Demolition is nearly complete at a high-profile but under-utilized corner in downtown Decatur where a Texas developer plans to build up to 180 apartments with ground-level retail.

But it's not clear when construction will begin. The development company, Cypress Real Estate Advisors, which took over the project last year, plans to conduct a market study to determine the project's size and other variables such as rental rates, said Lyn Menne, an assistant city manager for Decatur.

The 2.5-acre site, known as the "Trinity Triangle," was home to an aging motel, the Relax Inn. The property is at the intersection of East Trinity Place and East Howard Avenue, across the train tracks from Agnes Scott College.

The property also includes a Dairy Queen beloved by longtime residents. The restaurant is still open and the development plans include the right for the shop's owners to move into the new retail space.

Plans call for the new apartment community to include a swimming pool and fitness center.

'Village of scholars' sought

The Medici Center at Ponce Park held its second "charrette" last week, a visioning conference to generate ideas for redeveloping City Hall East in Midtown. A team of developers bought the former Sears, Roebuck and Co. building on Ponce de Leon Avenue in 2006 and is expected to take full possession from the city in early 2009.

The first charrette brought together experts in the field of arts and humanities, one of the community's four academies. Last week's charrette was on sustainability and the environment, with guest speakers that included Ray Anderson, founder and chairman of Interface Inc., a Georgia-based carpet tile company working toward zero emissions.

The other two academies will be formed around science and health, and globalism and cultural understanding.

Emory Morsberger of the Morsberger Group, a partner in the project, said the concept for the Medici Center was inspired by the Medici family of 15th century Italy that fostered artists and scholars during the Renaissance. He wants to bring together artists, academics, environmentalists, scientists, doctors and others to create "a village of scholars" in close proximity to Atlanta's universities, hospitals, research centers, arts and cultural institutions and nonprofit leaders.

"We want to transform Atlanta into a worldwide leader in academic thought," Morsberger said.

Five hundred residential units are planned for the project, 20 percent of which will be affordable for police officers, public school teachers and neighborhood residents who are "being gentrified out," Morsberger said. The plans include living quarters for 100 people with disabilities to live independently at Ponce Park.

The project, believed to be the nation's largest building redevelopment project at 2 million square feet, also will include 350,000 square feet of office and retail space.