip to Japan. “There was something about the feeling of warm wood after bathing in an onsen, vertical siding screens, and horizontal lines to break up scale that felt appropriate to insert into a residential fabric of Atlanta,” the couple wrote in an email.
Only a handful of units are listed so far “as we fine tune,” says Zaitsev, and the final range of Winton Flats rents is underdetermined. “We’re still working on this as we consider different management companies and approaches,” Zaitsev says.
According to Zillow, rents so far range from $3,450 monthly (for two bedrooms and two bathrooms in 1,150 square feet) to $4,950 (three bedrooms and two bathrooms in 1,650 square feet).
Cheaper options should be available, however, as the smallest one-bedroom options are, in fact, much smaller at 650 square feet.
Inside a three-bedroom offering at Winton Flats. Courtesy of Sunny Etc.
The building includes an elevator and a basement where a dog wash, gym, or additional storage could go, per Zaitsev. Each minimalist-leaning unit features quartz countertops, maple flooring, and a private deck.
Swing up to the gallery for more context and a closer look at Winton Flats.
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