Unique Infill Proposal Near BeltLine Receives Monetary Boost from Invest Atlanta

A unique infill project, which is slated to serve as a new entry point to South Atlanta from downtown, the Westside, and the BeltLine, has received financial backing from Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development arm.

The Invest Atlanta Board approved a brownfield cleanup subgrant of $550,000 last month for Brownsville Pointe. This mixed-use project aims to transform a vacant, arrowhead-shaped lot where McDonough Boulevard intersects with Jonesboro Road.

A New Vision for South Atlanta

Situated approximately three miles south of downtown and mere blocks from the BeltLine’s Southside Trail corridor, the project incorporates a site area of .53 acres. The developer and landowner, Focused Community Strategies (FCS), has two decades worth of experience working in South Atlanta. FCS specializes in developing equitable commercial projects and housing. Previous successful ventures by the organization include Carver Market and Community Grounds Café, both situated across the street from the proposed development site.

According to Invest Atlanta, the $550,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be deployed to remediate contamination at the South Atlanta site before the development process begins. This will include the installation of vapor barriers. The site’s preceding use as a gasoline station, along with the location of nearby dry-cleaning facilities, resulted in material containing asbestos contaminating the property.

The Promise of Brownsville Pointe

As proposed by Kronberg Urbanists + Architects, the 105 McDonough Boulevard project will feature a flatiron-styled commercial building situated at the corner. The project also includes two taller residential structures, accompanied by bicycle racks, additional parking, and street improvements.

FCS will invest $8 million into the project, which hopes to create 25 job opportunities. The two proposed three-story buildings will comprise 18 apartments where 12 will be allocated as affordable housing for residents earning 60% or below the area’s median income.

The infill project also includes a two-story flatiron building that will accommodate a restaurant with below-market rental prices. Project officials revealed to Urbanize Atlanta that the retail portion will encompass 2,765 square feet and will feature selling points, such as ceilings with a height of 11 and 12 feet.

The property, which was acquired by FCS in 2018, primarily served as a gasoline station that ceased operation years ago. The onsite fuel tanks have since been removed and only the previous convenience store portion of the establishment remains standing.

An Engaging Community Project

The project evokes familiarity for those with keen knowledge of Atlanta’s development projects. A similar Kronberg-designed project incorporating a blend of uses is presently underway in English Avenue on the opposite side of downtown, spearheaded by Westside Future Fund. In East Atlanta too, an infill proposal with a similar design has recently emerged on a triangular site.

This project in South Atlanta represents a significant step towards revitalizing and reducing contamination in the area while providing an equitable housing and commercial solution.