AC repair in Crescent, GA

GREATER, DECATUR, Ga. — Real estate investor Crescent Communities has closed on NOVEL Lulah Hills, the multifamily development portion of the overhaul of North DeKalb Mall.

The six-story NOVEL Lulah Hills multifamily building will feature 303 apartments, a mix of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. It will also have more than 39,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. Construction will begin in December and be completed in late 2027, according to a news release.

“As part of the larger Lulah Hills development reimagining North DeKalb Mall, NOVEL Lulah Hills will be the first residential offering and anchor a walkable, experience-driven environment that combines living, dining, and local culture,” the news release said. “The overall Lulah Hills project will transform the site of Atlanta’s first enclosed mall into an open-air, mixed-use destination that reflects the character and history of the community through innovative design, thoughtful curation, and active engagement and connection.”

Lulah Hills will be a mixed-use development with retail, a hotel, apartments, and townhomes. Upon completion, the project will have nearly 2,000 new housing units, with the majority being apartments. The project will set aside 10 percent of units for workforce housing and will include a retail incubator. The estimated completion date is 2028.

A Publix at the Shamrock Plaza shopping center across the road is expected to relocate to the Lulah Hills project.

Demolition of North DeKalb Mall began in July 2024. Previously, Decide DeKalb awarded EDENS $70 million in tax reimbursements to help move the project forward. The AMC movie theater and Marshalls will remain at the mall as part of the redevelopment project. When it is complete, Lulah Hills will include 320,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.

NOVEL Lulah Hills will include “The Mercantile Club,” a social area with flexible space for events and workshops with a craft closet, dining pantry, a terrace, and lounge seating. It will also offer a courtyard and pool, a fitness studio, and a diner.

“There’s a real sense of momentum and excitement building around the Lulah Hills development, and NOVEL Lulah Hills will be at the heart of that energy,” said Eric Liebendorfer, managing director for Georgia at Crescent Communities. “We’re proud to help bring this vision to life – it’s an incredible opportunity to shape a community that will redefine how people live, gather, and connect in this part of the city, infusing everyday living with the vibrant, social rhythm of the Lulah Hills experience.”

EDENS Managing Director Herbert Ames added that the milestone marks the development’s transition to vertical construction.

“The opening of NOVEL Lulah Hills will create a welcoming residential experience that further adds to the sense of community we are creating,” Ames said.

Crescent Communities and EDENS have previously collaborated on developments, including NOVEL Atherton in Charlotte, North Carolina, and NOVEL Upper Westside in Atlanta. NTT Urban Development is the capital partner on the project.

Crescent Communities and Heitman are expanding their presence in the build-to-rent sector with the formation of a second joint venture that could see a total investment of $340 million for development of six single-family rental communities in Sun Belt and other emerging markets.

The partnership will begin with an initial commitment of $240 million, expandable by up to $100 million, for the development of more HARMON by Crescent Communities-branded properties.

The two firms first teamed up in May of last year with a collaboration that had an initial commitment of $235 million that later increased to $345 million. In sum, the companies will invest at least $585 million in BTR developments.

The first JV invested in six of the communities across North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Texas and Arizona. Those properties are nearing completion for the initial community openings. They are: HARMON Ascend in Phoenix, HARMON Ashton Oaks in Tampa, Fla.; HARMON Cedar Run in the Atlanta market; HARMON Jefferson Village, Greensboro, N.C.; HARMON Melissa in Dallas and HARMON West Meade in Nashville, Tenn.

The partners expect the next BTR investments to be in those markets in addition to Colorado, reinforcing Crescent’s strategy to expand in high-demand housing markets. The new properties will also become part of the HARMON brand, offering residents the benefits of single-family living without the burdens and costs of ownership. Each community will feature townhomes and/or single-family houses, energy- and water-efficient construction and curated amenity spaces.

Ashish Karamchandani, managing director and co-head of acquisitions at Heitman, pointed to Crescent’s proven track record in the sector. Karamchandani said they see Crescent and the HARMON portfolio as well-equipped to lead the BTR sector as demographic and affordability trends continue to fuel rental demand.

Closer look at Crescent properties

Founded in 1963, Crescent’s development portfolio has included more than 95 multifamily communities and 26 million square feet of commercial space. In addition to the HARMON by Crescent Communities brands, the Charlotte, N.C.,-based firm’s multifamily brands include NOVEL and RENDER.

Last month, the firms opened the first rental homes at HARMON Cedar Run, a BTR property with 151 units in the Atlanta suburb of Lawrenceville, Ga. It is the first such community to take shape in metro Atlanta. The partners acquired the site earlier this year as part of their first collaborative effort. The community occupies 38 acres, about 36 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta and 12 miles from Interstate 85. It features three- and four-bedroom townhomes and single-family homes. Amenities include a swimming pool as well as pickleball and basketball courts.

Also in the metro Atlanta area, Crescent and equity partner Phoenix Capital Management opened RENDER Stockbridge, a 297-unit multifamily community in Henry County, Ga., in July. The property offers a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Construction began in late 2023, facilitated by a $45 million construction loan from CIBC Bank USA.

Crescent broke ground in June on NOVEL UHill, a 400-unit multifamily community in the University Hill section of Durham, N.C. Slated to deliver its first residences in late 2026, the development will include a five-story building along with 19 townhomes on a 6.5-acre site.

Claxton, GA is poised for a cultural renaissance as the Jack & Muriel Strickland Arts & Culture Center receives a significant financial boost with a $286,350 grant from the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC). This funding will finalize the restoration of the historic Claxton High School, setting the stage for the center's opening in early 2026.

The long-awaited renovation of the Jack & Muriel Strickland Arts & Culture Center in Claxton, GA has taken a major step forward after the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) awarded the project a $286,350 State Economic and Infrastructure Development (SEID) grant. The funding will complete the final phase of the $4.37 million restoration of the historic Claxton High School, clearing the way for the cultural center to open in early 2026.

The grant is part of SCRC’s FY2025 SEID program, which selected 18 projects across Georgia for investment aimed at community revitalization, workforce development, and infrastructure improvements. Georgia received nearly $12.6 million in total awards, spanning 69 counties.

For Claxton, SCRC’s support will focus on essential interior work—renovating dressing rooms and multi-purpose spaces needed for the full operation of the Joyce NeSmith Auditorium, the anchor of the new center. Once complete, the facility will serve as a regional hub for arts, cultural programming, and community events.

The Arts & Cultural Authority of Claxton and Evans County, which is leading the transformation, expressed appreciation to Senator Billy Hickman and Georgia Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Christopher Nunn for their support in securing the grant.

Built in 1922 and designed by well-known architect Willis Irvin, the former Claxton High School stands as one of Evans County’s most historic public structures. Constructed in the Classical Revival style, it was the county’s first brick two-story public building and a hallmark of the school consolidation movement aimed at improving education standards across Georgia.

After serving as Claxton’s high school, the building transitioned over the decades to an elementary and later a middle school before ultimately closing in 2012. Despite its changing roles, the structure has remained one of Claxton’s most recognizable landmarks.

The restoration project is intended to both preserve that history and repurpose the building as a vibrant arts and cultural destination for the region. When it opens next year, the Jack & Muriel Strickland Arts & Culture Center will provide performance space, cultural programming, classrooms, and community gathering areas—breathing new life into a cornerstone of Claxton’s past.