Pullman Yard’s Atomic Entertainment sets sights on New Orleans mega-project, too

It appears Atomic Entertainment, the movie-production-company-turned-developer in Atlanta, has set its sights on laying claim to a new project in New Orleans.

According to a report in Canal Street Beat, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has released the names of five developers chosen for additional interviews regarding the redevelopment of a 20-acre riverfront tract next to the Crescent City’s convention center.

Among those names is Atomic Entertainment.

Atomic is the company behind the expansive mixed-use Pratt Pullman District concept, formerly known as Pullman Yard, in Kirkwood. The Georgia Building Authority sold Atomic the closely watched 27-acre property—among the largest undeveloped tracts in booming eastside Atlanta—as part of a bidding process two and a half years ago. Purchase price: $8 million.

In February, Atomic owner Adam Rosenfelt stated that “major construction” would launch soon, but little progress has been seen onsite. A few months later he said the site’s stature, historical significance, and the need to clean up the formerly industrial grounds, which were more contaminated than initially thought, was causing further delays, but that construction would launch this fall.

Earlier this week, we first reported that Atomic is selling off part of the historic property to an apartment developer. It’s a section that doesn’t include historic buildings, where housing was always planned.

Brock Hudgins Architects, via Alliance Residential

Now it seems the company wants to build a massive project near downtown New Orleans. Rosenfelt hadn’t responded to Curbed’s inquiries as of press time.

Beyond apartments, however, there is activity of note at the Pullman site.

The first announced restaurants to sign on—Bellsmouth Cafe and 3 Heart Coffee Roastery—are planned for buildings near the property’s northwestern corner, facing Rogers Street, Rosenfelt told Curbed sister site Eater Atlanta today, following an Atlanta Business Chronicle report.

Plans call for opening the cafe and coffee shop by the end of 2020, per Eater. They’ll be owned by Skip Englebrecht and chef Nhan Le of 8ARM and 3 Heart and artist George Long.

The all-day cafe is planned to consume 1,200 square feet inside one of 13 historic Pullman structures. The roastery would move from its current location at Paris on Ponce to a new building along Rogers Street.

Rosenfelt has said other new restaurants and bars joining the development will likely be announced soon.