Avondale Estates in line for major development

South City Partners gave a detailed presentation of its proposed development for Avondale Estate’s west side between Sams Crossing and Hillyer Street during a city commission work session Wednesday.

Highlights include five stories of 185 apartments, 10,000 square feet of retail, probably half of that going to restaurants,a one-acre public park, club room, fitness room, coffee bar and film/TV room.

“This is resetting the bar for Avondale Estates,” said Mayor Jonathan Elmore. “We haven’t seen this kind of development.”

The property is still owned by Joe Gargiulo, and according to Pat Chesser who is brokering the deal, negotiations began last May. South City hopes to close in late June, said South City principal partner John Long who wouldn’t reveal a selling price, and construction could start as early as July and take about 18 months.

The nearby redevelopment of the Avondale Estates MARTA parking lot (two blocks west and actually in Decatur), with phase one including 288 market-rate apartments and 22,000 square feet commercial, is scheduled to begin construction in May.