Fully affordable housing in Southwest Atlanta to bring 233 new apartment and townhome units

ATLANTA – Atlanta Housing, alongside its development and community partners, held a groundbreaking ceremony today to mark the start of construction on Sylvan Hills II, a $52.7 million, fully affordable housing development in Southwest Atlanta.

Located on a 10.2-acre site that once housed the former Sylvan Circle Apartments, Sylvan Hills II will deliver 233 new affordable apartments and townhomes to a community in Southwest Atlanta.

“The Sylvan Hills development directly addresses two of our top priorities: increasing affordable housing supply and moving forward with urgency on our real estate pipeline,” said Atlanta Housing Chief Housing and Real Estate Officer Dr. Alan Ferguson, Sr. “Every one of these 233 units will be affordable.”

“Atlanta is home, and we are building a city of opportunity for all, brick by brick, block by block,” Mayor Andre Dickens said. “I’m proud that together, we’ve been able to implement housing initiatives, including density bonus programs and rapid housing projects, to increase the supply of affordable housing, help combat homelessness in our communities and make sure all Atlantans have a safe, stable place to call home. Sylvan Hills II is the next chapter in our growing story.”

What is unique about Sylvan Hills II is it does not rely on Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). Instead, the project was financed through eight layers of public-private funding, which accelerated the timeline to reach a financial closing and construction.

“We are optimistic that this truly collaborative approach with our development and financial partners will serve as a model for which new development of affordable housing can be created in an around the city of Atlanta,” said TCE Development Principal Roderick Teachey. “We thank all of our partners for working through this very complicated transaction and getting us to this important milestone.”

“Radiant Development Partners is extremely excited to be part of Sylvan Hills II. Atlanta is a city that understands how to leverage innovation to create meaningful public-private partnerships. Through this collaboration, we’re able to deliver 233 units of attainable housing — a development that simply wouldn’t be feasible without this unique financing structure,” said Sharon Guest, Principal of Radiant Development Partners.

“Partnering with visionary groups like Radiant Development Partners, Atlanta Housing, Invest Atlanta, Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, and the Community Foundation exemplifies the transformative power of public-private partnerships in advancing affordable housing solutions,” said Marc Pollack, President and Board Chairman of EQ Housing. “This collaboration brings much needed affordability to the Sylvan Hills neighborhood. Together, we are setting a new standard for inclusive, community-centered development and making lasting progress toward expanding access to affordable housing."

Planning for the redevelopment of the Sylvan Hills site began more than a decade ago, following the demolition of the original apartments in 2010. The Metro Atlanta Land Bank (MALB) held the site in its Land Banking Depository for over 13 years to ensure it could be used strategically for community benefit.

“The Metro Atlanta Land Bank is proud to have played a pivotal role in advancing this Sylvan Hills project to its current stage. The vacant property was stewarded by the MALB through its Land Banking Depository program for more than 13 years, allowing time for thoughtful preparation by the development partners leading to this launch. This milestone reflects the power of strategic, coordinated partnership,” said Metro Atlanta Land Bank Executive Director Christoper Norman.

Sylvan Hills II follows the success of Phase I, completed in 2022 — a 184-unit affordable senior housing community that is now fully leased.

“This land once held nearly 300 modest World War II-era apartments, and we’re proud to see it thoughtfully reimagined to serve today’s housing needs. The first phase of our Sylvan redevelopment brought 183 affordable senior homes to life, and today’s groundbreaking marks the start of 233 additional affordable and mixed-income homes,” said Ashani O’Mard, Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, Inc., (ANDP) Senior Vice President for Strategic Housing Investments. “Together, these two communities represent a powerful transformation – and ANDP is honored to have contributed the land and to be part of a partnership building lasting opportunity in Sylvan Hills.”

Project at a glance:

• Total units: 233 fully affordable units
  • 24 units at or below 50% of AMI
  • 93 units at or below 60% of AMI
  • 116 units at or below 80% of AMI
• Site size: 10.2 acres
• Construction start: July 2025
• Estimated duration: 20 months
• First units available: Late 2026
• General Contractor: Linden Construction of South Carolina, Inc.
• Architect: Geheber Lewis Associates
• Development Partners: TCE Development, Radiant Development Partners, EQ Housing Advisors, Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, and the Metro Atlanta Land Bank
• Financing Partners: Atlanta Housing, Invest Atlanta, City of Atlanta, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Partners for H.O.M.E., Reinvestment Fund, and Walker & Dunlop

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