Crescent Communities has closed on a new multifamily community at the site of the former North DeKalb Mall, which will feature an urban marketplace and 303 new units.
NOVEL Lulah Hills will begin construction this month on studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences, along with more than 39,000 square feet of retail space on its ground floor. Crescent, a national real estate investor and developer of mixed-use communities, made the announcement on Dec. 8, with development partners EDENS and NTT Urban Development.
“There’s a real sense of momentum and excitement building around the Lulah Hills development, and NOVEL Lulah Hills will be at the heart of that energy,” Eric Liebendorfer, managing director for Georgia at Crescent Communities, said in a statement.
Upon completion, Lulah Hills will offer over 300,000 square feet of retail and restaurants as well as a new Publix grocery, 1,800 residential units, and multiple green spaces with connections to Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve and Emory University.
NOVEL Lulah Hills will also offer amenities such as “The Den,” “The Rose Room” fitness studio, and “The Gathering Place” diner, intended to further enhance the sense of community connection for residents, Liebendorfer said.
Japan-based NTT Urban Development, the project’s capital partner, is making its first investment in a metro Atlanta community with NOVEL Lulah Hills. Crescent has developed several properties in metro Atlanta including NOVEL West Midtown, near the future Westside Beltline Trail, and other multifamily communities in Stockbridge, Douglasville, and Lawrenceville.
“This major milestone marks Lulah Hills’ transition to vertical construction, and we’re thrilled to partner with Crescent Communities to bring our vision of a vibrant neighborhood to life,” said Herbert Ames, managing director for EDENS and southeast regional lead. “The opening of NOVEL Lulah Hills will create a welcoming residential experience that further adds to the sense of community we are creating.”
Crescent Communities and EDENS have previously collaborated on Atlanta’s Moores Mill mixed-used community NOVEL Upper Westside and NOVEL Atherton in Charlotte, N.C.
The first phase of this project is slated for completion in late 2027. Retailers for the first phase have not yet been confirmed.