Developer: A Year After Listing, Skyhaven Quarry Project Progressing

Why It Matters

The development could add significant housing and green space to East Atlanta, boosting affordability and livability while leveraging proximity to the Beltline. Securing multi‑jurisdictional approvals will set a precedent for future infill projects in the region.

Key Takeaways

• Embry Development acquired Skyhaven Quarry after Clark Property withdrew.
• Project targets up to 180 apartments, 57 townhomes, 16 houses.
• 9,000 sq ft commercial space and 8,000 sq ft plaza planned.
• Approval needed from Atlanta, Fulton, and DeKalb counties.
• Quarry’s 40‑foot cliffs will anchor new park and trail network.

Pulse Analysis

The Skyhaven Quarry parcel at 1104 Moreland Avenue has lingered in limbo for more than four years, cycling through concepts that blend nature, housing and retail on a vacant lot near East Atlanta Village. Originally assembled by Clark Property R+D, the 9.79‑acre site includes a shuttered Family Dollar, a cell tower and the remnants of an old quarry with 40‑foot cliffs. Rising interest rates prompted Clark to abandon the project, leaving the land open for acquisition. Embry Development, the same firm that revitalized a former Toll Brothers site in Reynoldstown, stepped in with fresh capital and a revised vision.

Embry’s proposal is a dense mixed‑use scheme designed to address the neighborhood’s chronic housing shortage and lack of open space. Marketing materials cite up to 180 apartments, 57 townhomes for sale or rent, and 16 detached houses, complemented by 9,000 sq ft of commercial storefronts and an 8,000 sq ft public plaza. At the heart of the development, the abandoned quarry will be transformed into a park featuring new trails and Ripplewater Creek, creating a green corridor that links to the newly opened Beltline Southside Trail. The plan promises a blend of affordable units and market‑rate options, a rare combination in Atlanta’s infill market.

The biggest obstacle remains regulatory: the City of Atlanta, Fulton County and DeKalb County each retain authority over the assemblage, requiring coordinated approvals for the revised layout. Embry warns that “time is killing deals,” underscoring how prolonged review can erode financing and partnership structures. If the approvals are secured, Skyhaven Quarry could become a template for multi‑jurisdictional collaboration on dense, transit‑adjacent projects, reinforcing the Beltline’s role as a catalyst for sustainable urban growth. Success would also signal confidence to other developers navigating Atlanta’s complex permitting landscape.