Near Beltline’s Westside Trail, affordable housing venture to take modular approach

An affordable housing development planned for Oakland City, between the neighborhood’s MARTA station and the Atlanta Beltline’s Westside Trial, will come together exceptionally quickly and cheaply, project leaders announced this week.

Spearheaded by the Atlanta Land Trust, the 23-unit venture is planned for an overgrown site at 1091 Tucker Avenue, about four blocks south of the Westside Trail and the Lee + White redevelopment.

In the works is a mix of modular housing in four buildings designed by Smith Dalia Architects and built by Oak Construction Group—companies recently selected by the land trust group. Homeplace Solutions is serving as developer.

Expect several living options designed for varying family sizes and needs, from condos up to three-story residences, all offered through what’s called the community land trust (CLT) model.

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Construction is expected to begin by year’s end—and all 23 homes will be finished within 90 days of that process beginning, or sometime in early 2020, officials said.

“What’s particularly exciting about this project is the new generation of modular home technology we will use to lower construction costs and expedite completion time, all without sacrificing quality,” noted Cecil Phillips, CEO at Place Properties, the parent company of Homeplace Solutions, in a prepared statement.

Atlanta Land Trust aims to create and preserve affordable housing options in Beltline neighborhoods grappling with gentrification and displacement issues.

Per their CLT model, which is designed to stabilize at-risk communities, the land trust will maintain ownership of assembled land while homeowners hold titles to the residences. That model “provides original homeowners as well as future purchasers of these homes the opportunity to own a home without the cost of the land while still building wealth through homeownership,” per land trust officials.

We had a few questions about the plans and posed them to Amanda Rhein, Atlanta Land Trust executive director. She responded via email, as posted below.

What are the approximate price points for the different units?

We are developing a pricing model that is affordable for a target income limit that is less than 80 percent of the area median income (AMI) for a family of four, adjusting for family size as needed.

What’ll the community look like?

Atlanta Land Trust is working with the community on the final design of the project and plans to incorporate their input as well as the guidelines of the Oakland City Historic District. There is no rendering available at this time.

Who exactly will qualify for Tucker Avenue housing?

Those who earn less than 80 percent AMI for a family of four, adjusting for family size as needed, will qualify for the housing at Tucker Avenue. It’s our hope that we’ll be able to provide opportunities for homeownership for people currently residing in the neighborhood who may otherwise be displaced.

Are Atlantans encouraged to apply now, or soon?

An application is not yet available, however, anyone who’s interested is any of the Atlanta Land Trust properties should visit the website at atlantalandtrust.org and sign up for our mailing list. Applications for Atlanta Land Trust’s affordable homes in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Atlanta are currently being accepted.