September 20, 2019

Peak Campus offers first look at its proposed U District housing project

Rendering by Ankrom Moisan [enlarge]

The 200-unit complex would be built on the site of University Christian Church.

After filing for a demolition permit, University Christian Church announced last year that it would sell its main property at 4731 15th Ave. N.E. That permit was issued in January. In May, Peak Campus of Atlanta said it would purchase and redevelop the property with apartments. No closing date has been announced for the sale.

The first design meeting will be at 8 p.m. Monday at Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N.

Ankrom Moisan is the architect, and local firm Faul Co. is now also listed as a partner or consultant. The working name for the student housing is Theory U District. Hewitt is the landscape architect, and Navix is the civil engineer.

The proposal, which relies upon a contract rezone up from 65 to 75 feet, is for a seven-story building with around 200 units, no commercial space and no parking. Bicycle parking would be required, but the number of stalls isn't yet specified.

The corner parcel, at Northeast 50th Street, has 33,000 square feet. The building, or buildings, would total about 188,000 square feet. On the sloping site, they would rise seven stories above 15th, and eight stories above the alley to the west.

Ankrom Moisan's preferred design is for two interlocking structures with two courtyards and a diagonal path between them. The south courtyard would be on the alley; the north courtyard would be on 15th, facing a bus stop. The main entrance would be on the corner.

Privately held Peak currently manages over 50,000 beds. Its portfolio is worth about $3 billion.

Faul is a boutique developer led by Chris Faul, previously with Point 32, Martin Smith Development Corp. and Schuchart Dow. Faul's current projects include the conversion of the landmarked old Garfield Exchange Building on Queen Anne Hill to apartments or condominiums.

University Christian, which is being advised by Dave Rothrock and Doug Barrett of Meriwether Advisors, will join a Lake City group to form a new entity called Journey Christian Church.