Columbia Senior Residences at Forrest Hills Fashions Intimate Scale

Being inclusive is a growing concern of developers, and Columbia Residential proved how it can be done stylishly and sustainably in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur. Occupying the former site of the Forrest Heights Apartments on slightly more than 5 acres, the new project consists of 80 units with nine leased at market-rate prices. The other 71 are divided between rents at 50% or 60% of the area median income, which is $69,700. In fact, the project is among the first in the country to add units under HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration, or RAD, program, which provides off-site relocation units for residents from a public housing site.

The developer also felt it important to design the exterior so that it would fit into its single-family home neighborhood, which the firm accomplished with a meandering two-story building with brick accents and picturesque pitched roofs. Sustainability was another driver, with the project’s transit-friendly location, walkable streets, gardens, park, storm-water management, and energy-efficient appliances. These choices and others helped Columbia Senior Residences earn EarthCraft multifamily certification.

Given the community’s 62-and-older population, a sense of independence was important and was conveyed via the gardens, where residents can grow flowers and vegetables; a lushly landscaped pergola; and, indoors, a gym, movie theater, and communal kitchen with tables. Residents can make overnight visits from loved ones easier with the complex’s hospitality suite.

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Individual apartments are thoughtfully designed with open plans characterized by interflowing living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens; each unit also has its own laundry equipment.

Having learned from experience, the developer knew to keep neighbors informed throughout Columbia Senior Residences’ planning and building process. These days, information, rather than fences, helps make for good neighbors.