Project Introduction
The North Avenue Redevelopment is not just a development—it’s a bold act of urban restoration and social equity. Situated in the heart of Atlanta, the project is a transformative mixed-use and mixed-income neighborhood, designed to reignite opportunity, reconnect communities, and honor the cultural tapestry of its historic site. With a dynamic mix of 330 mixed-income apartments, for-sale townhomes, senior living, tiny homes, and activated public space, the plan is an emblem of inclusive urban regeneration. Through a partnership with Integral, Rule Enterprises, McClendon Capital, and a host of mission-driven collaborators, City Collective was entrusted with the master planning and architectural vision—bringing to life a place where housing, health, heritage, and hope intersect.
Key Project Challenges
The challenges facing the North Avenue Redevelopment were both systemic and spatial: a legacy of disinvestment, a neighborhood severed by infrastructure, and a city burdened by deep-rooted housing inequities. The site demanded more than just new buildings; it required reknitting the social and physical fabric of the community. Balancing affordability with financial feasibility, designing for density without compromising livability, and fostering around-the-clock vibrancy in a historically underinvested area demanded deep creativity and uncompromising resolve. The team also navigated the urgent need to deliver housing that feels dignified at every income level while celebrating the site’s layered history—from Buttermilk Bottom to the Candy Factory—with sensitivity and narrative depth.
Key Project Innovations
City Collective’s design turned these constraints into a catalyst for innovation. By blending a thoughtful mix of housing typologies—from quadplexes and cluster homes to elevatored mid-rises and townhomes—the master plan created housing options that reflect the complexity of real communities. The plan also integrates 26,000 square feet of commercial and healthcare uses to anchor a 24/7 neighborhood ecosystem. Public spaces are not afterthoughts—they are the connective tissue of the plan, designed to spark encounters, foster belonging, and support wellness at every age. Embedded in the design is a bold commitment to shared prosperity: the project intentionally elevates Minority Business Enterprises and community-rooted collaborators, ensuring that those historically left out are now centered in the making of this community’s future. The result is a neighborhood that doesn’t just deliver units—it delivers a model for equitable city-making.
Client
Integral, Rural Engineering, Atlanta Housing
Location
Atlanta, GA, USA
Primary sector
Housing & Mixed-Use
Value
$300M USD
Project years
2025
Services provided
Urban Design, Architecture, City Planning, Landscape Architecture
Project team
Principal-in-Charge – Justin Kearnan
Project Manager – Annamaria Taylor
Design Lead – Abigail Gillin
