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Renderings: Near Beltline, apartment block could replace shuttered WonderRoot

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The nonprofit arts organization closed its doors just two months ago

A rendering shows a mostly brick apartment complex elevated over what appears to be ground-floor retail.
The vision for 982 Memorial.
Renderings: Smith Dalia Architects

Since embattled arts nonprofit WonderRoot abruptly shuttered in August, folks might be wondering what will become of the organization’s quaint former home on Memorial Drive.

Renderings have now surfaced for what could be the colorful building’s replacement: A nearly 200-unit apartment complex proposed by Urban Realty Partners and Prestwick Development Company, which would add to explosive growth along Memorial.

Smith Dalia Architects recently published images depicting the latest vision for a project identified only as 982 Memorial—WonderRoot’s former address.

Although not much is known about the proposed development, Smith Dalia’s website suggests it’s “soon to begin construction.”

Smith Dalia representatives told Curbed Atlanta that info paired with the renderings was accurate and up-to-date, although they declined to provide further information, deferring to the developers, who could not be reached as of press time.

The apartment complex is six stories at the corner and along Memorial Drive and gets shorter down Gibson Street.
The corner of Gibson Street and Memorial Drive.
A blueprint shows the apartment complex will stand six stories along Memorial Drive, then drop to five stories along Gibson Street, until it reaches Northern Avenue, when it shrinks down to four stories.
A Gibson Street elevation.

The architecture firm cites plans for 192 residences within “four-, five-, and six-story multifamily construction that maintains its highest density along Memorial and gently steps down as it approaches the single-family houses” in Reynoldstown.

“The development will include a precast parking deck and multifamily amenities such as a business center, fitness room, clubhouse, and leasing office,” per the website.

A rendering shows a man jogging passed a small green space at the foot of the building’s Gibson Street side.
The view from Gibson Street.

The project would stand on Memorial Drive between Gibson and Stovall streets, neighboring the celebrated Home Grown restaurant.

It would also be catty-corner from the under-construction Madison Yards mixed-use development and a stone’s throw from the Beltline’s Eastside Trail.

WonderRoot leaders had previously planned to embark on a multi-million-dollar renovation of the Tech High/Hubert Elementary School building situated across Memorial Drive from their shabby bungalow.

Those plans, like the 15-year-old organization, faltered, but not before WonderRoot led a tour for a 2016 photo essay on the historic campus.