By Collin Kelley

Five years ago, the Midtown Mile was set to be Atlanta’s answer to Chicago’s Magnificent Mile and New York’s Madison Avenue. The stretch of Peachtree Street from 15^th Street to North Avenue was going to be a tree-line boulevard filled with luxury apartments, hotels, restaurants, one million square feet of retail space and a streetcar to ferry residents and visitors.

Then the economic meltdown began and the rapid construction that had been taking place in Midtown ground to a halt. The planned streetcar line was removed from the city’s short list of transportation priorities.

After more than two years of recession and the bottoming out of the real estate market, the Midtown Mile is showing signs of life once again.

Daniel Corp and Selig Enterprises announced construction of 77 12^th Street, a 22-story apartment building at 12^th and Crescent with 300 units and 20,000 square feet of street level retail. Construction is set to begin this fall, and the developers also have plans for a hotel and office space as part of the 12^th & Midtown project.

And although not on the Midtown Mile, Novare Group has announced it will build SkyHouse, a 23-story building with 320 luxury apartments on West Peachtree at 12^th Street. It will be quick walk to the Mile and its amenities.

The Midtown Alliance’s new CEO, Kevin Green, said  the economy slowed the pace of new development and there is still plenty of catching up to do with job growth, but Midtown is positioned to bounce back faster than other parts of the city.

“The tide is slowly coming back in and Midtown will come back faster because we have available housing, job options, urban amenities and transportation,” Green said.

Green said there is a growing segment of the population who want to live in the city and bee able to walk to work, shops and restaurants. “They want to be here instead of getting here,” he said.

Since the recession, there has been more discussion about building a denser city core and Green agrees that more high-rise apartments are needed. “It’s become an attractive option for many,” he said. “It’s great to see Daniel, Selig and Novare are recognizing the need.”

As INtown reported last month, condo sales are on the upswing again, but bringing in new retail to the Midtown Mile will be a different challenge.

Before the recession, there were rumors that Apple was interested in building a flagship store on the Mile along with other high-end national retailers. While those stores have never come to fruition, smaller shops and restaurants – including Ri Ra Irish Pub and the soon to open STK – have made their home on the Mile. Modern home furnishing store CB2 opened a 14,000 square foot retail store at 1080 Peachtree. Green said new retailers will be coming to the Mile and announcements will be made soon.

In the meantime, Green said the Midtown Alliance is working on projects like new unified signage to direct visitors to parking spaces and producing “pop up shopping” events to help existing retailers. On Sept. 8 -11 will see the Vogue Fashion Night Out on the Mile with apparel and jewelry. The popular Holiday Pop Up Shops will also return. The Street Food Thursday event, which brings the city’s food trucks to the park at 15^th Street, draws hundreds every week.

Green, who had only been on the job a week when this interview was conducted, said he left his post as executive director at the Clean Air Campaign because of the amazing opportunity to help Midtown grow.

“I’m looking out my window right now and I can already see the efforts that have been achieved and there is much more to come,” Green said.

Wood Partners is expanding its Specialty Housing Group (SHG) with representatives in each of its five regions nationwide. The group oversees the development, finance, and construction of workforce, age-restricted and student housing projects. The SHG unit has facilitated the development of about 6,500 units, or some $725 million worth, which represents about a quarter of the company’s total rental development over the past decade. It is solely focused on the rental market rather than condominiums. www.woodpartners.com

The Marketing Directors has achieved success in one of the most challenging real estate markets in history. The company has hired 35 new employees since spring of this year and continues to show exceptional growth.  Based on sales across Atlanta in the second quarter, The Marketing Directors has a 58 percent market share of sales in new condominiums.  The company also represents seven of the top 10 top-selling condominium communities in Atlanta.  The Marketing Directors has closed $400 million in sales and has signed real estate listings worth a total of $2.85 billion since its inception in January 2007. The top two sellers of the quarter, Vinings Main and Viewpoint, had over 30 net sales each. The Marketing Directors expects the competitive landscape to continue to change when it launches three new buildings for ST Residential: The Brookwood, The Atlantic and Serrano. www.themarketingdirectorsinc.com.

Atlanta-based design and master-planning firm Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates has been hired by Sarasota, FL to transform a man-made lake into a world class flat-water rowing venue. The 600-foot lake is located along Interstate 75, and the surrounding parkland is large enough for additional year-round recreational amenities, as well as the facilities needed to support a flat-water rowing venue. Landscape architect Thomas Walsh was already familiar to the rowing community since he designed the Kayak and Canoe Venue for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Walsh says the site offers both exceptional promise and challenges. www.tunspan.com

Tremont City Living

WicksteadWorks has been named 2010 Renovator of the Year by Southface and The Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (GAHBA).  It is the second straight year the Atlanta-based remodeler has earned this honor. The Renovator of the Year award recognizes an EarthCraft House renovator that has gone above and beyond established measures to decrease energy consumption in an existing home. For example, one renovation project of WicksteadWorks was for a family with two asthmatic children. After the project was completed, the children’s asthma symptoms were completely gone due to WicksteadWorks’ renovations of the crawl space and HVAC system. Once the renovations were complete, the house became EarthCraft certified. www.wicksteadworks.com.

Coldwell Banker’s parent company, Realogy Corporation, has launched a campaign to raise funds through the Realogy Charitable Foundation, to support victims of the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti. The foundation will distribute all funds raised by employees, sales associates, vendors, partners, friends of Realogy and the general public directly to the American Red Cross International Response Fund.  You can make a donation to the American Red Cross International Response Fund through the Realogy Charitable Foundation. Your secure online donation can be made with a credit card/debit card or electronic check. All gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. For more information, visit www.coldwellbankeratlanta.com.

Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty saw a remarkable 29 percent increase last year in closed business, reflecting the number of homes sold and significant growth of the firm.  Co-founders Jenny Pruitt, CEO, and David Boehmig, President, are expanding their Buckhead office and corporate headquarters within the Piazza on Paces complex on Northside Parkway. www.atlantafinehomes.com.

Harry Norman, Realtors has earned the Website Quality Certification presented by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World to member companies that have demonstrated excellence in website design, functionality and execution. Every aspect of  HarryNorman.com was reviewed to ensure standards were met in eight key areas, ranging from design and content to human interactivity to search engine optimization.

Atlanta real estate, despite the economy and many misleading news reports, still had a very active year in 2009. Prudential Georgia Realty, for instance, sold 6,800 homes in metro Atlanta in 2009 for a gross residential sales volume of more than $1.5 billion. According to data collected by Trendgraphix, Prudential was number one in listings for 2009, with 3,025 listings. For more information, visit www.atlrealestatescoop.com.

Metro Brokers has announced a long-term franchise agreement with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, doubling the national brand’s size and growing its reach into the state of Georgia. The Atlanta-based company, which operates 28 office locations with nearly 2,300 agents, will now operate under the name Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers. This is one of the largest franchising agreements in recent years within the real estate industry. In addition, Metro Brokers’ commercial real estate division will now operate as part of the Coldwell Banker Commercial franchise network. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers will continue to operate under the direction of its president and CEO, Kevin Levent, who took the position in 1996 after two decades as one of Metro Brokers’ top sales associates. www.bhgrealestate.com

EpiCity, a provider of personal and professional real estate services, has added a component to its business model and is now in the business of buying, renovating and renting houses, with the occasional quick turn and sale. The company has launched its second private equity fund and in the past year has purchased more than 35 foreclosures. Its first $1,000,000 private equity fund purchased its goal of 20 houses. The average “all in cost” per house was about $51,000 with the first investment fund, and the second fund also looks at houses in the $75,000 and up range, in more neighborhoods than the first fund, for a more diversified portfolio. Rental projections average about $820 per month. www.EpiCity.com.

Atlanta builder Cablik Enterprises is using Georgia’s first on-site concrete crushing machine to recycle a home’s existing concrete into new concrete and stone for its redevelopment projects. Cablik Enterprises is using the machine for the first time at one of its projects in Sandy Springs, where the client hired them to demolish the existing structure and rebuild an upscale, modern home in its place. For more information, call (404) 627-1645.

Bill Bartlett

Glenwood East, left, a new, $37.5 million luxury apartment complex is now open. The 236-unit development was designed by the architecture firm Lord, Aeck & Sargent for builder/developer Alliance Residential Co. Located just east of Glenwood Park, each of the wood frame-constructed buildings is four stories plus an above-grade basement level with brick and stucco front facades. To mitigate sound and provide privacy, balconies are partially recessed into their respective units. Amenities include a swimming pool, gym and yoga room, laundry, a business center, WiFi access in the common areas, high-speed Internet access in the apartment homes, gated access into the courtyards and an on-site leasing center. The apartment homes are available in studio and one- and two-bedroom configurations. www.glenwoodeast.com

The Atlanta Regional Commission and the Livable Communities Coalition has recognized four of the region’s most innovative developments with the 2009 Developments of Excellence Awards, including

The Ellis Hotel on Peachtree for Exceptional Merit for Historic Preservation and Renaissance Walk at Sweet Auburn for Exceptional Merit for Context-Sensitive Infill.

Studioplex, the live/work community in Atlanta’s historic Old Fourth Ward, has named The Marketing Directors as the exclusive sales agency for its remaining lofts. June Obondo, one of The Marketing Directors’ top producing agents, is the new on-site agent. www.studioplexlofts.com.

Lenbrook

The Old Fourth Ward will soon be welcoming new residents to 660 Apartments (pictured at left), located at 660 Ralph McGill Blvd. near Glen Iris Drive. The leasing center for Southeast Capital’s new complex has just opened to provide information to potential tenants.  660 Apartments allows residents to choose from 11 different floor plans, including plans for loft-style living and townhomes. www.660apts.com or (404) 221-0660.

Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty now has a second location in North Atlanta.  The new offices are located at 555 North Point Center East in Alpharetta and will be headed up by Nancy See, Founding Partner and Senior VP of the Buckhead office, as managing broker. www.AtlantaFineHomes.com or (770) 442-7300.

MWest II, the second phase of Winter Properties’s MWest community, is offering contemporary, three-story loft-townhomes for immediate purchase and occupancy.  The 66 brand new homes offer amenities like hardwood flooring, double height living areas and expansive windows.  Residents will enjoy gated community access, an outdoor pool with clubhouse and fitness center, a 10-acre wooded nature preserve with a walking trail, and a “Bark Park” for the family pet. www.MWestHomes.com or (404) 351-4400.

The 193 recently renovated luxury high-rise condominiums in the Brookhaven Residences community are now available for lease.  The homes have been updated to include gourmet kitchens with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and hardwood floors, as well as tiled bathrooms with designer lighting and fixtures.  Though the condominiums available range greatly in size and structure, all feature large bedrooms with walk-in closets, private baths, and a balcony or sunroom.  The Leasing Center is located in the building at 3833 Peachtree Road. www.TheBrookhavenResidences.com or (404) 237-5320.

Sky Lofts has announced its new partnership with The Amenity Club, which offers residents “points” upon moving into a residence.  These points can then be exchanged for luxury concierge services like gourmet meal delivery or private golf coaching, or for restaurant gift cards and home entertainment products. Homeowners can continue to earn points when they make purchases at more than 15,000 restaurants and retailers around thecountry. www.SkyLoftsAtlanta.com or www.AmenityClub.com.

Jamestown investment’s 28-story tower development, 999 Peachtree, is planning  expansions for the office complex, including new conference and fitness centers, and predicts that the upgrades will be completed next Spring. www.999PeachtreeStreet.com.

Prudential Georgia Realty welcomes Dale Modica and Anne Miller, real estate professionals formerly of Harry Normal, Realtors, to its Midtown Office.  Modica and Miller will serve as managing broker and assistant broker, respectively. www.PrudentialGeorgia.com.

The Westin Peachtree Plaza will replace  all 6,350 windows in the next 15 months.  Some of the hotel’s windows were damaged by last year’s tornado. The Sun Dial Restaurant closed last month while renovations are underway, but will re-open in December.  www.Westin.com/Peachtree .

Buckhead’s newest luxury apartments, Somerly and Sorelle, are now open. The buildings offer a variety of floor plans, secure access, swimming pools, fitness centers, courtyards, and a car wash area.  Apartments include washers and dryers, wood floors, and granite countertops.  Rents at the communities start at $850.

www.LindberghApartments.com.

By Shandra Hill Smith

You prefer renting over buying a home, are holding out for a shift in the economy or appreciate the freedom of being able to pack up and move when life dictates. No matter your circumstance, you can have it all – an address that serves up a high standard of living and a “wow” factor to boot, with a balanced lifestyle that blends work, play, dining and shopping. Atlanta’s Intown neighborhoods brim with luxury living – from high-rise condominiums and apartments to mixed-use developments.

“Luxury renting is where all the parts come together – great finishes, great amenities, a spectacular entrance when you walk in the building,” said Patti Pearlberg, vice president, Asset Management for Coro Realty Advisors, LLC, “and a level of service that says ‘We are here to take care of you.’ ”

“Regardless of the economic environment, people want to feel good about their choice of a home,” added Pearlberg. “Renting in a quality, luxury building or community provides flexibility while meeting personal desires.”

Located at each end of Piedmont Road, both Tremont City Living (www.tremontcityliving.com) and 05 Buckhead (www.05buckhead.com) are developments of Coro Realty Advisors. 05 Buckhead, 3242 Peachtree Road, boasts services and amenities to rival those of the finest five-star hotels, including a 24-hour concierge, private residential access, clubroom, outdoor terrace with skyline views and rooftop pools.

In proximity to shopping, restaurants and hotels, Tremont,15 Habersham Road, provides a number of comforts to include: stainless steel appliances; bamboo wood floors; granite countertops with double undermount sinks; Shaker-style cabinets and brushed stainless features; operable oversized windows; full-height pantry cabinets in select units; Roman soaking tubs, also in select units; and a fitness facility with seven workout stations.

With 926-square-foot flats to townhomes of more than 2,000 square feet, Tremont is an EarthCraft House with Energy Star appliances and insulated windows. Other environmentally friendly features are energy-conserving light fixtures and innovative water conservation fixtures.

“Service starts from the moment someone walks into the building for their first visit until the day they leave,” said Pearlberg. “We challenge our staff every day to make sure every visitor and resident knows that quality is the underlying principal of our projects.”

Apex West Midtown by Perennial began leasing this year within minutes of Georgia Tech, Midtown and Downtown Atlanta. The apartment homes of Perennial Properties (http://perennialproperties.net/index.php) will feature retail shops and restaurants on-site. Located at 1133 Huff Road, Apex includes high ceilings, large patios and balconies, Roman tubs, walk-in closets, an outdoor movie theatre and Wi-Fi lounge.

Another Perennial site, Pencil Factory Flats & Shops at 349 Decatur St., leases luxury apartments within walking distance to Downtown Atlanta. The former site of the National Pencil Factory features one-, two- and three-bedroom lofts, gourmet kitchens with granite counters, tile backsplashes, separate showers, garden tubs and warm hardwood flooring.

This summer, Axis at Perimeter Luxury Apartments (www.axisatperimeter.com) opened near Perimeter Mall. Axis boasts a hibachi kitchen with a chef preparing complimentary breakfast each Saturday; granite countertops; backsplash; washers and dryers; a mystic tanning room with skin care features akin to those in an upscale spa; fitness center with personal training and fitness classes by Quick Fitness Solutions; valet dry cleaning; mobile pet grooming; mobile car detailing; stand-alone showers in select units; a resort-style pool with in-pool seating and cabanas; an outdoor living area with fire pit; gazebo and water fountain. Another bonus: a concierge who will deliver and accept your packages and make your dinner reservations and dental appointments.

Luxury renting such as that at Axis attracts families, couples and singles alike.

“Many have lost their homes and are trying to rebuild their lives; some are able to buy a home but want to wait to see what the market does in the next couple of years,” said K.K. Lopez, manager of Axis, a Lane Company property. “Many people are moving from single-family homes and want to live in a home-like apartment without the hefty mortgage or pricey upkeep.

“They want things done for them, which is what luxury apartment communities offer in many ways. Luxury renting gives all the comforts of a home without all of the costs.”

HomeAid Atlanta will hold its sixth annual signature fundraiser, Project Playhouse, in partnership with Cousins Properties Inc. at The Avenue Forsyth in Cumming. Three fully furnished child-size dream homes will be on display for public viewing at the outdoor lifestyle center from Sept. 19 to Oct. 10. The “special edition” playhouse created by Georgia Tech students, pictured, will be one of the creations on display. Each of the three playhouses will be awarded through a raffle drawing, with all raffle ticket proceeds benefiting HomeAid Atlanta’s development of supportive, transitional housing for homeless families and children in the metro Atlanta area. www.homeaidatlanta.org.

The 26th annual Fall Atlanta Home Show will be held Friday through Sunday, Sept. 25 to 27, at the Cobb Galleria Centre. Tickets are $10, with seniors over 65 and children 12 under admitted free. The show’s theme is “Make Your Home New Again” and will feature exhibits from over 300 local home improvement companies, along with seminars by well-known experts on a variety of home remodeling topics. Experts will be on hand to answer questions and demonstrate tools and techniques to accomplish numerous home improvement projects encompassing a home’s interior, exterior and landscape. Exhibitors also will address such subjects as energy savings, landscaping, going “green” and more.  There will be live demonstrations at the Viking Cooking Corner each day of the show, as well as speakers offering programs on the latest kitchen and bath products, creating a more organized living space, giving your home a “physical exam,” universal design/aging in place and other topics. In addition, the Cobb County Fire Department will create and staff an interactive Fire Safety House, hosted by the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation, to prepare adults and children for the cool months ahead when accidental fires often occur.  A list of exhibitors, along with the daily speakers’ schedule, can be found at www.AtlantaHomeShow.com.

Jenny Pruitt, co-founder and CEO of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, and her son-in-law and company president, David Boehmig, have been chosen to market The Aberdeen, the 14-story luxury residential development on Paces Ferry Road in Vinings. Atlanta Fine Homes’ spin-off company, SkyRise Group, will lead the sales and marketing of The Aberdeen. Pruitt said: “SkyRise Group Senior Vice President Mike Bugg, along with Vice President Anne Schwall and Director of Sales Marcia White, are proven experts in the sales of the finest high-rise homes, from Midtown to Vinings.” The Aberdeen’s 55 residences, offered from $864,000 to penthouses over $3 million, range from 1,675 square feet to over 4,500 square feet. www.theaberdeenvinings.com

Five East apartment homes, located at Clairmont and Shallowford roads, are now leasing. Many of the residences are available for immediate move-in. Located just off I-85 inside the Perimeter, the luxury community is within minutes of Midtown, Downtown, Buckhead and Brookhaven. Amenities include swimming pool, gardens, outdoor kitchen, clubhouse with full chef’s kitchen, media room and a fully equipped, club-quality fitness center. The pet-friendly community offers a choice of spacious one- and two-bedroom floor plans with controlled access gates. www.5eastapts.com or (404) 235-5900.

The eighth annual Castleberry Hill Loft Tour is Saturday, Sept. 25, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 26, from noon to 5 p.m. This year’s Loft Tour will kick off a day early with a free open-to-the-public Art Stroll on Friday, Sept. 25, from 7 to 10 p.m.  The following two days, Castleberry Hill Neighborhood Association (CHNA) invites tour goers to explore hand-selected lofts and the neighborhood’s distinctive art galleries, boutiques, restaurants and businesses. New this year, CHNA has added performance art and live music throughout the neighborhood during the tour. Advance tickets for Castleberry Hill Loft Tour are $10 and available online at www.castleberryhill.org/lofttour.

Sovereign, the luxury high-rise condominium in Buckhead, has announced an agreement with Pieces, a Buckhead boutique, to outfit a model home. Owner Lee Kleinhelter founded Pieces in 2004 when she saw a gap between the high-end antiques and mass-produced items offered in Atlanta. Her background and experience in interior design has helped make Pieces a nationally-noted business with features in Elle Decor, House Beautiful, InStyle, Lucky and Architectural Digest.  Kleinhelter said Pieces will offer Sovereign furnishings that are “unexpected in a luxury high-rise setting.” www.sovereignbuckhead.com.

Harry Norman, Realtors has named Mike Wright as senior vice president and managing broker of its Sandy Springs office.  In his new role, Wright will be responsible for overseeing the office’s daily operations, marketing initiatives, advising sales associates and building a team of agents. Wright serves as a past president of the Atlanta Board of Realtors, where he is also on the Executive Committee. On the national level, Wright served on the board of directors for the National Association of Realtors for four years. Harry Norman, Realtors also named Marianna Barton as the company’s new director of marketing and communications. In her new role, Barton will oversee the corporate marketing department and day-to-day marketing activities and special marketing initiatives.

Among hundreds of projects considered throughout the Southeast, the architectural firm Spitzmiller & Norris and Deane Johnson Homes, LLC received the prestigious 2009 Philip Trammell Shutze Award presented by the Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America for Large Addition/Restoration of a landmark private residence in Buckhead.  Members of the award-winning team included Carole Weaks of C. Weaks Interiors, Rick Spitzmiller and Robert Norris of the namesake firm and Deane Johnson of Deane Johnson Homes, LLC. In the four years since its inception, the Shutze Awards program has now expanded to the entire Southeast. The awards are named for Philip Trammell Shutze, the Atlanta architect whose work is revered internationally as one of the 20th century’s most devoted classicists. The awards recognize similar individuals who are contributing to the creation of 21st Classical and Traditional architecture and related fields.