Georgia State Has Turner Field Project Redevelopment Underway

ATLANTA, GA – The timeless sounds of baseball bats and the sweet smell of freshly cut grass had become the norm this time of year at Turner Field in the past, but have given way to the cacophony of a busy construction site.

But not for long.

With the Atlanta Braves busy getting ready for their inaugural season at Sun Trust Park in Cobb County, officials at Georgia State University have been equally as occupied in bringing to life their own version for the adaptive redevelopment of the Braves’ former home at Turner Field and the surrounding parking lots.

Located just a few miles north in downtown Atlanta, the university has teamed up with the Atlanta-based Carter, Oakwood Development and Healey Weatherholtz Properties joint venture group. Georgia State and its partners have planned a mix of housing, retail, athletic and academic space on the 68-acre site, in addition to converting the baseball stadium into the new home for Georgia State’s football team. The $30 million deal, which was finalized in January, was recently hailed by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as “The Best Overall Deal” in the publication’s “Best in Atlanta Real Estate Awards.”

Those involved say the aim of the project is to revitalize one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods.

“The project is another terrific opportunity to demonstrate our ability to make transformational changes that are mutually beneficial for our university and the great city of Atlanta,” Georgia State President Mark Becker said in a school release.

Per terms of the ownership structure, Georgia State will control 38 acres, including the stadium and the Blue parking lot that was formerly the site of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The university plans to eventually build a baseball stadium where Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium once stood. The new baseball stadium will include aspects that honor the Atlanta Braves and Hall of Famer and former Major League Baseball home run champion Hank Aaron.

The Carter-led joint venture purchased 16 acres and will be leasing an additional 13.5 acres from Georgia State. The development group has plans to build an 850-bed private student housing, as well as multi-family residential and retail development. The student housing complex is expected to take two years to build, while the first of the 200 apartments units planned for Phase 1 of the development will require about 18 months.

“We are working collaboratively with the community, the city and elected officials to advocate for transportation and infrastructure improvements to positively change this part of the city for generations to come,” Carter President Scott Taylor said in the Georgia State press release. “We view this development as a transformational opportunity for the southeastern part of our city.”

The Braves announced in 2013 that they would be leaving downtown for the new Sun Trust in Cobb County starting this year. The Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority, which owned Turner Field, later agreed in August 2016 to sell the property for $30 million. The University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved the sale in November.

»Photo courtesy of Georgia State University