This story has been updated. 

MARTA has announced a plan to transform the King Memorial Station into a transit oriented development.

This development will feature modular construction, which a MARTA spokesperson said would be pre-fabricated units that would be assembled on site.

The spokesperson said the building itself is constructed off-site, under controlled plant conditions. She said the process cuts the construction time in half.

It will be the first of its kind developed at a transit hub in Atlanta, a press release from MARTA says.

MARTA is partnering with Place Properties/H.J. Russell & Company on the project. The development cost is estimated to be $51.3 million.

Here’s a conceptual rendering of the project:

It will have 400 apartment units, 20 percent of which will be designated as affordable housing, and 10,000 square feet of retail space, the press release says.

According to the press release, “The development opens the door to cost savings and quality improvements that have severely restricted the deployment of affordable housing in Atlanta.  … The modules have qualities that reflect a more contemporary form and function. The proposed design aligns more closely with the MARTA station and has the potential to enliven Memorial Drive and the surrounding area.”

Here is the full press release from MARTA:

KING MEMORIAL MARTA STATION DEVELOPMENT GETS GREEN LIGHT

Atlanta-based Place Properties/ H.J. Russell & Company Awarded Contract to Build

Multi-Story Modular Residential Units

ATLANTA – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) announced a partnership with Place Properties/H. J. Russell & Company to develop the King Memorial Station Transit Oriented Development (TOD), which has an estimated total development cost of $51.3 million. The joint venture replaces Walton Communities, which was initially awarded the project in 2014.

“Redevelopment of the Memorial Drive corridor has accelerated over the past few years, and we are thrilled with the energy and innovative approach that Place Properties/H. J. Russell & Company has brought to this TOD project,” MARTA GM/CEO Keith T. Parker said. “The KingMemorial TOD reflects our commitment to the live/work/play experience and our customers who relish a car-free lifestyle.”

A multi-story modular project—the first of its kind in Atlanta to be co-located with a transit hub—the development opens the door to cost savings and quality improvements that have severely restricted the deployment of affordable housing in Atlanta. A 21st century construction system application, the modules have qualities that reflect a more contemporary form and function. The proposed design aligns more closely with the MARTA station and has the potential to enliven Memorial Drive and the surrounding area.

Place Properties/H. J. Russell & Company has experience in urban revitalization initiatives and will begin construction of the TOD in the latter part of the year, which is slated to include approximately 400 apartments units (with 20 percent earmarked as affordable housing) and 10,000 square feet of retail space.

“Russell finds it rewarding to be a part of projects that improve communities like this one does for Memorial Drive and that is reflected by other transit oriented development projects, including The Pad on Harvard the mid-rise luxury apartment complex within walking distance of the College Park MARTA station,” President of H. J. Russell & Company Jerome Russell said. “We are equally excited about the live/work/play/shop aspect of the King Memorial TOD because it encourages and supports mixed-income housing options and car-free lifestyles for Atlantans, especially those living in the heart of our city.”

“The King Memorial TOD will be best in class, and home to an incredibly diverse roster of residents. Our modular construction method and unique design assure this development will be a destination community that is also affordable for the men and women who do the heavy lifting in our city.  We could not be happier or more proud than to be the developers for this pioneering community,” Chairman and CEO of Place Properties Cecil Phillips said.

Place Properties has financed, acquired and developed more than 37,000 beds nationwide, valued at over $1.7 billion. Development partner H. J. Russell & Company has a +60-year track record that includes iconic projects such as the Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC.

Another attraction at the King Memorial Station is “Rise Above,” a mural by renowned artist and scholar Fahamu Pecou that was unveiled in June of 2016. This artwork is part of a larger effort to make the transit system more inviting and reflective of the neighborhoods it serves.

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Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority 

Formed in 1971 strictly as a bus system with rail service commencing in 1979, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority operates primarily within the boundaries of Fulton and DeKalb counties. MARTA, the ninth largest transit agency in the country, provides $2.6 billion in economic activity every year and services key destinations including Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the Georgia World Congress Center, all major metro area universities and the central business districts. Averaging about 420,000 daily passenger trips, the agency provides a meaningful mobility choice and attractive alternative to the automobile.

H. J. Russell & Company 

Founded in 1952, H.J. Russell & Company is one of the largest minority-owned real estate development and construction services firms in the United States.  A multi-faceted organization providing integrated solutions and an exceptional customer experience, H.J. Russell has developed, designed/built, renovated and managed some of the nation’s most complex and high profile projects involving multiple stakeholders and requiring exceptional diplomacy and skill. Visit www.hjrussell.com to learn more about the firm.

Place Properties

Place Properties has been facilitating successful partnerships since 1997. Our team comprises professionals with the experience, mindset, and dedication necessary to effectively manage high-value assets and achieve tangible results.