Demolition of old Paces Apartments to begin ‘in a matter of days;’ new construction may start in July

Demolition of The Paces Apartments, at 77 E. Andrews Drive, is expected to begin “in a matter of days” to be followed by construction of Phase I of the new luxury apartments development scheduled to begin in late July.

Chad Weaver, vice president of real estate development at Camden Property Trust, told BuckheadView in late January that he expected demolition to begin by the end of February or in March.

A sign from earlier days for Buckhead's The Paces apartments 

Phase I construction on the interior portion of the 30-acre site, which runs along E. Andrews Drive between West Paces Ferry and Roswell roads, will take 20 months to complete. The new complex does not have an official name yet.

Camden Property Trust purchased the site last August for $39.3 million.  Weaver said Phase I is slated for 376 luxury apartments which will be “highly finished and amenticized.” He said the buildings will have a “classic design very much in keeping with the style of Buckhead homes and buildings.”

Weaver has been in discussions with members of Neighborhood Planning Unit B and nearby residents about plans for the development and said things are going well to this point. “It’s in our best interest to make [the buildings] as attractive as possible.”

He said his work is inspired by Neel Reid, prominent Atlanta architect of the early 20th century, especially how Reid involved himself in the design of every part of his buildings, exterior to interior.

Interior plans are not finalized, but will probably include granite stone countertops, wood flooring, tall ceilings and the best selections for molding, cabinets and doors, according to Weaver.

Green fabric has been placed on the fence around The Paces apartment,
indicating construction work is about to begin--any day now. 

Phase I will build two separate apartment buildings, one more upscale than the other, as well as some townhomes, according to Weaver. The goal for the design is to increase open space by building parking lots and residences vertically. Weaver said plans so far call for one building to have “podium” style parking — two levels below-grade parking with seven residential floors on top. The other will have “wrap” style parking with four- to five-story (depending on ground level) residences wrapping around a parking garage. Townhomes will be three to four stories.

Weaver has said the Phase I of development will be concentrated in the center part of the site and will not include the two corners on E. Andrews Drive at West Paces Ferry and Roswell Roads, which leaves open the possibility for some retail development as part of future phases of the project.

Weaver said Camden, which specializes in apartments, sought to buy land in the heart of Buckhead because current market conditions are favorable to renters, especially in large metro areas.

Camden is committed to maintaining as many of the trees that exist on the property as well as the stream that runs through the property Weaver told BuckheadView. “We absolutely will keep the stream” and he indicated it would be a focal amenity for positioning the apartments.

Weaver indicated Camden is very excited about this project. “It is a special piece of land and we have every intention of maintaining the integrity of that property, including the as many of the trees as we possibly can.”