L’Arche Atlanta, part of an international federation providing living spaces for intellectually disabled adults, is close to breaking ground on renovating a house inside Decatur’s Woodlands Garden.
Tim Moore, Executive Director & Community Leader for L’Arche Atlanta, anticipates closing on the house, currently owned by the Woodlands, on or before Dec. 31. He added work should begin in early 2020 and in a “perfect world” residents could move in by early 2021.
The two-story brick structure gets reconfigured into a nine-bedroom (currently it’s seven) home for a state-maximum four residents plus four live-in caregivers. Originally built in 1947 the 3800-square foot structure is also getting “a total systems overhaul” including heating, air conditioning and plumbing.
Much of the renovation, house and startup costs get paid by the approximately $1 million L’Arche accumulated through fundraising that’s nearly complete. Moore didn’t want to comment on the purchase price since the house hasn’t yet closed.
The house is located at 915 Clairemont Avenue, on the corner of Clairemont Avenue and Scott Boulevard. Meantime the Garden is currently wrapping up a nearly-year long expansion and renovation of its eight-acre property.
Moore said L’Arche Atlanta eventually hopes to add a third and fourth house, along with possibly acquiring living spaces at Decatur’s Legacy Park.
Currently operating out of Decatur’s First Christian Church, L’Arche Atlanta will move into new headquarters at Legacy’s administration building in the next few weeks.
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