Plans are advancing in Edgewood for an innovative retail concept on the northeast corner of the Whitefoord and Woodbine avenues intersection.
The property owner aims to create a destination that will thrive on the foot traffic generated by the adjacent multipurpose trail.
This project is envisioned as a vital component of a burgeoning hub of dining and drinking establishments in a neighborhood previously lacking a historic downtown.
The location at 142 Whitefoord Ave. was once home to a deteriorating 2,482-square-foot commercial structure built in 1945, which had been vacant for over a decade.
The building faced severe structural issues, including a collapsed roof and vegetation growing through its interior.
However, the site has regained prestige since its demolition, particularly due to its prime location along the Eastside Trolley Trail, a popular connector between the Beltline and Kirkwood established in 2023 by the PATH Foundation.
Nearby, the taqueria El Tesoro has become a local favorite, often attracting long lines that stretch around the block.
Sara Thurston, the new owner and a licensed real estate agent, shared with Urbanize Atlanta that she has submitted development plans to the City of Atlanta for building permits to begin work on the site, which is currently a dirt parking lot.
The plans, designed by the Decatur-based Lightroom architecture firm, feature a two-story retail building.
The ground floor will house a restaurant, while the upper levels will accommodate offices and storage for the business.
The exact type of restaurant planned for the space has yet to be decided, according to Thurston.
The new development will utilize the same parking footprint as the previous structure.
Thurston emphasizes the design will be integrated thoughtfully into the existing landscape of the corner.
While no renderings or visuals are available at this stage, negotiations and revisions with the city are ongoing.
Thurston expresses enthusiasm about the timeline, saying, “I’m hoping to break ground in the next three months. As soon as I get the permit approved, I want to get started.”
However, there are challenges to navigate, particularly the site’s designation as a FEMA flood zone.
This classification mandates that new constructions be elevated at least four feet above ground level, a requirement that does not apply to existing structures used for adaptive reuse.
Since the previous building was in such disrepair, Thurston asserts it was beyond salvaging.
“My goal is to have [the retail building] completed within a year of breaking ground,” she states excitedly.
Across Whitefoord Avenue, the scene is notably quieter.
Plans were announced last spring for converting a former 1950s auto garage into a local pizzeria and neighborhood market situated next to El Tesoro.
This mixed-use establishment would include patio seating in front and some parking at the rear.
Owner Sid Weinstein, a lifelong Edgewood resident, had anticipated the project’s completion by the following fall and intended to operate it daily.
However, a year later, no construction activity is visible within the tall chain-link fence surrounding the property.
A banner on the garage building reads, “Getting closer … Your pizzeria, market & more …” but Weinstein has refrained from providing updates on the project’s status.
With new developments on the horizon, the Edgewood neighborhood is poised for revitalization as it seeks to establish a vibrant community hub.
image source from：atlanta
