Today, Columbia Residential hosted a grand opening for Columbia at Capitol View, a newly renovated historic mixed-income community featuring 1 and 2-bedroom classic apartment home residences that celebrate modern urban living near the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail. The $27M renovation of Capitol View exemplifies innovative, historic preservation of affordable housing in Southwest Atlanta’s historic Adair Park neighborhood. The original Art Deco style Capitol View Apartments built in 1948 for World War II veterans and their families comprised 120 one and two-bedroom units and had fallen into disrepair over a 35-year period.

Prior to the acquisition, Capitol View Apartments was considered “naturally occurring affordable housing,” meaning despite being in disrepair, its rents were unrestricted yet affordable to low income residents, and it was at high risk of converting to market rate. This made it a strategic target to acquire, renovate, and preserve as affordable housing. After purchasing the property in August 2018, Columbia Residential embarked on a comprehensive renovation over three phases in an effort to preserve affordable housing and protect residents from displacement in a historic neighborhood undergoing rapid gentrification. This redevelopment was structured to preserve affordability for residents earning between 40 and 70 percent area median income (AMI) through partnerships with key stakeholders including the City of Atlanta, Invest Atlanta, Enterprise Community Partners, Atlanta Housing, Partners for Home, Bank of America and through a pre-development grant from The Annie E. Casey Foundation. The project was completed in August 2021, delivering 120 affordable, fully renovated units including 24 supportive housing units and wrap-around services to accommodate very-low income residents.

The renovated apartment homes feature spacious interiors with abundant natural light, fully equipped kitchens with ENERGY STAR® appliances, energy efficient lighting and fixtures for improved air quality and utility savings, restored original red oak hardwood flooring and ceramic tile baths. On-site amenities include a business center, fitness center, community garden and covered pavilion with grills. The community is conveniently located to public transportation, shopping and entertainment with easy access to downtown Atlanta.

The grand opening celebration, attended by community residents, development partners and community dignitaries included a ribbon-cutting ceremony with remarks from the following:

Carmen Chubb, President of Columbia Residential
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens
Dr. Eloisa Klementich, President & CEO, Invest Atlanta
Christopher Nunn, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Community Affairs
Meghan Shannon Vlkovic, Vice President and Southeast Market Leader, Enterprise Community Partners
Eugene Jones, Jr., President & CEO, Atlanta Housing
Cathryn Vassell, Executive Director, Partners For Home
Councilmember Antonio Lewis, City of Atlanta
Al McRae, President, Bank of America Atlanta