The $35.7 million redevelopment transforms the historic Waluhaje Hotel into 102 deeply affordable homes on Atlanta’s Westside
ATLANTA – A historic Westside landmark has been transformed into 102 deeply affordable homes through the $35.7 million redevelopment of Heritage Village at West Lake. Atlanta Housing joined developers Quest Community Development Corporation (Quest CDC) and Columbia Residential, elected officials, community leaders and financial partners Oct. 29 to celebrate the grand opening of the former Waluhaje Hotel property in Atlanta’s Hunter Hills neighborhood.
Located at 239 West Lake Ave. NW, the development features 102 one-bedroom apartments, all assisted through Atlanta Housing’s HomeFlex program and reserved for households earning no more than 30% of the area median income (AMI). The community includes housing opportunities for veterans and individuals experiencing homelessness, with 24 apartments designated as permanent supportive housing for young adults ages 18 to 24 aging out of foster care.
“Heritage Village at West Lake demonstrates how strategic real estate investment can preserve an important piece of Atlanta’s history while creating much-needed housing opportunities,” said Terri M. Lee, President and CEO of Atlanta Housing. “Through our investment in this property, innovative financing and strong development partnerships, we are helping transform a once-vacant landmark into 102 deeply affordable homes that will serve Atlanta residents for generations to come.”
Atlanta Housing played a significant role in advancing the redevelopment, providing more than $4.3 million in loan financing and acquiring the 6.8-acre property for approximately $5 million. The agency also established a 75-year ground lease with a nonprofit affiliate of Quest CDC, supporting the long-term redevelopment of the historic site.
Heritage Village represents another milestone in Atlanta Housing’s real estate portfolio as the agency’s first development financed through the New Markets Tax Credit program. The project secured approximately $9.8 million in net New Markets Tax Credit financing through community development entities, including Truist Community Development, Atlanta Emerging Markets, Capital Impact Partners and the Corporation for Supportive Housing. Additional public and private financing supported the project’s successful redevelopment.
“Heritage Village @ West Lake is proof that we can honor our history and build the future at the same time,” said Leonard L. Adams Jr., Founder and CEO of Quest CDC. “The Waluhaje has stood as a landmark for generations, and tonight we opened its doors to 102 residents who will call it home. With the Mercy Care Clinic and the Urban League of Greater Atlanta’s Financial Empowerment Center on-site, residents will have access to the health care and financial coaching that help individuals build lasting stability. This is what community development looks like when the community leads.”
Beyond affordable housing, Heritage Village is designed to connect residents with resources that support long-term stability and economic mobility. Through partnerships with the Urban League of Greater Atlanta and Mercy Care, the development will offer access to workforce development, financial empowerment and health care resources. The property also features resident amenities and community gathering spaces, including a fitness center, theater room, outdoor gardens and the Waluhaje Ballroom, which honors the site’s cultural legacy.
The building, which financially closed in July of 2024, is comprised of 102 units, all one-bed/one bath models built for individuals who are escaping homelessness. Amenities will include a theatre room, fitness center, outdoor gardens and greenspace, plentiful on-site parking and a large event space named the Waluhaje Ballroom to honor the property’s past. The property also includes a Mercy Care health care facility and Wells Fargo bank.
Originally opened in 1951 by Atlanta businessman Walter H. “Chief” Aiken, the Waluhaje Hotel and Apartment Complex was a prominent Black-owned establishment listed in the Green Book, which identified safe accommodations for Black travelers during segregation. Its ballroom welcomed legendary performers, including Duke Ellington, Ray Charles and James Brown, making it an important cultural gathering place on Atlanta’s Westside.
Following its sale in 1967, the property later became the Atlanta Job Corps headquarters, providing residential, educational and vocational training services from 1969 until 2017. Quest CDC and Columbia Residential acquired the property in 2018, launching a redevelopment effort to preserve its historical significance while creating new housing opportunities.
Today, Heritage Village at West Lake represents the next chapter in the property’s legacy, demonstrating how historic preservation, strategic public investment and private development partnerships can work together to expand affordable housing and strengthen Atlanta communities.
ABOUT ATLANTA HOUSING
President and Chief Executive Officer Terri M. Lee leads The Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, Georgia (Atlanta Housing), the largest housing authority in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation. Atlanta Housing carries the prestigious Moving to Work (MTW) designation and serves as an industry leader in providing and facilitating affordable housing resources for nearly 27,000 low-income households comprised of approximately 43,000 people through its Atlanta Housing-owned residential communities, tenant-based and project-based vouchers, supportive housing, as well as down payment assistance, where innovation leads the approach to making the dream of homeownership attainable for more Atlantans. Atlanta Housing programs are funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.