FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2022
MARTA, COLUMBIA VENTURES
RECEIVE INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT AWARD FOR EDGEWOOD/CANDLER PARK TRANSIT-ORIENTED
DEVELOPMENT
ATLANTA - The
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and Columbia Ventures,
LLC, have received the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) 2022 Regional
Excellence Award for Innovative Development for the Edgewood/Candler Park
transit-oriented development (TOD).
The ARC Regional
Excellence Awards honor visionary projects that improve quality of life,
transit accessibility, housing affordability, and economic development, while
advancing social equity and community resiliency in metro Atlanta. In recognizing
the Edgewood/Candler Park TOD as an innovative development, the ARC called the
TOD a “vibrant, mixed-use community, created out of a former parking lot,” and
noted that it “demonstrates how collaborative planning, bold ideas, and stellar
execution can transform a community.”
“This award
recognizes and celebrates MARTA’s ongoing efforts to repurpose underused space
on our properties and Edgewood/Candler Park TOD is a perfect example of how
developing near transit can transform and enrich a community,” said MARTA
General Manager & CEO Collie Greenwood. “We are grateful to ARC, Columbia
Ventures, Invest Atlanta, and the many partners who collaborated to create a
TOD that fulfills MARTA’s affordable housing commitment, generates ridership,
and promotes a sustainable, affordable, and growing future for the people of
this region.”
Since its
groundbreaking in 2016, the 6.4-acre Edgewood/Candler Park TOD has become home
to the Spoke and Quill apartment communities, including 20 percent affordable
housing units, Moving in the Spirit, a creative youth development program,
office space, several retail businesses, and a small park. The final phase of
the three-phase development features a new parking deck for MARTA customers and
TOD residents and patrons, a redesigned bus loop that can accommodate standard
and articulated buses, and two art pieces commissioned by MARTA’s public art
program Artbound: The Great Migration by Deedee Morrison (Deedee
Morrison Sculpture) and The
Unseen by Christina Kwan (Christina Kwan (christinakwanart.com)).
“MARTA appreciates
our partners’ dedication and shared vision of this development,” said MARTA
Director of Transit-Oriented Development Debbie Frank. “Just a few short years
ago, this was an underused space and now it’s a vibrant, amenity-rich community
with affordable housing close to transit. We are thrilled to share this award
with our development partner Columbia Ventures and honored by this
recognition.”
To view time lapse
video of the Edgewood/Candler Park TOD construction visit Grand Opening of Edgewood-Candler Park Transit-Oriented
Development - YouTube