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Decatur affordable housing build goes vertical at sprawling park site Josh Green Fri, 10/25/2024 - 13:16 A long-planned injection of affordable housing is making visible progress at a greenspace-laden Decatur property considered a “historic oasis in the city.”

The first phase of a Decatur Housing Authority project called Village at Legacy has begun vertical construction near the city’s southern limits, where South Columbia Drive meets Katie Kerr Drive, at the southernmost tip of 77-acre Legacy Park.

South Housing Village, the facet under construction now, calls for 66 housing units—duplexes and garden-style apartments—to be reserved for qualifying, low-income families, according to DHA officials. Specific rents have yet to be specified.

How the Village at Legacy community center will meet the central green. Preserving Affordable Housing Inc./DHA

Breakdown of phase one components at Legacy Park’s southernmost edge. Preserving Affordable Housing Inc./DHA

A later component situated toward the opposite end of the park, North Housing Village, will have a similar scope but different design, per DHA.

Site plans for phase one show 11 residential buildings situated around a greenspace commons and U-shaped parking lot, with a community center in the middle.

All but three of the new residential structures would stand three stories, the others two stories.

The PATH Foundation’s 1.2-mile East Decatur Greenway trail runs alongside the phase one construction site, providing an off-street link to the Avondale MARTA station on College Avenue.

The Village at Legacy project has been about seven years in the making.

The City of Decatur bought the park (the former United Methodist Children’s Home property) in 2017 and launched a planning process that resulted in a master plan and affordable housing goals for Legacy Park. That process was concluded in late 2019.

The first Village at Legacy buildings under vertical construction this week along Katie Kerr Drive. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Planned look of phase one’s community center. Preserving Affordable Housing Inc./DHA

Two years later, following the COVID-19 pandemic, Decatur leaders brought on DHA and its nonprofit housing developer, Preserving Affordable Housing Inc., or PAHI.

That Intergovernmental Agreement calls for DHA and PAHI to develop, own, and operate the South Housing Village’s affordable housing. Meanwhile, the city will continue to own Legacy Park’s land.

Beyond access to Decatur schools, jobs, and health services, perks of the Legacy Park project will eventually include a running track, orchard, community garden, inclusive playground, and new greenspaces, per site plans. DHA plans to implement its services program to help all residents as well.

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs awarded the project Low Income Housing Tax Credits to help bring both phases to fruition, with additional financing sourced from the city and DHA.

According to DHA, phase one’s equity and debt investment is being provided by Hudson Housing Capital, Advantage Capital, and Bank of America.

DHA’s project website states Village at Legacy’s first phase is scheduled to open next summer, with the second phase kicking off construction late this year.

Head to the gallery above for more Legacy Park context and construction progress pics.

Location of Legacy Park at 500 S. Columbia Drive in relation to downtown Decatur and Avondale Estates. Google Maps

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