Waterworks Village: A Modular Development

Atlanta is adding 100 new housing units for people experiencing homelessness with the opening of Waterworks Village, the latest development under Mayor Andre Dickens' Rapid Housing Initiative.

Located at 653 Green Street near West Midtown, Waterworks Village sits on previously underused city owned land near the Atlanta Water Works Reservoir. The $17 million development includes (2) three story buildings with 100 studio apartments. Each apartment is about 250 square feet and includes a private bathroom, refrigerator and other basic living features. Residents also have access to shared spaces, laundry facilities and supportive services.

What makes Waterworks different from Atlanta's earlier rapid housing projects is how it was built. The apartment modules were constructed in a factory in South Carolina while crews prepared the Atlanta site, then transported to Georgia and assembled into the finished buildings.

The project took less than a year from groundbreaking to opening. Developers say modular construction saved an estimated four to six months compared with traditional construction.

Housing With Healthcare On-Site

Thirty of the apartments are reserved for residents who need additional medical and mental health support through Project HEAL, a partnership involving Atlanta area hospitals. Instead of someone leaving the hospital and returning to the street, the program is designed to provide housing where medical and behavioral health care can continue.

Residents can also access case management, job training, mental health services and substance use support.

Sources: Georgia Public Broadcasting, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta Civic Circle

Preview Photography: WILLETTPHOTOGRAPHY