The City of Roswell’s quest to expand its walkable feel has taken a significant step forward. 

Roswell’s City Council and Mayor Kurt Wilson on Tuesday unanimously approved a transformative, multi-block redevelopment—now christened “Hillrose Market”—across the street from City Hall that’s been years in the making. It’s being called one of the most significant downtown developments in Roswell in decades. 

The city is partnering with Atlanta-based Atlantic Companies through its Downtown Development Authority to develop the Hill Street project. This week the council and mayor approved a resolution supporting key aspect of finalized plans—building elevations, a design and landscape package, the master sign plan—and moved toward closing on the required, underutilized properties in question totaling 7 acres. 

Those properties include the former Roswell Police Department headquarters at 39 Hill St., following the agency’s relocation to another facility on Holcomb Bridge Road.  

Finalized rendering for a Hillrose Market public green. City of Roswell/Hillrose Market; The Atlantic Companies; designs, ASD | SKY

Latest breakdown of Hillrose site plans near Roswell City Hall. City of Roswell/Hillrose Market; The Atlantic Companies; designs, ASD | SKY

City leaders say Hillrose Market will play a crucial role in Roswell’s vision for making downtown a broader, vibrant commercial and cultural district. Wilson described the Hill Street initiative as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to reshape downtown blocks. “This is what intentional economic development looks like,” said the mayor in a statement. “We took a property that once housed our police headquarters and turned it into a high-value, job-creating asset that serves the people of Roswell for decades to come.” 

According to Atlantic Companies, the ASD | SKY-designed project will include a trail link to the Canton Street Historic District. Overall, development officials say Hillrose Market plans will emphasize cohesiveness, walkability, and architecture that reflects downtown’s character. They described specific components this week as follows, edited for length: 

  • “A six-building, 75,000-square-foot, connected retail village meant to serve Roswell’s residents and offer something fresh for visitors, workers and families;
  • Abundant on-site surface and structured parking for seamless convenience;
  • An exclusive office building with high visibility from Atlanta Street;
  • Adaptive-reuse of the former Roswell Police Department into a contemporary, mixed-use hub with ground-level retail and second-floor workplace;
  • 143 thoughtfully designed luxury rental flats with resort-style amenities, including a clubhouse, fitness center, and pool overlooking [greenspace component] Hillrose Green;
  • 16 upscale, for-sale brownstones designed for walkability and easy access to Canton Street and Roswell trails.”

The Hill Street redo has been a long time coming. An earlier multifamily development plan gained city approval in 2019, but Wilson in 2022 helped lead a redesign that cut back on residential density while expanding the commercial footprint, city officials have said. 

Overview of the reimagined Hill Street properties in question, as seen from over Roswell City Hall. City of Roswell/Hillrose Market; The Atlantic Companies; designs, ASD | SKY

City of Roswell/Hillrose Market; The Atlantic Companies; designs, ASD | SKY

Now, a project timeline provided by the city calls for the sale of the properties in question to close Oct. 28. 

Following closing, the city and its partners expect to begin site preparations and demolition work late this year or early next. The schedule calls for buildings to start opening in November 2027. 

According to city officials, an economic analysis by KB Advisory Group found that Hillrose Market will create nearly 550 construction jobs and 273 permanent ones. The project is also expected to generate more than $802,000 in annual sales revenue and increase the city’s tax digest by $55.6 million within a quarter mile.

Additional partners in the project include The Providence Group (brownstone development), Westbridge (commercial consultant), New South Construction Company (general contractor), Kimley Horn (project engineer), and Crosby Design Group (interior design lead). Seer World is serving as the city’s economic development consultant.

Find more Hillrose Market visuals and context in the gallery above. 

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