As of mid-December 2024, Butler Street Community Development Corporation (BSCDC) had broken ground on Sweet Auburn Grande, a mixed-use project going up at 17 Jesse Hill Jr. Dr. NE in the historic Sweet Auburn district. The site sits across from the Butler Street YMCA.
BSCDC is an organization focused on restoration work. Its new project pairs homes with commercial space, and it aims at three goals together: affordable living, economic opportunity and the preservation of the district's history.
What the building will hold
Plans call for 109 residential units in total. Ninety-two are affordable homes for families in three income bands, pegged to 30%, 50% and 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). The remaining 17 will be market-rate units.
Amenities for residents include a fitness center, a computer lab and various outdoor gathering spaces. The ground floor is slated for commercial space intended to support businesses and serve people in the surrounding community. According to a press release, that community includes Georgia State University students along with visitors drawn to Martin Luther King Jr. historical landmarks close by.
Pieces of the past built in
The design is expected to reuse components of restored historic architecture. Among them are elements of the 229 Building, which was the original home of the Atlanta State Savings Bank. Other historic pieces are part of the plan as well.
Alfonza Marshall, who chairs the BSCDC board, tied the project to both the neighborhood's past and its future. "This project is about honoring our community’s history while building a brighter future," Marshall said. He went on to say that Sweet Auburn Grande "represents the resilience of the Sweet Auburn District and our mission to preserve its heritage while addressing pressing needs like affordable housing and economic opportunities for local families."
Who is involved
BSCDC's partner on the project is Gorman & Company, a property management firm responsible for its development, design, construction and management. Other partners backing the effort include Truist, Invest Atlanta, Grandbridge, Red Rock Global, LLC and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, among additional supporters.
At that point, there was no expected timeline for finishing the development. For more on the project, see earlier downtownATL coverage and a later progress update.
Reported by Rough Draft Atlanta.
