ATLANTA, GA – August 19, 2025 – Columbia Residential is proud to announce the completion of a striking public mural at Legacy at East Lake, the recently renovated eight-story senior housing community in Atlanta’s East Lake neighborhood. The mural, prominently displayed on the building’s north-facing wall, celebrates the neighborhood’s rich legacy, resilient spirit, and vibrant senior community through powerful visual storytelling.

The completed artwork is the result of an open call for artists launched in May 2025, which invited muralists to create a site-specific installation exploring themes of family, hope, identity, and community unity. These themes were inspired by a handmade story quilt created by East Lake residents themselves, ensuring the final piece authentically reflects the community’s voice and values.

Meet the Artist: Chastain “Chaz” Clark

The towering mural was created by Atlanta-based artist, designer, and architect Chastain “Chaz” Clark, creative lead of Chastain 3DM. Clark’s multidisciplinary design studio brings bold visions to life through art objects, public sculptures, and murals, transforming community spaces and creating large-scale works for national brands.

Also, as a designer for Formations Studio and Michael P. Murphy Studio, Clark has led community-focused projects, including a 2024 STEAM-integrated mural workshop at Springdale Park Elementary. He has also been a featured artist in galleries such as Cat Eye Creative and has taught architecture design studios at Georgia Tech, where he earned his Master of Architecture after completing a B.A. in Studio Art at Georgia College.

“This mural is more than just art on a wall—it’s an embodiment of the heart, soul, and legacy of the community,” said Carmen Chubb, President of Columbia Residential. “We’re honored to work with Chaz Clark, whose deep roots in Atlanta and commitment to community-centered design make him the perfect artist to tell East Lake’s story. This artwork honors the multi-generational experiences of our residents while adding to the beauty and cultural significance of the neighborhood. The newly completed mural adds another layer of curated art to the community, serving as a lasting tribute to East Lake’s history and a beacon of hope for its future.”

Art as a Cornerstone of Quality Affordable Housing

The Legacy at East Lake mural reflects Columbia Residential’s growing commitment to incorporating meaningful art and cultural elements across its properties. The company has commissioned significant artwork, including Atlanta artist Najee Dorsey’s painting Ribbon in the Sky, created for residents of James Allen Jr. Place. Dorsey, founder and CEO of Black Art In America and a celebrated visual artist known for preserving African American heritage through mixed-media works, has also created other notable pieces for Legacy at East Lake, including Return to Eden and The Listening Room. Together, these works stand as a testament to the power of preserving heritage through artistic expression.”

With commissioned artworks, arts and crafts rooms, movie theaters, baby grand pianos in community rooms, and thoughtfully designed open green spaces, Columbia Residential is redefining what quality affordable housing means.

“When we say ‘quality, thoughtfully designed, affordable housing,’ we mean it in every sense,” Chubb explained. “Art, music, and community spaces aren’t luxuries—they’re essential elements that create a sense of place, foster community pride, and enhance residents’ quality of life. Every person deserves to live in a place that inspires them.”

This philosophy aligns with Columbia Residential’s Lifestyle Promise, which emphasizes holistic community development that goes beyond housing to include transformational educational opportunities, accessible community services, and health and recreational amenities. The company’s commitment to environmental stewardship through green construction methods and energy-efficient design further demonstrates its comprehensive approach to building thriving communities.

A Community Partnership Success Story

Legacy at East Lake represents a $35 million redevelopment completed in partnership with Atlanta Housing, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Invest Atlanta, Truist, and other partners. The building underwent a complete modernization, including replacement of critical infrastructure like HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, and elevators, while preserving 149 deeply affordable homes for residents 55 and older.
The ribbon-cutting celebration in September 2025 drew widespread attention, with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta Housing President and CEO Terri M. Lee, and other civic leaders recognizing the project as a major milestone toward the city’s goal of creating or preserving 20,000 units of affordable housing by 2030.

About Columbia Residential

Founded in 1991 by Noel Khalil, Columbia Residential is an award-winning Atlanta-based developer, owner, and manager of affordable and mixed-income housing.

Celebrating its thirty-fourth anniversary in 2025, the company operates in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Texas with an active development pipeline. It manages 10,000 affordable and mixed-income housing units in some 75 communities.

Columbia Residential is a place-based developer and makes a lasting commitment to each community it plans, builds, and services by providing a continuum of stewardship that powers long-term investments. The company’s unique development and property management approach features strong local partnerships and an innovative model for resident services, including comprehensive onsite programming and additional resources provided through strategic partnerships with local entities that foster a strong home life and growth mindset for every resident. For more information, please visit: https://www.columbiares.com

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