New Mixed-Income Senior Community, East Decatur, Now Accepting Rental Applications

Columbia Residential is set to celebrate the official opening of Columbia Senior Residences at East Decatur, a new construction, mixed-income senior community located in the forthcoming mixed-use transit oriented development adjacent to the Avondale MARTA station. With doors opening in early July, the community is now accepting applicants.

Columbia Residential has partnered with the DeKalb County Community Development Department, the Housing Authority of DeKalb County, and the Development Authority of Decatur to transform a former parking lot adjacent to the Avondale MARTA station and bring new, affordable senior housing options to Decatur. The 5-story elevator-served building with enclosed corridors provides 92 high quality apartments, dedicated for seniors 62 and older. Amenities include a dining and dancing room, business center, movie theater, state-of-the-art fitness center and onsite laundry facilities. The building is a certified green building by EarthCraft and the units feature brand new Energy Star appliances.

Additionally, a courtyard provides seniors with a private outdoor experience with lush landscaping and gazebo. The site’s main pedestrian walk is immediately adjacent to the facility, providing safe and easy access to the Avondale MARTA bus and transit station just steps away.

“East Decatur will provide much-needed quality mixed-income housing for Atlanta’s senior residents, and we’re thrilled to celebrate its opening,” said Noel Khalil, founder and principal of Columbia Residential. “In this community, modern amenities and unmatched accessibility to nearby transit options come together to create a safe, vibrant place that promises to keep residents and visitors connected to everything the city has to offer. We look forward to providing an affordable option that encourages seniors to remain in the area.”

East Decatur is part of MARTA’s latest transit-oriented development at Avondale Station. In addition to 92 affordable senior housing units, the Development Authority of Decatur, Columbia Ventures and Courtland Partners will deliver 377 market-rate apartments, 34 condos and more than 40,000 square feet of retail space. Upon completion, each facet of the mixed-use project will be connected by a central plaza.

“East Decatur represents Columbia Residential’s second senior independent living community in the Decatur area, and one of the first affordable senior communities in the region offering such close proximity to a MARTA station,” said Assistant City Manager Lyn Menne. “Providing affordable housing opportunities near mass transit is of critical importance in Atlanta, and we’re pleased to work with Columbia Residential and its partners to achieve this vision.”

MARTA’s renewed focus on constructing transit-oriented developments across Atlanta has resulted in a spike in mixed-use developments planned in close proximity to several major transit hubs. Underutilized parking lots near transit stations are being transformed into vibrant mixed-use communities, boosting Atlanta’s public transit user base and bringing new residential, retail and office properties to neighborhoods all over the city.

This trend towards transit-oriented developments comes at a time when Atlanta’s rent growth is among the nation’s highest. Even with options becoming more abundant around MARTA transit stations, rent prices are increasing. As a growing population and job growth puts pressure on housing, the city is facing an affordable housing crisis. East Decatur aims to address this need, offering one of Atlanta’s only affordable senior housing communities located adjacent to a MARTA station.

The development is supported by a first mortgage loan from DeKalb County and the Housing Authority of DeKalb County, which made the project feasible. Enterprise Community Investment provided the equity, while Wells Fargo provided the construction loan. Interested residents should visit the property’s website to inquire, or call 404.378.6868.

Columbia Residential

Founded in 1991 by Noel Khalil, Columbia Residential is a leading Atlanta-based developer and manager of affordable and mixed-income housing. The firm operates more than 7,000 affordable and mixed-income housing units in Georgia, Texas, and Louisiana. Columbia is known for award winning design, construction and developments. Columbia brings experience to the partnership having developed and operates more than 1,700 units of high quality, affordable senior independent living housing in Georgia and Louisiana. For more information, please visit www.ColumbiaRes.com.

About MARTA

MARTA was established in 1979 as a combined bus-and-rail transit system to provide safe, convenient and affordable public transportation for Atlanta area residents and visitors. Since then, MARTA has grown to become the ninth largest public transportation system in the United States providing more than 430,000 daily passenger trips. MARTA’s funding is sourced primarily from a 1 percent sales tax in Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties and the City of Atlanta. MARTA is a significant part of the regional and state economy contributing an estimated $2.6 billion in economic activity every year and supporting an estimated 24,000 jobs. To find out more, visit www.itsmarta.com.