Ritz-Carlton lends luxury to Buckhead condo

Residents of a new Buckhead condo project will be pampered with luxury services courtesy of Ritz-Carlton — everything, it seems, short of a plush robe and mints on the pillow.

The developers of a mixed-use, high-rise being built near Phipps Plaza said Tuesday that the top half of the building will contain 129 high-end condos with hotel-quality services provided by the upscale Ritz-Carlton hotel chain.

That means housekeeping, in-unit dining, a concierge and porter — services that will make it feel as if you’re living at the Ritz, developers said.

“This is 21st-century luxury from the first name in luxury,” said one of the developers, Jim Borders of Novare.

The move rebrands the project’s condo component, which had been known as 3630 Peachtree, as the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Atlanta, Buckhead.

Novare and its partner on the condos, Post Properties, believe the Ritz-Carlton brand will appeal to high-end buyers looking to downsize or purchase a second home in the city. Prices will range from $600,000 to more than $2 million for one of the seven penthouse units on the top two floors of the 34-story building.

Homeowners will pay for the hotel-like services as part of their monthly condo association fee. The fees will range between 60 and 80 cents per square foot, Borders said — that’s about $600 to $800 for the smallest units and $1,800 to $2,400 for the largest homes, which top out at 3,000 square feet.

While the Atlanta condo market is in deep trouble, suffering from an oversupply and falling prices, Post and Novare say demand for upscale units remains strong.

Dave Stockert, president and chief executive officer of Post, said the Peachtree address and Ritz name will make the project “one of the most notable vertical, urban mixed-use communities in Atlanta.”

The project will include offices and retail on the first 17 floors, developed by Pope & Land and Duke Realty, and the condos on the top half of the building.

Condo amenities will be housed on the 18th and 19th floors, including a saline swimming pool, cocktail bar with outdoor fireplace, fitness center and two guest suites.

Developers said construction crews have already reached the 26th floor, with completion expected next summer. The construction site adjacent to Phipps Plaza, a few blocks from Ritz-Carlton’s hotel in Buckhead.

Ritz-Carlton is among a number of upscale hotel chains nationwide moving into the luxury housing market. Ritz-Carlton’s portfolio includes free-standing condo projects and condo units located at the company’s hotels and resorts.

Novare has been an innovator in the Atlanta market when it comes to bringing hotel services to condo owners. Its Twelve complexes at Atlantic Station and downtown offer residents the same perks as guests, including housekeeping and room service.