Mixed use project in prime downtown location replaces suburban-style, automobile-focused bank branch

After years of discussion and negotiation, the owner of the parcel at the corner of Clairemont Avenue and Commerce Drive, city officials, and other interests finally arrived at an agreement with Bank of America to relocate their Decatur branch office to the opposite corner of the property and redevelop the remainder of the 2.14 acre site as a dense, mixed-use community.

The result is Modera Decatur, featuring 194 apartment homes and 24,500 square feet of retail with the vast majority of parking underground.

Units are designed for “active adult renters” and feature larger than average floor plans. Private terraces and open floor plans are complemented by entertainment and relaxation amenities: a demonstration kitchen; fire pit and clubroom; fitness center with instructor-led classes; swim classes at the pool; and sauna and steam room.

With a walk score of 92, Modera Decatur is surrounded by the restaurants, boutiques and galleries of downtown Decatur, as well as the eight street-level retail destinations at its base. Proximity to the downtown Decatur MARTA station offers an alternative commuting option for residents.

BRINGING MULTIPLE GOALS TOGETHER

Though this project, like similar projects that have come online, is new construction with commensurate market-rate rents, it still plays an important role in Decatur’s long-term housing strategies. Steadily increasing demand for in-town living continues to exert pressure on communities like Decatur. By increasing supply for middle-income earners seeking market-rate rentals in prime Decatur locations, these new apartments help reduce market pressure on our more limited inventory of older, more affordable second-tier units which are preferably retained as workforce housing.

Building an active population of downtown and transit-adjacent residents has been a city priority since development of 1982’s community-driven Town Center Plan. In practice, such developments (both condo and for-rent) have been net-positive contributors to local tax revenue, paying notably more than they take out in city services and associated infrastructure, including schools. To wit, analysis by the City Schools of Decatur found that the number of enrolled students in each of the city’s large-format multifamily buildings fell below projections and, taken collectively, those building contribute in excess of $2.5 million in net school funding each year.

Residents drawn by a walkable, car-lite or car-free lifestyle further contribute to the health of our businesses, both independent and chain, providing for a wider variety of offerings and experiences for locals and visitors alike.