Builder: Loring Heights retail, apartment venture is paused, not dead

Josh Green

Wed, 01/29/2025 – 16:18

According to the Augusta-based firm building UrbA ATL, as the project is called, the pause is simply part of the game plan.

Spread across 7 acres with enviable city views, the 480 17th St. site in Loring Heights—situated across railroad tracks from IKEA—was most recently a large parking lot for office buildings along Northside Drive. That was cleared about seven years ago as Fuqua Development’s suburban-style chain hub, West Midtown Center, took shape next door.

Real estate firm Southeastern broke ground on UrbA ATL as part of a larger, UrbA-branded network of properties in May 2023. Infrastructure including parking structures was completed before work abruptly stopped.

Mary Senn, Southeastern’s vice president, tells Urbanize Atlanta the strategy from day one was to first complete UrbA ATL’s garages and site work, which were funded through equity, and then take the market’s temperature.

“This allowed us to get the difficult part out of the [way] while we waited for interest rates and construction costs come down some,” Senn wrote via email. “Now that they have come down a little, we’re actively proceeding with securing the financing and construction pricing.”

UrbA ATL; Southeastern

This angle helps illustrate Midtown views the 480 17th St. project will enjoy to the east. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Once the project restarts, the first apartments are expected to deliver in roughly a year and ½ to 20 months, Senn said.

“We’re still very excited about this project,” she noted. “We like the market, and we love the location. Obviously, we have a lot invested, so we’re going to finish it. We just want to be smart about our timing.”

Elsewhere, Senn’s consulting, brokerage, and development firm counts projects in its portfolio from Texas to Virginia.

UrbA ATL’s plans call for transforming the long-vacant property, wedged between Northside Drive and Atlantic Station, into a mix of retail and residential uses. The building’s rooftop amenities will frame unimpeded views from south Buckhead to downtown, according to project renderings.

The scope includes 321 luxury apartments and roughly 27,000 square feet of space for shops and restaurants, according to Southeastern. The retail and restaurant spaces are planned for ground floors, facing existing retailers. Above all that, designs call for a rooftop pool, large deck, and clubroom.

UrbA ATL; Southeastern

Projected look of UrbA ATL’s north face, with 17th Street at left and an aesthetically generous rendition of Fuqua Development’s neighboring project at right. UrbA ATL; Southeastern

Building permit records indicate UrbA ATL will include two separate, five-story apartment buildings, each with a parking deck. At least one of those decks will have six tiers, per 2022 filings.

Earlier plans for the site called for a new intown Amtrak rail hub and grocery store, but those ideas failed to materialize. Kroger had previously owned the property before selling in 2022 to developers.

In the gallery above, find more UrbA ATL context and images.

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Builder: Loring Heights retail, apartment venture is paused, not dead

Josh Green

Wed, 01/29/2025 – 16:18

Loring Heights residents and Atlanta development hounds have grown concerned recently that a large project on a high-profile site west of Midtown has been cancelled after considerable infrastructure was built. No workers have been seen on site for weeks, they relay. According to the Augusta-based firm building UrbA ATL, as the project is called, the pause is simply part of the game plan. Spread across 7 acres with enviable city views, the 480 17th St. site in Loring Heights—situated across railroad tracks from IKEA—was most recently a large parking lot for office buildings along Northside Drive. That was cleared about seven years ago as Fuqua Development’s suburban-style chain hub, West Midtown Center, took shape next door.Real estate firm Southeastern broke ground on UrbA ATL as part of a larger, UrbA-branded network of properties in May 2023. Infrastructure including parking structures was completed before work abruptly stopped. Mary Senn, Southeastern’s vice president, tells Urbanize Atlanta the strategy from day one was to first complete UrbA ATL’s garages and site work, which were funded through equity, and then take the market’s temperature. “This allowed us to get the difficult part out of the [way] while we waited for interest rates and construction costs come down some,” Senn wrote via email. “Now that they have come down a little, we’re actively proceeding with securing the financing and construction pricing.”

UrbA ATL; Southeastern

This angle helps illustrate Midtown views the 480 17th St. project will enjoy to the east. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Once the project restarts, the first apartments are expected to deliver in roughly a year and ½ to 20 months, Senn said. “We’re still very excited about this project,” she noted. “We like the market, and we love the location. Obviously, we have a lot invested, so we’re going to finish it. We just want to be smart about our timing.”Elsewhere, Senn’s consulting, brokerage, and development firm counts projects in its portfolio from Texas to Virginia.UrbA ATL’s plans call for transforming the long-vacant property, wedged between Northside Drive and Atlantic Station, into a mix of retail and residential uses. The building’s rooftop amenities will frame unimpeded views from south Buckhead to downtown, according to project renderings. The scope includes 321 luxury apartments and roughly 27,000 square feet of space for shops and restaurants, according to Southeastern. The retail and restaurant spaces are planned for ground floors, facing existing retailers. Above all that, designs call for a rooftop pool, large deck, and clubroom.

UrbA ATL; Southeastern

Projected look of UrbA ATL’s north face, with 17th Street at left and an aesthetically generous rendition of Fuqua Development’s neighboring project at right. UrbA ATL; Southeastern

Other building amenities will include a large coworking space, an e-sports gaming room and lounge, a large elevated dog park, rooms for bike storage and repair, and EV charging stations, along with what’s described as “multiple outdoor zen and activity gardens” and “a state-of-the-art gym with on-demand fitness,” according to Southeastern. Building permit records indicate UrbA ATL will include two separate, five-story apartment buildings, each with a parking deck. At least one of those decks will have six tiers, per 2022 filings.Earlier plans for the site called for a new intown Amtrak rail hub and grocery store, but those ideas failed to materialize. Kroger had previously owned the property before selling in 2022 to developers. In the gallery above, find more UrbA ATL context and images….Follow us on social media: Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram • Atlantic Station news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)