In partnership with the city of Atlanta, the Atlanta Urban Development Corporation (AUD) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for developers to transform an 11-acre plot into mixed-income housing. Applications are due by Oct. 10.
The undeveloped plot of land, measuring 10.98 acres, is currently green space surrounded by a single-family home neighborhood. The city and Metro Atlanta Land Bank purchased the plot in August 2023 in a strategic move given the site’s proximity to major business hubs and the downtown area.
As a major selling point, the location is steps away from a planned terminal station of the MARTA Campbellton Community Investment Corridor Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Line. The city is investing in the Campbellton Corridor to improve connectivity and accessibility in southwest Atlanta, according to the transit project’s website.
The transit corridor extends from the Greenbriar Mall to the Oakland City MARTA station. The mall sits close to the planned final stop of the new BRT in Ben Hill, adjacent to the upcoming 11-acre housing development. Officials say this proximity drove the decision to purchase the lot, enabling the city to increase affordable housing while expanding access to public transit. The BRT project, spanning five miles, is slated to open to the public in 2030.
The residential project targets an amenity-filled, for-purchase collection of single-family homes and townhomes. About 100 units are planned for the site, with at least one-third of those designated as affordable housing options with price restrictions.
Another 30% of the property must be retained as park or green space, according to the RFQ, incorporating the existing tree canopy and natural features such as a piped creek. This would mean an average of more than 10 units per acre.
The nonprofit will publish responses to questions Sept. 26 as an addendum to the original RFQ. The deadline to submit a qualification package is Oct. 10.
The first round of interviews for shortlisted applicants will take place the week of Nov. 3, with second-round interviews the week of Nov. 10. AUD anticipates announcing the selected developer in December.
The RFQ specifically prohibits the use of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, requiring developers to identify alternative financing sources for this project. City officials say they are hoping to find a developer with proven experience working within a public-private partnership (P3) model and one that can handle horizontal infrastructure development of the site.
The selected developer will partner with the Campbellton Road West Corridor Community Development Corporation to ensure ongoing community engagement throughout the project. This collaboration reflects the city’s commitment to development without displacement, according to the RFQ, addressing the needs of both existing residents and newcomers.
Neighborhoods in the area have a median household income that grew from $47,000 to $75,000 between 2017 and 2022. The project’s goal is to provide homeownership opportunities for the 1,300 new buyers who entered the local market during that period.
Photo by Nate Hovee from Pexels
