New transit-oriented developments afoot

FEBRUARY 6, 2014 ATLANTA The area around the King Memorial MARTA station is shown Thursday, February 6, 2014. MARTA is gearing up to take a big step in its plan to entice more riders by allowing developers to build apartment and shopping destinations on underused parking lots at its rail stations. Along the lines of Lindbergh Center Station and One Atlantic Center, MARTA wants to launch five additional "transit-oriented development" projects in the next two years. Next on the drawing board is a development at King Memorial Station, which the MARTA Board will be briefed about on Thursday afternoon. If all goes as planned, Walton Communities would be issued a 99-year lease to take over a four-acre parking lot near King Memorial Station and build about 380 apartments there, along with some ground-floor retail space. A second transit-oriented development is in the pipeline for Avondale Station. Several more projects are expected to be announced later this year. KENT D JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Credit: Andria Brooks

Credit: Andria Brooks

FEBRUARY 6, 2014 ATLANTA The area around the King Memorial MARTA station is shown Thursday, February 6, 2014. MARTA is gearing up to take a big step in its plan to entice more riders by allowing developers to build apartment and shopping destinations on underused parking lots at its rail stations. Along the lines of Lindbergh Center Station and One Atlantic Center, MARTA wants to launch five additional "transit-oriented development" projects in the next two years. Next on the drawing board is a development at King Memorial Station, which the MARTA Board will be briefed about on Thursday afternoon. If all goes as planned, Walton Communities would be issued a 99-year lease to take over a four-acre parking lot near King Memorial Station and build about 380 apartments there, along with some ground-floor retail space. A second transit-oriented development is in the pipeline for Avondale Station. Several more projects are expected to be announced later this year. KENT D JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

If you're in the hunt for a new home or hangout spot similar to Lindbergh Center and One Atlantic Station, you'll soon have more options.

Transit agency officials are expected to announce Tuesday that two new sites are becoming available for a transit-oriented development on MARTA-owned property adjacent to train stations.

That would bring to a total of seven the number of TODs initiated since the arrival of MARTA CEO Keith Parker in late 2012.

FEBRUARY 6, 2014 ATLANTA The area around the King Memorial MARTA station is shown Thursday, February 6, 2014. MARTA is gearing up to take a big step in its plan to entice more riders by allowing developers to build apartment and shopping destinations on underused parking lots at its rail stations. Along the lines of Lindbergh Center Station and One Atlantic Center, MARTA wants to launch five additional "transit-oriented development" projects in the next two years. Next on the drawing board is a development at King Memorial Station, which the MARTA Board will be briefed about on Thursday afternoon. If all goes as planned, Walton Communities would be issued a 99-year lease to take over a four-acre parking lot near King Memorial Station and build about 380 apartments there, along with some ground-floor retail space. A second transit-oriented development is in the pipeline for Avondale Station. Several more projects are expected to be announced later this year. KENT D JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Credit: Andria Brooks

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Credit: Andria Brooks

Developers have shown a great deal of interest in building walkable villages that boast a mix of retail and residential dwellings near train stations. They can charge higher rents in exchange for the added convenience. MARTA, meanwhile, benefits from a boost in ridership.

Representatives from about 150 companies came to a development day event hosted by MARTA last summer. A development day scheduled for Tuesday is also expected to draw a sizeable crowd.

MARTA spokesman Lyle Harris said an announcement about the two new stations selected for the program will occur at the development day event. Check back Tuesday for more details on the announcement.

Other transit-oriented developments are planned adjacent to King Memorial, Avondale, Brookhaven/Oglethorpe, Edgewood/Candler Park and Oakland City.