UrbanizeAtlNewsBot@yall.theatl.social

UrbanizeAtlNewsBot@yall.theatl.social

New project aims to beef up Gwinnett County downtown’s charms Josh Green Fri, 03/07/2025 - 13:55 When it comes to blossoming OTP downtowns, the City of Lilburn might not leap to mind for Atlanta’s intown diehards.

But in recent years the historic, former railroad hub in southwestern Gwinnett County has sought to change that.

The latest development proposal around Old Town Lilburn, as the historic commercial center is called, recently took a key step forward in a former industrial section tucked off Main Street.

Atlanta-based RangeWater Real Estate has closed on a 4-acre site at 45 Railroad Ave. to build 269 apartments near a new park, boutique retail, a multipurpose trail, and a wave of other new housing, according to City of Lilburn officials.

The aesthetic of RangeWater’s project, which has not been named, is meant to echo the area’s industrial and railroad roots. Expect studio to three-bedroom apartments (537 to 1,578 square feet) alongside amenities that include a pool, “Charleston-style” gardens for outdoor dining, coworking space, a pet spa, a bar for residents, and other perks, per officials.

Planned Railroad Avenue facade of the RangeWater multifamily project. The city has rezoned the existing warehouse building at right for a brewery tenant. Courtesy of RangeWater Real Estate

The 45 Railroad Ave. site’s proximity to Ga. Highway 29/Lawrenceville Highway (top) and the 4.2-mile Camp Creek Greenway. Google Maps

Other facets will include an amphitheater-style courtyard for residents and the general public and a trailhead for the 4.2-mile Camp Creek Greenway, which travels along a nearby waterway of the same name.

About a block from the site, the 10-acre Lilburn City Park opened several year ago. That’s across the street from a 54-unit townhome community that expanded downtown’s walkable blocks.

Overview of projects delivered, permitted, or under construction around Old Town Lilburn. City of Lilburn

RangeWater’s $75 million Lilburn project is expected to officially break ground either this month or next and deliver in late 2026. The company is partnering with Dallas-based TMGRI, a subsidiary of The Meridian Group, or TMG, on the apartments.

Another component of the project will be a public-private parking deck that Lilburn Mayor Johnny Crist called “essential” to helping grow the city’s roster of restaurants, retail, and jobs. “Make no mistake about it,” said the mayor in a project announcement, “we are proud partners in this transformative development.”

Closer to its home base, Rangewater’s recent projects include a Doraville venture called Camino and an apartment project with a small retail component, The Vivian, along the Beltline’s Southside Trail.

Old Town Lilburn’s location in the context of north OTP metro Atlanta. Google Maps

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New project aims to beef up Gwinnett County downtown's charms

New project aims to beef up Gwinnett County downtown's charms