Images: Big Decatur build with park facet begins vertical climb

Josh Green

Wed, 01/08/2025 – 14:15

With its parking deck and other infrastructure in place, a block-sized, transit-focused, multifaceted development near the eastern edge of Decatur has recently started the process of vertical construction.

Northwood Ravin, a North Carolina-based developer, is building 370 apartments plus retail and plaza space in a mid-rise, Transit-Oriented Development called Halo East Decatur (formerly East Decatur Station), or Halo for short.

The 7.5-acre project along East College Avenue includes space for a grocery concept and marks the latest mixed-use bet within steps of MARTA’s east-west rail line.

Halo is rising less than a block from the Avondale MARTA station—joining roughly 1,000 new apartments that have materialized nearby since 2018, with more in the pipeline—as Decatur seeks to remake its light-industrial eastern fringe into a more walkable district with transit access. Three Taverns Craft Brewery is located on the block next door, just to the west.

Retail and leasing spaces are beginning to take shape where East College Avenue meets Sam Street.
Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

How public walkways and retail will meet East College Avenue. Northwood Ravin; designs, Dwell Design Studio

Renderings and other plans for the Halo project show a grocery and retail component at ground level (part of 15,000 square feet of commercial space), an interior public plaza leading to a new 1-acre Freeman Street greenspace, and a 468-space parking deck shielded almost entirely from view.

Signage on site today indicates coworking spaces will also be included.

Demolition of a low-rise row of commercial buildings on East College Avenue—spanning between New Street to the west and Sam Street at the site’s eastern boundary—began in summer 2023.

Over the years, those razed buildings had housed pet adoption agency iWag, Jazzercise Decatur, Project Slide workout studio, a clothing store, BlueTarp Brewing, and La Calavera Bakery, along with offices and other businesses.

Approved plans, as drawn up by Dwell Design Studio, also call for more than 40 apartments to be reserved as affordable housing for tenants earning 80 percent of the area’s median income or less.

Where vertical construction for Halo East Decatur (formerly East Decatur Station) has begun along Sam Street this month, near the Avondale transit station. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Plans for the project’s 1-acre park facet. Northwood Ravin; designs, Dwell Design Studio

Northwood Ravin’s initial plans had called for more than 400 rentals.

According to documents Northwood Ravin submitted to the city, the reduction in unit count was meant to allow for slightly larger rentals and more room to add public greenspace, plus enough retail space to attract the neighborhood grocer.

Development officials have previously said the project will take between two years and 30 months to complete, which would put delivery at roughly another year from now.

Find a breakdown of what the Halo project entails—along with recent site photos and context—in the gallery above.

The project’s 715 East College Avenue location between downtown Decatur, left, and Avondale Estates. Google Maps

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Images

Seen prior to demolition and construction, the 7.5-acre site’s location just southwest of the Avondale MARTA station, along East College Avenue. Google Maps

The low-rise row of commercial buildings in question on College Avenue, as seen in February 2023. The former pet-adoption facility iWag is shown at right. Google Maps

Where vertical construction for Halo East Decatur (formerly East Decatur Station) has begun along Sam Street this month, near the Avondale transit station. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Retail and leasing spaces are beginning to take shape where East College Avenue meets Sam Street.
Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Looking east along New Street, where the Halo project’s parking structure and other infrastructure work stands today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Plans for East College Avenue at Sam Street. Northwood Ravin; designs, Dwell Design Studio

Section of the project near East College Avenue and New Street. Northwood Ravin; designs, Dwell Design Studio

Plans for the project’s 1-acre park facet. Northwood Ravin; designs, Dwell Design Studio

How public walkways and retail will meet East College Avenue. Northwood Ravin; designs, Dwell Design Studio

An internal retail and greenspace component. Northwood Ravin; designs, Dwell Design Studio

Overview of the multifaceted project, looking east toward Avondale Estates. Northwood Ravin; designs, Dwell Design Studio

General breakdown showing how Halo East Decatur is planned to meet East College Avenue, just west of MARTA’s Avondale station. Northwood Ravin; designs, Dwell Design Studio