Atlanta, Georgia: Construction is underway on a westside apartment community that brings a new, community-focused leader to the Atlanta housing market. Intrada Westside represents the first project for Missouri-based Vecino Group, a company that specializes in development for the greater good.
Like all Vecino Group developments, Intrada Westside was created to serve the community need. Since 2017, Atlanta has seen one of the fastest growing metropolitan populations in the United States. Along with this growth, many long-term residents are experiencing challenges related to affordable housing and the risk of displacement as new residential development—focused on higher-cost units—forces them out of their neighborhoods.
Located on Atlanta’s westside at 2174 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, Intrada Westside will feature 143 affordable apartments with 25 units set aside as permanent supportive housing for young people transitioning to adulthood. Like all Vecino Group developments, Intrada Westside was created to serve a specific community need. “What Vecino is delivering for Grove Park touches upon nearly every initiative in our Housing Affordability Action Plan”, Terri Lee, Chief Operating Officer of Atlanta Housing. “By creating affordable homes, ensuring equitable growth for Atlantans and minimize displacement this is an ideal example of combating gentrification by building up our neighborhoods.”
Intrada Westside will provide residents with state-of-the-art amenities such as a fitness and exercise center, computer center with wi-fi, community garden, covered pavilion with bbq facilities, and a gazebo area. Being built on the site of a former grocery store, the new apartment community will also return retail to the neighborhood, with 9,000 square feet of commercial space.
“Our goal first and foremost is to deliver intentional, meaningful development for a community. Our type of development works harder for the neighborhood,” said Sharon D. Guest, President of Affordable Housing for the Vecino Group. The site at 2174 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway presented multiple challenges—environmental, design, financial—which slowed the initial timeline. But with the support of the City, the local community and passionate Atlanta partners who believe in the work, Intrada Westside will soon be reality. “Intrada will deliver new homes—but is designed to nurture and support the existing residents within Grove Park as well. And as the Vecino Group’s flagship project in Atlanta, it’s especially rewarding to see it come to life.”
Intrada Westside was made possible through Public Private Partnerships that included: Department of Community Affairs, Invest Atlanta, City of Atlanta, Partners for HOME, Atlanta Housing, Bank of America, Raymond James, Berkadia and Stifel.
The new $37MM community will provide desperately needed affordable housing in the city for families and individuals with income limits between 30%-80% AMI.
“Because they share our mission to provide every opportunity to our neighbors and communities, we are very excited to see all the possibilities Vecino Group will bring to Atlanta” Alan Ferguson, Senior Vice President, Community Development, Invest Atlanta.
About the Developer
The Vecino Group is a national housing company dedicated to building a better world, one development, one community at a time. Each project the company undertakes must address a broader community need, set an example, give back to the community, and inspire the professionals working on it with a sense of higher purpose. The company has completed development in more than a dozen states and have created more than 2000 units of affordable housing to date—including more than 600 units of permanent supportive housing.