A key stretch of Virginia Highland commercial space is set for a makeover, according to early plans from Atlanta-based development company Third & Urban. 

The aptly named “Atkins Park Collection” includes 61,120 square feet of retail along North Highland Avenue in the Atkins Park area. Third & Urban began acquiring buildings in 2024, and now has more than $3 million in building and streetscape improvements planned for the portfolio. 

It includes a 35,370 square foot collection on North Highland Avenue and St. Charles Avenue, as well as Neighbor’s Pub. City Church and infill pieces between Greenwood Avenue and St. Charles Avenue. Notably, the collection does not include the building on the corner across from Neighbor’s pub. 

Today, the Atkins Park “neighborhood node” is known for a vibrant nightlife scene, with bars like Neighbor’s Pub, Blind Willie’s, Limerick Junction Pub and Dark Horse Tavern all within walking distance of each other. But there are few daytime businesses and several vacant storefronts.

“I think we saw an opportunity for some of these buildings that have just been a little bit underutilized,” Third & Urban Co-founder Hank Farmer said. “We’re able to kind of come in and buy them and implement some new life into them.”

Farmer lived and worked in the neighborhood, where he noticed a gap in the so-called node. He said over the years it “kind of lost its daytime and early evening services appeal.” Now he’s excited to bring that energy back.

The first phase involved purchasing available pieces of property. Several Atkins Park businesses had long-term owners not looking to sell. So Third & Urban acquired the space through piecemeal purchases, including the sale of the former Runway Curls studios.

“We’ve been opportunistic with the parcels that have been available,” Farmer said.

Now, Third & Urban owns the entire stretch from Sweet Peach Wax & Sugaring Studio to The Splatter Studio. It gives the company “some flexibility to do something interesting,” according to Farmer.

The company has already begun work on the building interiors, and Farmer said it has unearthed some interesting historical details, like 100-year-old brick walls. Third & Urban also completed improvements to the 842 North Highland building, including new signage, railings, light fixtures, new front stairs and a mural by local artist Janice Rago.

Farmer also hopes to unearth more historical facade details on the North Highland businesses as the company works on “adaptive reuse” for the buildings. Then it’s a matter of filling the space.

“The next phase is trying to bring some breakfast, lunch, dinner or early evening neighborhood-friendly uses back into this little neighborhood node to make it a more well-rounded retail environment,” Farmer said.

Third & Urban is working with Virginia Highland District, a nonprofit that acts as the neighborhood business association. Farmer said they are “totally aligned in the vision.”

“We want to support the businesses that are in our buildings,” Farmer said. “Our focus is really on our vacancies.”

It’s too early for the company to have any official tenants, though Farmer said some interesting conversations are taking place. He aims to lure in three to five local businesses, including a 3,000 square foot full-service restaurant in the back.

Third & Urban is prioritizing food and beverage businesses. Early renderings show an interior courtyard where multiple businesses can spill out into a shared, recessed outdoor area. It will help the company work around limited space and narrow sidewalks.

“It feels kind of safe and pulled back from the street, back from traffic,” Farmer said. “That was one of the ideas of how we could create more outdoor space with the limited space we’ve got.”

Farmer said the biggest challenge facing Third & Urban is the existing streetscape. The company, known for projects like Common Ground with New Realm Building on the Beltline, wants a pedestrian-friendly “node.” But the strip faces a busy road packed with potholes and few parking spaces.

He hopes the project will coincide with some improvements, like bumped out sidewalks, crosswalks and safety precautions to create a better “bike-ped environment.” In the meantime, Third & Urban will keep up “beautification” efforts.

“Many of these businesses are homegrown with roots planted deep in the community, and we want to see them continue to thrive,” Farmer said. “By refreshing the streetscape and buildings and filling the vacant space with new life, our goal is to provide lasting value to our neighbors and visitors who care as much about the area as we do.”

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