GBX Group LLC and developer Urban Landings announce the completed rehabilitation of Winnwood Apartments, a longstanding residential complex at 1460 West Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta.
The property, originally built in 1931 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2021, features 48 fully furnished micro and one-bedroom units with modern amenities.
Urban Landings worked with GBX, a Cleveland-based historic preservation real estate firm, to secure government-provided preservation incentives for the project. That includes funding made available via a historic preservation easement donation to Easements Atlanta Inc., a move that permanently protects Winnwood’s exterior design and historic character.
“The preservation of the historic Winnwood Apartments maintains much-needed housing while protecting the historic character of a neighborhood that has been dominated by high-rises and new commercial construction in recent years,” said Drew Sparacia, Founder and CEO of GBX Group in a statement. “There is an abundance of at-risk historic properties across Atlanta, and we hope that Winnwood is the first of many local projects where we can leverage preservation incentives to promote economic revitalization that repurposes culturally-rich real estate assets.”
“Preserving a building like Winnwood, with such a rich history in Atlanta, is especially
rewarding,” said Cameron Pimm of Urban Landings. “We are proud to bring Midtown 48 fully renovated apartments with efficient interior layouts featuring original hardwood floors, lots of natural light from the original windows, and high-end modern finishes and appliances.”
“Preserving the historic character of Winnwood was critical to the success of this project, and we faced some unique challenges,” added Chris Jackson, historic preservation consultant for Urban Landings. “We identified the most important features of the building early in the project— such as the site’s layout, the historic courtyard, original windows, Georgian Revival-style detailing of the exterior woodwork, cast-concrete pineapples at each entrance, clay-tile roofs, and tapestry brick detailing—and made sure to protect these features through the rehabilitation. With careful design considerations, we were able to protect the historic character of the property while breathing new life into the apartment complex. The historic building materials and the overall feel of the property remain much as they did in the 1930s, and new features are differentiated but compatible with the original design intent.”
Ian Michael Rogers, of Easements Atlanta, explained that the Winnwood Apartments are an example of the garden apartment style with its open, deep U-shaped footprint, central courtyard, and lack of porches. Constructed in 1931 by Atlanta builder/contractor H.W. Nicholes and Sons, the Winnwood Apartments provided a home for many during a time of significant growth in Atlanta.
“Preservation easements are one of the most important tools available for balancing
preservation and development, and ensuring that Atlanta’s architectural, historic, and cultural resources are protected for future generations to enjoy,” said Rogers. “We are excited to have partnered with Urban Landings/Braden Fellman Group and GBX Group to ensure the perpetual protection of this significant historic property.”
