Fourteen months after initial plans came to light, a Peoplestown mixed-use district that hopes to capitalize on an influx of investment, population, and future transportation alternatives south of downtown is set to officially move forward.

Representatives with Terminal South, an adaptive-reuse mix of retail and office space spanning about 46,000 square feet, send word today the project’s official groundbreaking is scheduled for the morning of Feb. 8, a week from Thursday.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is scheduled to lead the ceremony.

More tenant announcements are also expected to be made in coming days, according to project reps. Though it hasn’t started construction, Terminal South has signed more than 10 food-and-beverage concepts that plan to set up shop in two former southside warehouses on dead-end Ridge Avenue.

Overview of the site where MARTA's first bus-rapid transit line, the BeltLine's Southside Trail, and Terminal South's food hall and future apartments are planned to converge. Courtesy of Stafford Properties

The southside’s first food hall—called Switchman Hall—will consume the larger of those two buildings, totaling about 15,500 square feet.

Switchman Hall had originally called for 11 stalls when the project was unveiled in late 2022; plans were modified last year to 18 stalls, ranging from roughly 350 to 730 square feet, following strong interest in smaller retail slots, developers Stafford Properties have said.  

The project will neighbor the final stop on MARTA’s first bus-rapid transit route—a 4.8-mile connection to downtown—while the BeltLine’s Southside Trail corridor is across the street, to the south. (BeltLine officials are optimistic construction on that final Southside Trail segment to be built will start this spring.) 

Stafford officials announced in October the project had inked its first full-service restaurant, PÜR Zen Mimosa Wine Bar, which operates an original location in McDonough. Plans call for it to feature a patio facing Hank Aaron Drive, with lunch and dinner served Tuesday through Friday and brunch and dinner on weekends.

Courtesy of Stafford Properties; designs, NO Architecture

Food hall additions also unveiled last fall include the first intown location of Smooth N Groove, featuring more than 20 smoothie options, juices, and wraps; DM Sliders (get it?), a new concept serving more than 20 slider-style sandwiches; and Flat-Out Flatbreads, with a dozen flatbreads on the menu.   

Other confirmed tenants include Southern Grace (currently a food truck), Perfect Seasoning (a Jamaican concept with its first location at Selig’s The Works), the next location of The Original Hot Dog Factory, Flower Paradise, Life Bistro, Sabu K Ramen, and Korean street food concept Tiger K Cup Bob.

Terminal South was originally forecasted to start opening in summer 2024; officials tell Urbanize Atlanta this week the new target for opening is sometime this fall.

The BRT route's turnaround next to the food hall. Several new, unrelated residential projects are shown at right. Courtesy of Stafford Properties

Eventual plans call for more than food offerings and office space.

Stafford is also planning to develop hundreds of multifamily rentals on a vacant, formerly industrial parcel next door, in hopes of encouraging more residential growth in the area.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle reported last month Stafford plans to deliver those 350 to 425 units in early 2027.

Find more Terminal South context and imagery in the gallery above.

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