It was the first new home for some. For others: a safeguard against the threat of homelessness. For Atlanta, it’s another step toward providing affordability, opportunity and a stronger future. Welcome to Intrada Westside.
On November 14, representatives of the Vecino Group were joined by city representatives and community members to celebrate the official opening of the development, the team that made it happen and the residents living there.
“Today is a big day here at Intrada Westside. Its success represents the first of many developments that Vecino will deliver for Atlanta in the future,” said Wesley Brown, Vecino Group Director of Development, Southeast. “The vision and execution of Intrada is a reflection of our mission of development for the greater good and is a testament to all of the strong local partnerships.”
Located at 2176 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, Intrada Westside offers 143 affordable apartments with 25 units set aside as permanent supportive housing for young people transitioning to adulthood and individuals experiencing homelessness in Fulton County. In addition, on-site supportive services are provided by Fulton County Mental Health, made possible through a partnership with Partners for Home and the Atlanta Housing Authority.
“Housing isn’t something that a government can fix on its own. I set a goal of creating 20,000 units of affordable housing in Atlanta by 2030. As of today, we’ve delivered nearly 3200 housing units in just 22 months. Thanks for the Vecino Group and its partners to be able to bring us 140-plus rent restricted units that moves us even closer to our goal,” said Mayor Andre Dickens.
“I’ve been passing by since this was under construction, and to see people move In—I am grateful to see what we are doing on the Westside. It’s becoming more and more exciting.”
The development began in 2017 when Briarhouse Holdings (owned by Tip “T.I.” Harris) acquired the parcel of land, eventually connected it with the Vecino Group. Vecino then redeveloped it into a more impactful, mixed-use solution for the neighborhood. The construction was performed by JM Wilkerson as General Contractor. After 3+ years of planning, design and construction —much of it during the COVID 19 pandemic—the development is a reality. The property is owned by Raymond James and the Vecino Group. It is operated by Vecino Asset Management with onsite property management by Wingate.
“This is truly a group effort, with so many entities helping to make this vision the reality you see before you,” T.I. said to the crowd. “Special thanks to head of my real estate holdings Krystal Peterson; Dawn, Vicki and Eloisa at Invest Atlanta; and Terri Lee of the Housing Authority.” He added, ”And, I gotta thank Vecino Group for aligning with us to bring this vision to life.”
The new $37M community was made possible through Public Private Partnerships that included: Department of Community Affairs, Invest Atlanta, City of Atlanta, Partners for HOME, Bring It Home, Inc., Atlanta Housing Authority, Bank of America, Raymond James, Berkadia and Stifel—many of whom were present to recognize the collective achievement.
After the ribbon cutting and presentation, attendees enjoyed refreshments and guided tours of the Intrada Westside community. Later in the afternoon, the Intrada Westside residents were treated to a housewarming dinner, complete with gift baskets and activities.
