There is increasing demand for intown living across Atlanta. This demand has so far eclipsed supply and is boosted by buyers seeking the convenience, amenities and ease afforded by condo communities. But this demand will soon be met by two of the most ambitious Buckhead condo developments Buckhead has ever seen: Emerson and The Charles, a pair of luxury condominiums set to debut on Peachtree Road in 2019.
In recent weeks, demolition and site prep at both projects has begun nearly simultaneously. The Charles is being developed by the Loudermilk Companies, led by Robin Loudermilk. Emerson is being developed by JPX Works, led by Jarel Portman. Both are relatively young and ambitious developers who have grown up in Buckhead and have deep roots here.
Having started construction around the same time—and with so much anticipation surrounding both complexes—do JPX Works and The Loudermilk Companies feel at all in competition with each other? Not at all, both say. “We’re excited to see any condo development in the city—we think it’s been too long of a stretch since there’s been any substantial development in Buckhead,” Herndon (of JPX Works) says. He also points to the fact that both Emerson and The Charles are smaller properties with less than 60 units each—a departure from other popular Buckhead residential properties, such as The Ritz-Carlton Residences, which has 125 units—a signal that customers are looking for more intimate, exclusive communities when it comes to luxury living. “We’re both pioneers,” says Loudermilk about his company and JPX Works. “We’re both building something that hasn’t been done before and that’s great for residents. They’re going to have two, new distinct choices, and I believe both will be successful.”
Here is a closer look at both of these new condo towers that are now underway:
At Emerson, which will replace a previous low-rise condo complex located at the intersection of Peachtree Road and Lindbergh Drive, residents can expect a sculptural, tiered, and towering building fully immersed in the nature that surrounds it. Inspired by iconic architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Fallingwater” house in Pennsylvania, partially constructed over a waterfall, each of Emerson’s 41 units will feature floor-to-ceiling glass windows that offer 270-degree city and canopy views. “When you drive around Peachtree Heights and the surrounding neighborhoods, you find yourself under a canopy of trees, and we wanted to create something that both embraced and rose from that,” says Josh Herndon, director of development at JPX Works, which acquired the Emerson’s 1.84 acres in 2015. Amenities like a “tranquil zen garden” will further boost a connection to nature, as will spacious outdoor terraces, which average 450-sq. feet. “The terraces really allow residents to explore the four-season living that’s typically hard to find with a high-rise because of the rectangular shape with units stacked next to each other,” Herndon says. “We chose a fan shape at Emerson to get rid of common walls with neighbors, so residents could have true privacy and not have to hear neighbors’ conversations in their homes.” This unique design has also inspired future residents to think creatively about the way they can take advantage of Emerson’s offerings—while the complex currently has 41 units, priced from $2.2 to $4.5 million, Herndon expects that number to ultimately land in the mid-30s, as buyers increasingly want combination units.
A little farther north on Peachtree Road, progress has also started on The Charles, a new condominium construction adjacent to The Shops Buckhead Atlanta in Buckhead Village. With 57 luxury units, The Charles will become the first, ground-up new condo construction in the Buckhead Triangle, according to Robin Loudermilk, President and CEO of the Loudermilk Companies. “We’re excited to bring a residential lifestyle that hasn’t been seen in the Buckhead Triangle—a high-rise building that’s not part of a hotel and that’s located in the heart of the best retail offerings in Buckhead,” he says. The 18-story building will offer sweeping views of Buckhead, along with a number of sophisticated finishes and fixtures, like sculpted, freestanding Victoria + Albert tubs in master bedrooms. Elsewhere, The Charles boasts a 14,000 sq. ft. amenity terrace complete with an infinity pool and fitness center. Already sitting on 18 pre-sales, Loudermilk says he has seen a robust interest in The Charles that’s only expected to grow.
