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First look: Pint-sized build set to break ground near Westside BeltLine Josh Green Fri, 05/17/2024 - 14:46 A unique Westside infill project that blends uses in the middle of a historic neighborhood is set to move forward in coming weeks, according to development officials.

The project by OaksATL Community Development is planned for a relatively small corner site—just .13 acres—where Lindsay Street meets North Avenue in English Avenue.

Situated about five blocks east of the BeltLine’s under-construction, final Westside Trail section, the parcel has been used as a pocket greenspace since a dilapidated home was demolished there several years ago.  

The three-story project is set to break ground in June, with an expected construction timeline of 10 months, according to Invest Atlanta.

OaksATL Community Development; via Invest Atlanta

Location of the English Avenue corner site in relation to the Westside Trail corridor, Midtown, and Westside Park. Google Maps

Floorplans show a café, barbershop, leasing office, laundry, and other uses on the project’s ground floor.

Above that, plans call for six apartments with two bedrooms and one bathroom each, all of them capped at affordable housing rates, per project leaders. Square footages are expected to range between 791 and 866 square feet.

Initially, OaksATL Community Development intended to offer all apartments at rates for residents earning 50 to 60 percent of the area median income or less.

But following delays, the developer is grappling with enough increases in construction costs—including a change in requirements from the project’s lending partners—that two of the apartments will need to be raised to a max of 80 percent AMI, according to Invest Atlanta.

That means rents will range from $1,148 to $1,553 monthly, according to project leaders.

The corner site where Lindsay Street meets North Avenue today. Google Maps

OaksATL Community Development; via Invest Atlanta

The full development budget is just $2.67 million—but that’s a hike from the original cost estimate of $1.34 million. Westside TAD grants, City of Atlanta Home Program funding, and philanthropic donations are expected to cover more than $1.2 million of the cost.

Head up to the gallery for more 557 Lindsay St. context and images. Below is a breakdown of what each space in the building is scheduled to rent for. 

Planned breakdown for 557 Lindsay St. unit rents, both residential and commercial. Invest Atlanta

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• English Avenue news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta) 

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557 Lindsay Street NW Westside TAD Resurgens Fund Westside Invest Atlanta affordable housing Affordability affordable apartments Atlanta apartments Mixed-Use Development Beltline Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail OaksATL Community Development

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Location of the English Avenue corner site in relation to the Westside Trail corridor, Midtown, and Westside Park. Google Maps

The corner site where Lindsay Street meets North Avenue today. Google Maps

OaksATL Community Development; via Invest Atlanta

OaksATL Community Development; via Invest Atlanta

OaksATL Community Development; via Invest Atlanta

OaksATL Community Development; via Invest Atlanta

OaksATL Community Development; via Invest Atlanta

Planned breakdown for 557 Lindsay St. unit rents, both residential and commercial. Invest Atlanta

OaksATL Community Development; via Invest Atlanta

Subtitle On empty, postage-stamp size site, mix of commercial, residential uses in pipeline

Neighborhood English Avenue

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Construction timeline released for $13M greenspace upgrades Josh Green Fri, 05/17/2024 - 13:42 For devoted patrons of Dresden Park, the growing-pains phase is about to begin.

According to the City of Chamblee, the popular greenspace is set to officially close May 28—or the day after Memorial Day Weekend—for at least 14 months of construction that aims to provide an upgraded greenspace with modernized facilities.

Construction is now expected to continue through the spring of next year, with a grand opening forecasted sometime in summer 2025.

Nearly $13 million in park upgrades are planned, starting with demolition of existing Dresden Park structures.

Entries and overall architecture for the planned Dresden Park Community Center. Courtesy City of Chamblee

Final masterplan for the 24-acre greenspace. Courtesy City of Chamblee

Dresden Park is tucked off Buford Highway, just south of DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, at 2301 Dresden Drive. At 24 acres, the greenspace is 2 acres larger than Centennial Olympic Park downtown. City officials finalized a contract in February with Integrated Construction and Nobility to remake the park.

Revitalization plans call for a new modern-style community center, a rectangular field with artificial turf and a multi-use field, a dog park, tennis courts, a large playground, a walking trail, a pavilion, and a new concessions building. Infrastructure upgrades such as new lighting, terraced seating, restrooms, and a new parking lot are also planned.  

The bulk of park upgrades is being paid for with COVID-19 relief funding—specifically, $10.8 million from American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds. The Chamblee City Council approved another $2 million to pay for the larger community building earlier this year, nudging the total renovation budget up to $12.8 million.

Chamblee Mayor Brian Mock has called the ARPA funding “likely a once in a lifetime opportunity” that will create “the crown jewel of the neighborhood” for an area that’s been underserved.

Example of a planned Dresden Park pavilion. Courtesy City of Chamblee

Interior layout for a Dresden Park community room. Courtesy City of Chamblee

Until summer 2025, programming usually held at Dresden Park will be moved to Keswick Park and other privately owned field locations. Chamblee officials are urging parkgoers to use other city greenspaces for picnics and family outings, too. 

In recent years, other parts of Chamblee have seen an award-winning municipal facility take shape and a multi-use trail system grow as developers pack in hundreds of new housing options near the ITP city’s historic core.

The park's 2301 Dresden Drive location (in red) near the City of Chamblee's southeastern border. Google Maps

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2301 Dresden Drive Chamblee Dresden Park Atlanta Parks Greenspaces Chamblee Parks Park Upgrades American Rescue Plan Act Chamblee City Council Atlanta Greenspaces ITP Parks Parks and Rec Parks and Recreation Dresden Park Community Center City of Chamblee Integrated Construction and Nobility Keswick Park DeKalb-Peachtree Airport

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Final masterplan for the 24-acre greenspace. Courtesy City of Chamblee

The park's 2301 Dresden Drive location (in red) near the City of Chamblee's southeastern border. Google Maps

Example of a planned Dresden Park pavilion. Courtesy City of Chamblee

Entries and overall architecture for the planned Dresden Park Community Center. Courtesy City of Chamblee

Interior layout for a Dresden Park community room. Courtesy City of Chamblee

Subtitle Overhaul will close Chamblee's popular Dresden Park for 14 months, at least

Neighborhood Chamblee

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