The Commons at Imperial Hotel — Award Winning Historic Redevelopment for Special Needs Tenants
“We believed there was a sustainable way to redevelop this vital housing resource, to structure it financially and operationally, and to provide permanent supportive housing for a 30-year commitment,” says Jim Grauley, Columbia Residential’s president and chief operating officer.
An Atlanta landmark, the Imperial Hotel stands at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Ralph McGill Boulevard. Once a troubled property and surrounded by modern hotels it would have been the ideal location to convert it into luxury apartments or condos. However, a unique partnership of public entities, housing providers, and institutions interested in preserving the Imperial renovated and it as affordable permanent supportive housing for individuals with special needs. Columbia Residential and National Church Residences were selected by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the City of Atlanta in 2011 to negotiate the purchase of and redevelopment of the Imperial, which was facing imminent foreclosure. The state of Georgia is striving to increase in the number of permanent supportive housing units and services for special-needs tenants. The City committed its resources including Atlanta Housing Authority providing rental support for the new project under Mayor Reed’s Homeless Demonstration program.