Another self-storage building rises—where housing was once planned

Vertical construction four blocks east of the Atlanta Beltline’s most popular segment marks the latest instance of a new self-storage facility claiming intown parcels in walkable places.

In this case, the Reynoldstown property was once poised to become dense housing along an east-west corridor that’s experienced explosive growth over the past decade—until those plans were scrapped.

According to building permits, the 1061 Memorial Drive project will include two components: a five-story self-storage facility totaling nearly 100,000 square feet; closer to the street will be a 13,300-square-foot spec office building standing two stories as a shell property, per city records.

Immediately west of the site is the vacant, 1920s former Hubert Elementary School that defunct arts nonprofit WonderRoot once planned to renovate and occupy. On the flipside of the property is another self-storage complex operated by Public Storage. The site formerly housed a small brick church.

Just a few years ago, plans for the Reynoldstown site were markedly different.

The forthcoming self-storage and office facility's proximity to the Atlanta Beltline on Memorial Drive. Google Maps/UA

Construction at 1061 Memorial Drive SE today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Invest Atlanta’s Board of Directors in 2019 approved a $22-million lease-purchase bond to help get a multifamily development off the ground at the parcel in question.

Plans at the time called for 176 co-living units, with 15 percent of them (or 27 apartments total) capped at rents for people earning 80 percent of the Area Median Income or less.

The agreement marked the first time Invest Atlanta had supported the housing type, which encourages roommates to cut down on costs.

A 176-unit co-living concept revealed in 2019 for a site where public storage is now being constructed. via Invest Atlanta/2019

The self-storage facility will follow completion of a project with similar uses in Virginia-Highland, at the doorstep of both the Eastside Trail and Piedmont Park.

National studies in recent years have found metro Atlanta to be among the top places for construction of new self-storage space—including in distinctly “urban” locations.

The former church on site, at right, in relation to current Public Storage property next door, as seen in 2023. Google Maps