The City of Avondale Estates strives to promote and implement high quality redevelopment in the Central Business District and City-wide. The Western Gateway area from Maple Street to Sams Crossing was annexed into the City to extend this effort to the logical City limits. The 2014 Downtown Master Plan community planning activities and the final Downtown Master Plan document approved by the Board of Mayor and Commissioners included plans for redevelopment and enhancement of the entrance to the City.

Award winning South City Partners has approached the City with the intent of redeveloping the 3.17 acre parcel on the north side of East College Avenue between Hillyer Street and Sams Crossing. The draft project proposal features a vertical mixed use project with approximately 10,000 square feet of podium retail/restaurant space on the ground floor, approximately 175 residential units in four stories above, over one acre of open space, including a gateway park, which will preserve the mature trees, a rear parking deck with additional on-street parking and generous sidewalks and street trees to enhance the pedestrian experience. If approved, the project could serve as an economic catalyst for the area signaling the start of new investment in the City. The draft renderings and site layout can be found on the City website here. South City Partners will be presenting at the Board of Mayor and Commissioners Work Session on Wednesday, February 24, at 5:30 p.m.

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) awarded South City Partners two out of three project specific 2015 Development of Excellence Awarsd. The first is for Revival on Main in Kennesaw for the Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Achievement Award and the second features Inman Quarters in Atlanta for Exceptional Merit for Context-Sensitive Urban Infill Development. Read more about these awards on the ARC website. ARC's Development of Excellence awards recognizes projects that exemplify cutting-edge, livable design that enhances the surrounding community.