By Tyler Wilkins (Atlanta Business Chronicle) – Oct 23, 2024
An upcoming town center that will be built from scratch in Atlanta’s northern suburbs will have an upscale place for visitors to rest their heads.
Johns Creek City Council recently signed off on plans to add a 175-key hotel to Medley, a major mixed-use development envisioned by Toro Development Co. The Hotel at Medley will be geared toward business travelers, out-of-town guests and local residents in need of a staycation, similar to the boutique hotel at Avalon in Alpharetta, according to a news release.
“We’ve seen firsthand that hospitality is an excellent complement to a retail-led mixed-use community,” said TDC Chief Vision Officer Mark Toro, who developed Avalon during his time with North American Properties, in a prepared statement. “The Hotel at Avalon is proof of concept, and we will apply best practices to create a unique hotel offering that supports the city’s town center plan and provides an exceptional experience.”
TDC is identifying potential development and brand partners for the hotel. Guests will have access to 5,000 square feet of meeting space, outdoor gathering space and resort-quality amenities. An on-site restaurant will engage both the lobby and a plaza, which will regularly host community events.
Medley, a nod to Johns Creek’s racial and ethnic diversity, is set to rise on top of State Farm’s former campus at Johns Creek Parkway and McGinnis Ferry Road. The 43-acre project is intended to be the nucleus of a broader town center envisioned for 192 acres in the affluent suburb. TDC expects to break ground later this year, followed by an opening in the third quarter of 2026.
The project is part of the push by local leaders and developers to create walkable, mixed-use hubs in the suburbs. Several cities have built town centers from scratch and reinvested in historic downtowns, with additional redevelopment plans under consideration throughout the metro area.
The hotel will be joined by approximately 180,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space. The first phase also includes 110,000 square feet of office space, 340 apartments, 133 townhomes and a 25,000-square-foot plaza. Future phases would bring the total count of residential units to approximately 900, with additional commercial space planned as well.
More than 50% of retail space in the development is already leased. Space is reserved for 26 Thai Kitchen and Bar, Amorino, AYA Medical Spa, BODY20, Burdlife, Clean Your Dirty Face, Cookie Fix, CRÚ Food & Wine Bar, Drybar Shops, Fadó Irish Pub, Five Daughters Bakery, Fogón and Lions, Knuckies Hoagies, Lily Sushi Bar, Little Rey, Minnie Olivia, Pause Studio, Sugarcoat Beauty and Summit Coffee.
“This will be a tailor-made hotel experience situated within a vibrant, secure mixed-use community,” said Todd Ratliff, managing director of Hodges Ward Elliott’s Hospitality Investment Advisory practice, which worked on The Hotel at Avalon and now Medley, in a prepared statement. “This kind of product is truly unique in the U.S., as it takes tremendous vision and expertise to execute at this scale.”
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