The five-story structure at 143 Alabama Street, a historic landmark built in 1947, is undergoing significant redevelopment after sitting vacant for decades.
Originally the home of the Constitution until its merger with The Atlanta Journal in 1953, the building has seen years of neglect, becoming overrun with plant life and graffiti since Georgia Power departed in the 1970s.
In a move towards revitalization, the city of Atlanta purchased the 95,000-square-foot property in 1995, and it has subsequently been placed on the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2024 ‘Places in Peril’ list due to its unique Art Moderne architectural style, which is uncommon in Atlanta.
Wisconsin-based Gorman & Co. has taken the helm of the restoration, rebranding the site as Folio House. Their focus is on transforming the building into a vibrant space that utilizes housing as a catalyst for community revitalization, as stated by Gorman & Co. Southeast Market President Joel Reed.
The plan for the redevelopment is outlined in two phases. Phase 1 concentrates on stabilizing and restoring the building’s exterior while also bringing light to the ground floor commercial space. This initial phase will feature 5,575 square feet of commercial area and will convert the upper floors into 50 affordable housing units.
Exterior renovations are expected to wrap up by May 2026, while the residential conversion is projected for completion by March 2027, according to Invest Atlanta.
The project’s second phase will introduce an additional 151-unit affordable housing building on the adjacent property, slated for completion in July 2028.
Once both phases are realized, the site will encompass over 190 affordable housing units, available to families earning between 30-80% of the area median income. Reed noted that the development aims to assist essential service personnel and local workers, such as retail staff, bus drivers, educators, and law enforcement.
In Atlanta, the 30% AMI for a family of four stands at about $31,000, while the threshold for 80% AMI is approximately $82,000.
Gorman & Co. was selected for the restoration project by Invest Atlanta in November, following a series of failed attempts by previous developers. In 2016, Pope & Land, along with Place Properties, was chosen to bring a revitalization vision to 143 Alabama St. However, that plan, which included converting the building into offices, retail space, and over 100 apartments, never materialized.
Mayor Dickens noted the importance of such partnerships in transforming vacant and underutilized structures into beneficial community hubs.
As Atlanta prepares to welcome the world for the upcoming World Cup next summer, the urgency to tackle downtown blights intensifies, with Phase 1A aimed for completion ahead of the event.
To infuse life into the currently vacant windows of 143 Alabama, temporary glass and graphic vinyl wraps will be installed, providing a glimpse into the building’s promising future.
Fulton County District 4 Commissioner Mo Ivory emphasized the significance of this development, calling it a ‘tangible reminder that reinvestment can be both inclusive and also inspiring.’
Ivory expressed hope that projects like Folio House will convey that downtown Atlanta is not merely a destination but truly a home.
image source from：https://www.ajc.com/business/2025/06/long-vacant-atlanta-constitution-building-on-way-to-becoming-affordable-housing/
