Atlanta Beltline buys Atlanta Archives and History site from state for $2.1 million
Atlanta BeltLine Inc. announced Friday evening it has purchased 2.5 acres of property next to the planned Murphy Crossing development on the the Westside Trail.
“Murphy Crossing, now a 20-acre site, provides ABI with a unique opportunity to further equity, affordability, and inclusion goals for the City through controlled development, employment and housing options, and transit connectivity,” ABI said in a press release. “Located at 1089 Allene Avenue, the property is the former site of the Archives and History Warehouse. The State of Georgia helped ABI assemble the full acreage of Murphy Crossing; and has been a crucial partner in this, and other transitions.”
The purchase price is $2.1 million. The seller is the Georgia Building Authority.
“This is another acquisition that signifies that the City is serious about development south of I-20,” Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said in the press release. “The Atlanta BeltLine will provide opportunities for connectivity, housing, and jobs, and this site will be key to ensuring economic equity in all parts of the corridor, keeping BeltLine neighborhoods on pace with our vision of One Atlanta.”
The Westside Trail is 3 miles long and connects Washington Park to Adair Park. It was constructed with future light-rail use in mind, the Beltline says. It’s near the Ashby and West End MARTA stations.
“The Murphy Crossing site was once home to the State Farmers Market and has had significant influence on the development and redevelopment of the surrounding neighborhoods,” ABI’s press release says. “Throughout 2016, ABI initiated an extensive community engagement process and commissioned a study to determine best uses for the site based on the area’s need for economic development, transportation accessibility, affordability, and historic preservation. The process will culminate in a Request for Proposals (RFP) to be released later this year, seeking a developer to activate the Murphy Crossing site based on specific housing and job goals for the area. More details will be announced with the release of the RFP.”
