Marietta Breaks Ground on $24.7 Million Senior Housing Development

Marietta is moving forward with a new affordable housing development designed to help address the need for housing options for older residents. The Marietta Housing Authority and Prestwick Companies have broken ground on Evergreen, a four-story mixed-use apartment building at 879 Roswell Street NE. The approximately $24.7 million project will bring 64 apartments for seniors to a corridor the city hopes to transform into a more walkable, connected neighborhood. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on October 22, 2026.

The development will include 57 affordable apartments and seven market-rate units, offering a mix of one- and two-bedroom floor plans. The affordable units are intended to serve households earning between 30%, 50% and 60% of the area median income, helping make housing accessible to seniors who may have limited or fixed incomes. The project is being financed through a combination of affordable housing investment and public-private partnerships, including support connected to Georgia’s affordable housing tax credit program.

Evergreen is being developed through a partnership between the Marietta Housing Authority and Prestwick Companies, with support from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the city. The collaboration reflects an approach increasingly used to deliver affordable housing: combining public-sector involvement with private development expertise and specialized financing. The project's estimated development cost is $24.7 million, while its financing structure includes an anticipated $13 million in Georgia state low-income housing tax credits.

Beyond the residential units, the building will feature ground-floor retail space facing Roswell Street. The commercial component is intended to bring activity to the street while giving the surrounding area additional opportunities for neighborhood-serving businesses. The city has connected the project to its Envision Marietta Livable Centers Initiative, which promotes a more walkable corridor that links nearby neighborhoods with shops, services and other community destinations.

The location is also significant because the development will replace a collection of properties previously used for automotive-related businesses. City planning documents describe the project as an opportunity to improve the appearance and function of this stretch of Roswell Street while encouraging additional investment. Marietta has already pursued streetscape improvements along the corridor, including work intended to enhance the pedestrian environment. Evergreen could complement those efforts by adding residents and retail activity to the area.

For the local housing market, the project addresses a segment of demand that can be overlooked in broader discussions about apartment construction. Seniors who rely on retirement income or other fixed sources of support may face difficulties finding suitable housing at rents they can afford. By dedicating most of its apartments to income-qualified households, Evergreen is intended to expand the supply of housing options for older adults while providing a residential setting within an established part of Marietta.

The development also illustrates how affordable housing projects can contribute to neighborhood redevelopment. Adding housing and ground-floor retail to an underused property can support local businesses and help create a more active streetscape. However, the broader impact will depend on the project's completion, the services available to residents and whether additional development follows along the corridor.

As construction gets underway, Evergreen represents a new investment in both senior housing and Marietta’s long-term neighborhood planning goals. With 64 apartments, ground-floor retail and approximately $24.7 million in projected development costs, the project combines an affordable housing initiative with a broader effort to revitalize Roswell Street. Its progress will be worth watching as Georgia communities continue looking for ways to expand housing options for older residents while encouraging responsible redevelopment.