Written for Urbanize Atlanta.
A new mixed-use dimension near Sandy Springs’ lively, walkable downtown core is set to move forward in coming days, according to development officials.
Dallas-based High Street Residential and local development partners Third & Urban revealed today that a “transformative” project called Hillcrest will replace church-owned land immediately west of Sandy Springs’ City Springs, a $230-million social, retail, government, and arts hub that opened in 2018.
The 8.1-acre project is scheduled to break ground this month at 6150 Sandy Springs Circle, replacing the Sandy Springs United Methodist Church Activities Center.
HSR, the residential subsidiary of global developer Trammell Crow Company, is predicting the Hillcrest project will “redefine luxury living and community engagement” in central Sandy Springs, according to today’s announcement.
Sandy Springs United Methodist Church has been in talks to offload the property for private development since at least 2016. Proceeds from the sale will now be used to redevelop and upgrade the main church campus, which is situated across Mount Vernon Highway from the Hillcrest site. The sales price wasn’t disclosed.
Plans call for Hillcrest to include 362 multifamily units and 30 luxury townhomes, all of them for rent, according to HSR.
Elsewhere the project will see more than 18,000 square feet of patio-heavy retail dotted around a centralized, public greenspace and plaza, per officials.
Designs call for three to five-story buildings terracing down from the intersection of Mount Vernon Highway and Sandy Springs Circle. A parking garage with more than 100 public spaces reserved for retail and city events is also included, along with street infrastructure that improves walkability and allows for street parking, according to HSR.
The Hillcrest townhomes call for two and three-bedroom plans, each with rooftop patios and two-car garages. The multifamily component, meanwhile, will see a rooftop clubroom and pool zone—with “panoramic views of Sandy Springs and Buckhead,” per developers—plus perks that have become standard in new upscale intown buildings: a sauna, movie room, golf simulator lounge, fitness center with a Pilates studio, and WFH space.
Third & Urban—the company behind ITP projects such as Westside Paper, Armour Yards, Common Ground on the Beltline, and forthcoming Corporate Square in Brookhaven— will be overseeing Hillcrest’s retail facets. Those plans generally call for a wine bar, coffee shop, fitness studio, ice cream option, and a mix of causal and high-end dining spilling into the centralized plaza.
Beyond City Springs, the site is located within a mile of more than 2 million square feet of retail space that includes four grocery stores, per HSR.
“This project will deliver exceptional housing, vibrant restaurants, and meaningful community spaces—supporting the church’s future and advancing the city’s vision for a dynamic urban core,” said HSR principal Scott Kirchhoff in a prepared statement.
Hillcrest’s development team also includes Cooper Carry (architect), Square Feet Design (retail consultant and interior designer), New South Construction (general contractor), Citizens Bank (lender), Wesley Community Development (church advisor), and CBRE (retail leasing).
Plans call for completing all aspects of Hillcrest in 2027, according to HSR.