[UPDATE] Housing Development Moving Forward Near Buckhead's Blue Heron Nature Preserve

A Chastain Park area neighborhood will soon lose hundreds of old growth trees and a bamboo forest.  The mass clear-cutting to make way for eleven new homes will take place at 1 Emma Lane, where one large but abandoned home currently sits.  ToNeTo Atlanta first reported on the planned development last February, at which time local developer Monte Hewett was behind the planned redevelopment.  More than a year later, Hewett seemingly is out of the picture with United Development, a different developer, now billing the project as "Blue Heron Walk." 

Fulton County tax records indicate that an affiliate of United Development paid $3.57M for the 7.02 acre site on October 25, 2021.  This price is in line with the $3.5-$4 million that Hewett was reportedly under contract to purchase the property for earlier last year.   This figure, however, is far from the $6.2 million that online real estate resources indicated the property was "pending sale" at in November 2019.   It's unclear why the 2019 sale never went through, but the price for the property had been lowered several times since 2019, with the most recent published offering price of $3.995 million as of September 29, 2020.

The plot currently holds just one residence.  City of Atlanta property records indicate that the Nicholson family home - 1 Emma Lane - is nearly 4,000 square feet, was built in 1939, and features five bedrooms, five bathrooms, and two half baths.  Melinda Nicholson Doolittle, Trustee for "The Nicholson Joint Revocable Trust," was the seller of the property.   

Joe Ferguson of United Development was reportedly more pragmatic than Hewett in his discussions with neighbors.  The property's zoning will not change from R3 residential to PD-H high-density as had been requested by Hewett.  In addition, the developer has reportedly agreed to sell land at the rear of the property adjacent to the Blue Heron Nature Preserve, to the preserve.  The Conservation Fund reportedly acted as third party appraiser of the land in question which will "preserve the Preserve" and its 30 acres.  

The property is already surrounded by silt fencing in advance of the imminent demolition.  Signage at the property indicates that lots will be available "late summer 2022," but does not indicate starting prices for the lots.  

While it's sad to see a home demolished that in its heyday was surely a sight to see, it's great to see United work with neighbors, address concerns, and allow Blue Heron to maintain its property.  

What are your thoughts on "Blue Heron Walk?" Are you currently searching for a home but having difficultly securing one?  Have you ever been to the Blue Heron Nature Preserve? 

Please share your thoughts below.