Affordable Housing Development Project
Atlanta First UMC’s Development Task Force was formed in 2018 by the Church Council to seek the best and highest use for the church’s 360 Peachtree Street property. Its goal was to envision and implement ways for the church and Atlanta First Day School to live into its future in innovative ways as we worship God, serve people, grow together, and engage the city of Atlanta and beyond.
In 2019 the Task Force released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to bring a “God-size vision” for affordable housing and mix-use community space to life in downtown Atlanta. Later that year Chicago-based nonprofit developer Evergreen Real Estate Group accepted the challenge, along with Ohio-based architecture firm, Moody Nolan, and Atlanta-based firms Goode Van Slyke and SHAPE.
Today, in 2022, that vision is coming to fruition in a two-tower complex design which will include approximately 320 units of housing, 85 percent of which will be affordable (192 units at 31 percent to 60 percent average median income (AMI) and 80 units at 30 percent AMI via Atlanta Housing (AH) Vouchers). The property will include one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and the first three-bedroom apartments in the downtown area.
The project will also create new spaces for the Atlanta First Day School, a Georgia Pre-K and K-5 private school operated by the church, as well as a new fellowship hall, gymnasium, church classroom space and administrative offices. The site will have approximately 260 parking spaces, with dedicated spaces for the church, school, residential, and retail, and the balance paid parking. 10,000sf of retail space will run along the ground floor on the corner of W. Peachtree St. and Ivan Allen Blvd.
On Wednesday, February 23, 2022, Atlanta First UMC hosted a gathering of city and church leaders, including Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, in a discussion on the development of church-owned properties into affordable housing. Stake holder speakers from churches and their developer partners spoke on their past successes and future plans for the development of affordable housing within the city of Atlanta. The video above is a recording of the event.
While the Atlanta First UMC Development Task Force leads this project, it cannot be realized without your support. Please consider giving generously to the development fund. You can give securely online by clicking the button below, or visit our giving page to see other methods of making a donation.
Media Inquiries: please contact pastor@atlantafirstumc.org.