Landmark Property
The Interlock
When was it built?
The Interlock just opened in 2021
Where is it located?
In West Midtown at 1115 Howell Mill Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Who built it?
SJC Ventures, an Atlanta based and very active real estate developer of mixed-use, multifamily, and grocery-anchored properties
How Big is it?
The Interlock is a massive 8-story complex, with phase I consisting of 104,000 SF of retail, 204,000 SF of office, 165 Hotel keys, 343 apartments units, and 70 townhomes. There will also be a phase II consisting of a 42,500 SF Publix, 40,000 SF of retail space, 186,000 SF of office space, and GA Tech student housing
What’s Unique about this Place?
The complex provides a strong mix of unique dining and entertainment options including Puttshack super tech indoor mini gulf, St. Germain Bakery consisting of French pastries, Velvet Taco, and will soon have a two-story restaurant and lounge operated by the same group that created Ponce City Market’s The Roof at Ponce
Why Should I Care?
The Interlock is likely the largest development in West Midtown since the Westside Provision District opened up in 2007 and like the Provision District will be a major catalyst to the area’s transformation 

Landmark Property
Westside Reservoir Park
When was it built?
The park has been under development since 2016 by the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management and will hold 2.4 million gallons of emergency drinking water
Where is it located?
In the Westside at 1660 Johnson Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
How Big is it?
280 acres once completely built out, 100 acres bigger than Piedmont Park
What’s Unique about this Place?
The park has great views of the Atlanta skyline from an overlook and will eventually connect Proctor Creek Greenway and the Chattahoochee River Corridor to the Beltline. There’s also a giant lake in a quarry at the center.
Why Should I Care?
There are many trails to explore that can help you get away from the busyness of the city and feel connected to nature. While you can see the skyline from the park, it is far enough from the city to where you often don’t feel like you are in Atlanta.  

Landmark Coffee Shop
Just Love Coffee Café

When was it built?
The company was first founded in 2009. The idea originated with the founder, Rob Webb and his wife on a flight to Ethiopia to meet their newly adopted children. He decided to start a business with the purpose of making hand-roasted coffee to help others who were passionate about adoption and wanted to live lives of love.
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Where is it located?
Just north of the 285 perimeter in the ground floor of an apartment building located at 1110 Hammond Drive, Sandy Springs, GA. Parking is free for patrons of the building
 
What’s Unique about this Place?
Just Love is a great place for breakfast, lunch, or dinner in addition to great coffee. They have a fun and inviting atmosphere where children are welcome and arcade games can be spotted at certain locations

Why Should I Care?
The company was founded with the purpose of creating a for-profit venture that could help families offset the high costs of adopting children. They started online, supplying coffee to offices in Nashville, TN. They were able to donate $100,000 in the first year and proved that their model could work. Their first physical location was in Murfreesboro, TN, and has now grown to 25 physical locations in several states. Visiting Just Love provides the opportunity to take part in their mission while enjoying great food and coffee

​Landmark Property
The Works
When was it built?
The original buildings were built in the early 1900s and used for warehousing and manufacturing. There was originally a railroad that serviced the various buildings that is now a courtyard called the “The Spur.” The first phase opened early 2020.
Where is it located?
In the Upper West Side, just north of Top Golf at 1295 Chattahoochee Avenue NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Who built it?
Scott Selig, the President and Founder of Selig Development, which is part of Selig Enterprises, one of Atlanta’s largest and oldest real estate companies, was the visionary behind the concept. Tragically, he passed away in 2017 from lung cancer at the age of 47. He left a major legacy in Atlanta and in the fight against cancer  
How Big is it?
The grand vision will include 350,000 SF of retail (larger than Ikea) and entertainment, 500,000 SF of office space, 500 residences, 200 hotel rooms and 13 acres of greenspace on a total of 80 acres. The first, 27-acres phase, consisting of retail, restaurant and office space is now open
What’s Unique about this Place?
The complex already has a large variety of stores, restaurants, and amenities for everyone, including a brewery, a design store, a photography studio, ax throwing, and a playground for children
 
Why Should I Care?
There is a food hall consisting of at least 25 vendors, that represent some of the finest food options in Atlanta such as Fox Bros Bar-B-Q, LoRusso’s Italian Bottega, Brash Kitchen, and Morelli’s Gourmet Ice Cream. There are plenty of open spaces inside and outside to gather with friends and family 

Landmark Property
Piedmont Park
When was it built?
The park was originally a forest that was turned into farmland by the Walker family in the mid-1800s. Several exhibitions and fairs took place at the park during the late 1800s. The most significant was the Piedmont Exposition of 1887 and the Cotton and international Exposition of 1895. These fairs resulted in the creation of many of the features still in the park today, including the ball fields, the 11.5-acre Clara Meer lake, and the stone balustrades scattered around the park. The City of Atlanta officially purchased the park in 1904
Where is it located?
In Midtown at 1320 Monroe Dr. NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Who built it?
The park was built in pieces over the course of several decades by different parties. First the Walker family, then the exposition organizers, then the City of Atlanta in the 1900s. The Piedmont Park Conservatory was formed in 1989 to create a public-private partnership to rehab and maintain the park and has raised over $66 million to complete the Olmsted inspired master plan for the park.
How Big is it?
189 acres
What’s Unique about this Place?
The Olmstead Brothers, the sons of Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of Central Park and Prospect Park in New York, had a major influence on the park’s development. The current master plan for the park was adopted in 1995 and honors the brothers’ original vision

Why Should I Care?
Piedmont Park’s many meadows, trails, and unique settings provide a natural escape from the busy city to have a picnic, visit friends, go for a run, or enjoy a leisurely stroll. The park is also a great place to get out and enjoy its many festivals and events such as The Dogwood Festival, The Arts Festival of Atlanta, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra  

Landmark Property
Colony Square
When was it built?
The first office tower was completed in 1969, subsequent office and apartments towers were completed in the 1970s, the mall piece was completed in 1973
Where is it located?
In Midtown at 1197 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA
Who built it?
The complex was originally built by entrepreneur Jim Cushman, who had previously built a successful dairy business in South Carolina
How Big is it?
The complex sits on 12 acres and consists of three 14-story residential buildings, two office towers, a 27-story hotel, and an indoor mall. Today the indoor mall has been redeveloped and two new office buildings will be built
What’s Unique about this Place?
Colony Square was one of the first major retail projects in Midtown, Atlanta, and was therefore key to its transformation from an area that was full of crime to the thriving district it is today
Why Should I Care?
Colony Square has been undergoing a massive renovation by the same group that built the Avalon project in Alpharetta and redeveloped Atlantic Station, transforming a traditional indoor mall into an outdoor retail experience with a food hall. Jones Day law firm and Whole Foods are moving their Atlanta HQs there. It recently debuted in 2020. 

Landmark Property
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
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When was it established?
May 18, 1914

Where is it located?
In Midtown at 1000 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA

Who built it?
The current headquarters building was built in 2001. The design was created by Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates Inc. of Atlanta in association with Robert A.M. Stern Architects of New York and built by Beers Construction Co. with Torcon Inc. and C.D. Moody Construction of Atlanta, and the Integral Group of Atlanta

How Big is it?
It is 746,000 SF and 10 stories tall

What’s Unique about this Place?
The building was built with Cherokee marble from the same quarry in Tate, GA, that supplied the marble for the Atlanta Fed’s 1964 building and other public buildings in Atlanta and Washington, DC. Also, it houses the office for the Fed, an operations center, and an education/training center
 
Why Should I Care?
The Federal Reserve’s Atlanta Branch plays a key role in maintaining and ensuring the economy is strong by conducting monetary policy. You can check their website for news and research about the health of the economy in the Southeast 

Instead of a Landmark property, here is a landmark drawing of Atlanta done by a very talented local artist depicting the major landmarks and a map of the city. 

Cool Coffee Shop of the Week
East Pole Coffee Co.

When Did it Open?
The physical location opened in September of 2017. The business was first started in 2015

​Who are the founders?
Jared Karr and Jules Tompkins, who first met in high school and were reconnected over a shared love for specialty coffee

Where is it Located?
At 255 Ottley Drive, Atlanta, GA in the newly renovated Armour Yards. The stadium seating in the main foyer provides a great place to study or meet with friends over a good cup of coffee

How many locations are there now?
One

What’s unique about this place?
You can subscribe to the many clubs such as the Scuba Club, Yacht Club, or Titanic Club and receive coffee at your doorstep every four, two, or every week, respectively

Why Should I Care?
Their team has a combined 20 years of experience with specialty coffee, including their Iglesias Antigua, the beans for which are grown through sustainable agriculture in the rich soil of the slope of the Volcano Agua in Antigua, Guatemala  

I moved to the Lenox area in the summer of 2016 and am about to move out of the area to a few miles away from here. It’s amazing how much the area has changed in the just over 4 years of being here. What was once a suburban, wilderness, and car-centric landscape has become a very walkable urban district, with close to a dozen new skyscrapers. Atlanta is rapidly growing and changing, and I believe it is only the beginning of what could be one of the world’s greatest cities of tomorrow.