Unique 'mini home' project bound for Atlanta's eastern metro

Over the past decade or so, the tiny home phenomenon has taken the nation (and shelter-focused television) by storm. But what about mini homes?

One such project, The Benison ATL, is a new multi-use development that recently began early planning stages and hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking on the massive property of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. The popular megachurch is located in Stonecrest, about 20 minutes east of downtown Atlanta. 

The Benison's first phase will feature the construction of 120 mini homes offered at prices below what's available in more centralized intown places, according to project officials.

So, what is a mini home? No, it isn’t a tiny house, according to Anthony Williams, the lead developer on The Benison project.

Williams stresses the distinction between a tiny home and a mini home comes down to size, as tiny homes don’t usually entail more than 400 square feet of interior space. The Benison’s residential offerings will be larger, however, and comprised of both mini homes and townhouses.

The project, which is set to span 35 acres of New Birth’s whopping 270-acre landholding, currently has no official construction timeline. Williams hopes to obtain construction permits this summer in order to begin true construction by the end of fall, he tells Urbanize Atlanta.

Once complete, the mixed-use development will include 336 units beginning at $150,000. The smallest units will be 650 square feet, with the largest clocking in at just over 1,200 square feet.

According to New Birth Senior Pastor Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, the goal of the project is to offer an affordable pathway to homeownership for a wide range of demographics. The project would be the first major development effort by New Birth in 20 years.

The planned site is located just south of Interstate 20, roughly a five-minute drive from the Mall at Stonecrest. The property also sits directly north of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, which features a 33-mile network of Atlanta’s PATH trail system.

The completed property will reportedly include an amphitheater, multiple greenspaces, and a swimming pool. Williams says residents will have designated parking spots outside of their homes, as opposed to a community lot. Dining and retail options will also be located within the 35-acre property, according to promotional materials. 

New Birth, considered the largest land-owning Black church in the U.S., expects The Benison project to ultimately come together across three phases. 

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