The ambitious Halo East Decatur project is making significant strides as it continues to reshape a city block in Decatur.
Developer Northwood Ravin is currently overseeing the construction of this mixed-use, Transit-Oriented Development, which will feature 370 apartments.
Located on a 7.5-acre site along East College Avenue, the development stretches from New Street to Sam Street and is conveniently located less than a block from the Avondale MARTA station.
Urbanize Atlanta reports that Halo has secured its first retail tenant, Galore Market, which brings a neighborhood market concept to the development.
This new location will be the second for Galore Market within a short distance along East College Avenue, following a standalone business scheduled to open in October just beyond the Decatur line in Avondale Estates.
Michael Wess, a partner at Bull Realty working with Galore Market in Avondale, shared insights into the different clientele the two locations are expected to attract.
He noted that the Halo market will serve a key role in the mixed-use development, while the standalone College Avenue store will provide an outdoor space catering to passersby.
Construction plans for Halo indicate that the first apartments are projected to be ready by April, with the entire project expected to reach completion by January 2027.
More than 40 of the apartments will comply with Area Median Income rental rate requirements, ensuring they are fairly distributed throughout the development and equivalent to market-rate units.
Residents of Halo will have access to a range of desirable amenities that include a rooftop pool with skyline views of Atlanta, over 3,000 square feet of fitness space, a gaming lawn, a yoga studio, and more.
Additional perks will include an outdoor movie projector, a golf simulator, a pet spa, a sports bar, and what has been described as “a hidden bar with full service and surprise cocktail events.”
To engage the community, Northwood Ravin is collaborating with the nonprofit Decatur Arts Alliance to launch a public call for mural proposals and will operate a resident-artist program called “Canvas Artist Studios.”
This initiative will provide three on-site studios for selected artists, who will receive free space, including utilities, in exchange for engaging with both residents and the public.
Oakhurst Realty is tasked with handling the retail leasing for Halo.
Renderings of the Halo project reveal plans for an interior public plaza leading to a new 1-acre Freeman Street greenspace, alongside a parking deck that accommodates 468 spaces, designed to be mostly shielded from view.
Northwood Ravin had initially proposed a higher number of more than 400 rental units, but subsequently reduced this number to allow for larger apartments, more public greenspace, and adequate retail space to support a neighborhood grocery store.
The project site, now under construction, was previously home to various low-rise commercial buildings along East College Avenue.
These structures housed a range of businesses over the years, including a pet adoption agency, a workout studio, and a bakery, among others.
Halo East Decatur adds to the approximately 1,000 new apartments that have been introduced in the area since 2018, as Decatur aims to transform its light-industrial eastern fringe into a more walkable neighborhood with access to transit.
Nearby attractions include the Three Taverns Craft Brewery, located just west of the development.
Ben Yorker, vice president of development at Northwood Ravin, expressed enthusiasm for the project’s potential, stating, “East Decatur is growing rapidly, and we’re excited to deliver high-quality housing that meets the needs of today’s renters.”
He emphasized the project’s focus on enhancing the resident experience while creating lasting value for the surrounding area.
In addition to the Halo project, Northwood Ravin is also collaborating with Fuqua Development on The Bowery, a mixed-use development in the Old Fourth Ward that recently commenced demolition.
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