Housing developer Pennrose and healthcare provider Mercy Care held a ribbon cutting to mark the grand opening of phase one of McAuley Station, a 170-unit, mixed-income apartment community in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood.
The $50 million project, part of the mixed-use McAuley Park master plan, is designed to provide affordable housing options combined with direct access to healthcare services — with the development being in close proximity of Mercy Care’s campus.
McAuley Station’s first phase offers studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments for Atlanta residents earning 30% to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Among the newly-built 170 units, 10 are reserved as transitional units for Mercy Care patients, while 30 studio apartments are designated as “permanent supportive housing” (through Fulton County’s Behavioral Health Department).
“Sister Catherine McAuley opened a shelter for homeless girls and women in 1827 which led to the founding of the Sisters of Mercy in 1831,” said Kathryn Lawler, chief executive officer of Mercy Care. “Almost 200 years later, we continue to address the effects of homelessness on health. McAuley Station is our latest effort to build a healthcare system that truly heals.”
“Intentional social care, like the housing we are here to celebrate today, is how we move the needle when even the best healthcare isn’t enough,” added Lawler.
Each apartment comes equipped with contemporary kitchens, granite countertops, luxury vinyl plank flooring, central air conditioning, along with on-site laundry facilities.
Additionally, the apartment complex also features a variety of amenities, including a rooftop deck, bocce court, grill station, fitness facility, business center and a covered five-story parking deck, among others.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who was in-attendance at the ceremony, said that McAuley Station signals a positive step forward for the city’s housing situation.
“McAuley Station marks a critical turning point for many in Atlanta seeking safe, stable, affordable housing and healthcare,” said Dickens. “Today is an exciting step forward in building a healthy, connected, and thriving community from the ground up.”
The project was financed through $26 million in Invest Atlanta bonds, a $30 million equity investment from Truist Bank and additional funding from numerous sources.
Phase two of the development, which will add 97 affordable units for seniors, will begin construction in 2025.
Once complete, the McAuley Park master plan will provide 270 affordable family, senior, and workforce apartments, along with expanded clinic facilities to more effectively serve low-income residents.
