Allen Morris Co. Eyes Massive Bankhead Project With 1,600 Units
Nearly two years after acquiring a 15.5-acre parcel in Bankhead, the developer of the Star Metals District is offering a glimpse into its development vision for the plot.
An application has been filed to rezone 1060 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway to allow for the development of 1,600 residential units and 700K SF of commercial space, which could include offices. The request to the Atlanta Zoning Review Board was submitted by law firm Troutman Pepper, and the owner of the land is The Allen Morris Co.
The Miami-based developer bought the site in April 2022 for $30.9M, according to Fulton County property records. It bought the site from Tenth Street Ventures, which stayed on as a partner with Allen Morris to develop the land after it had a previous rezoning approved in 2018. Tenth Street previously planned to build 120K SF of commercial space, 385K SF of office, a 150-room hotel and 700 housing units.
Village Skatepark ATL, an indoor skate park and community nonprofit, operates in one of the industrial buildings on the site, many of which are vacant, according to the new application.
The applicants said they would allow direct pedestrian access to the Atlanta BeltLine, which runs adjacent to the property. They would also build a parking garage to support the mix of uses.
Allen Morris President Spencer Morris didn't return calls seeking comment. The firm is the developer of the $1.5B Star Metals District, which includes the 270K SF Star Metals Offices, retail space and the 409-unit Sentral West Midtown at Star Metals apartments.
Morris also obtained a $100M loan last year for a 21-story, 327-unit luxury apartment tower Stella at Star Metals as part of the campus’ second phase, Atlanta Agent Magazine reported.
The developer acquired the Bankhead site following Microsoft's purchase of 90 acres just up the street. It's unclear if the development is contingent on the tech giant restarting work on the office campus it halted progress on more than a year ago.
