Phipps Plaza and Multiunit Housing

The apartments around Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza follow many of the characteristics that Larry Ford writes about in Multiunit Housing in the American City. After the lull of apartment building construction between 1930 and 1960, apartments began to appear around shopping malls and highways. Luxury apartment towers forward, as well as condominium ownership.

One reason apartments and condominiums exist around malls and highways is because the location is a high-demand site. As Ford explains, the land costs of these locations “prohibit even expensive single-family dwellings (405).” Another reason for the placement of these sorts of buildings is the capital investment that is involved in their creation. Developers must be able to make an acceptable return on the project so therefore, the complex must be in an appealing location, or nobody will rent/buy there.

While the apartments and condominiums in the below photos do not date back to the 1960s, they follow many of the characteristics that Ford writes about. This set of four apartment/condominium complexes is located directly between Phipps Plaza and GA 400. The dates of construction vary as well as the clientele they target.

Fig. 1. Point of access for the four multiunit dwellings located directly behind Phipps Plaza. Three of the four complexes are seen in this photo.

Fig. 2. Condominium targeting wealthy middle-age individuals/couples.

Fig. 3. Older apartment complex targeting young professionals.

Fig. 4. Brand New apartment complex targeting young professionals (center of photograph).

Fig. 5. Condominium targeting senior citizens.