ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
A massive development project in the heart of Buckhead is in progress again, after construction came to an abrupt halt three and a half years ago in the wake of the down economy.
The "Buckhead Atlanta" project is now managed by a new company, San Diego-based Oliver McMillan. They took over after Atlanta-based Ben Carter Properties was unable to maintain construction in early 2009.
"Basically it's going to be a revitalization of the village of Buckhead," said project manager Hunter Richardson. "We're actually creating a next generation for the village of Buckhead, in that any area that is vibrant with the city has to keep evolving with its populations, evolving with the times and changing. It can't afford to get stuck."
Richardson said Ben Carter Properties had a great vision for the original project, but Oliver McMillan has redone most of that initial master plan. The final price tag on the apartment, retail and office complex figures to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $1 billion.
"It'll be a tremendous shot in the arm when we get this back on stream," said Richardson. "We didn't create it, we're just going to fix it."
The first phase of the project is expected to be complete and ready to open sometime late in 2013.
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