Wood Partners Plans First Mixed-Use Community in Midtown Atlanta to Use Natural Gas

By Dees Stribling, Contributing Editor

Atlanta—Wood Partners has unveiled plans for a multifamily high-rise in Midtown Atlanta. According to the developer, the property will be the first in the metro area to use natural gas exclusively for home heating, hot water and cooking.

Wood Partners is working with Atlanta Gas Light, which has experience in working with partners to develop energy-efficient residences using natural gas. Wood Partners notes that it did a cost-benefit analysis on the use of natural gas, and determined that natural gas will not only generate long-term savings to the project but it will also provide residents with cost-effective fuel.

The mixed-use development will be on West Peachtree St. in Midtown Atlanta and will include high-rise and mid-rise residential buildings and about 20,000 square feet of retail space. This property will be built on four acres that’s currently a surface parking lot.

The development also counts as a transit-oriented development, since it’s adjacent to the Midtown MARTA station. It’s also within walking distance to Georgia Tech, Piedmont Park and the Midtown CBD. Amenities will include a resort-style pool deck, clubrooms, an urban park and courtyard space.

The new apartments will provide housing in Midtown, where job growth has outstripped housing supply. Midtown’s population—a mix of students, academics, artists and upscale professionals—grew 105 percent, from 17,000 in 2000 to 35,000 in 2010, and the area is projected to gain another 17,000 people by 2016, according to the Census Bureau.