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Redevelopment of the Avondale MARTA station will hit a major milestone next week.

Developer Columbia Residential tells Decaturish that on Monday the company will mark the official opening of Columbia Senior Residences at Decatur East, a mixed-income senior community.

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“Columbia Senior Residences at Decatur East is Columbia Residential’s second senior independent living community in the Decatur area, and one of the first affordable senior communities in the region offering such close proximity to a MARTA station,” the company announced. “Columbia Residential partnered with the DeKalb County Community Development Department, the Housing Authority of DeKalb County, and the Development Authority of Decatur to transform a former parking lot adjacent to the Avondale MARTA station and bring new, affordable senior housing options to Decatur. The 5-story elevator-served building with enclosed corridors provides 92 high quality apartments, dedicated for seniors 62 and older.”

More apartments are on the way, with 288 market rate units planned for the site.

Construction at the site has been ongoing since November 2016, but the project was being discussed as far back as 2002.

Decatur City Commissioners in August signed off on a preliminary plan for redevelopment of the East Lake MARTA station.

A Livable Centers Initiative Study suggested there would be space for 430 multifamily housing units and 43,600 square feet of space for commercial businesses on the ground floor. At least 20 percent of the units will have to be “affordable” housing. There will be almost three acres of green space.

Debbie Frank, Acting Director of Transit Oriented Development for MARTA, has said creating another TOD for Decatur is not its priority right now.

“It’s likely years before we will begin strongly considering a TOD at this station, and community engagement would be a strong part of the process,” she said. “Our agency needs to ensure equity as far as where TODs are being located, right now we are focusing on our south and west lines.”

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