A groundbreaking Friday morning marked the beginning of more than 300 planned units of affordable housing with unique services for Atlanta’s southside suburbs.
The two separate buildings—Villas at Mt. Zion, and Flats at Mt. Zion—will be built just north of Interstate 75’s junction with I-675 in Clayton County, a few miles OTP.
The Stockbridge project marks the first partnership between affordable housing developer Zimmerman Properties and TriStar, an investment firm that focuses on commercial real estate and mission-based affordable housing.
The Villas at Mt. Zion, a 96-unit senior living community. Courtesy of Zimmerman, TriStar
The smaller Villas building will consist of 96 units for independent senior living, developed under the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program.
The Flats, meanwhile, will offer 210 apartments with between one and three bedrooms, targeting families with children who attend nearby Mt. Zion Elementary and Primary Schools.
Predicted rents haven’t been specified, but each community will target low and moderate income renters earning between 50 and 70 percent of the area’s median income.
Plans for the Flats at Mt. Zion, a 210-unit multifamily complex. Courtesy of Zimmerman, TriStar
The gated development will include a swimming pool, communal garden, playgrounds, exercise facility, and a computer library.
The community’s Early Learning Center will be staffed by Star-C, an Atlanta nonprofit that provides residents free, onsite wraparound services such as summer camps, after-school programs, and classes focused on gardening and healthy eating.
Bob Davidson, Zimmerman Properties COO, said in an announcement the TriStar partnership will allow for an affordable housing option with an added bonus of social, education, and emotional wellbeing for residents.
“We’re excited about both the collaboration,” said Davidson, “and the innovative aspects of this initiative."
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