ATLANTA, Feb. 20, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Development Authority of Clayton County and the Clayton County Office of Economic Development said today they will move forward with plans to develop University Station Town Center, a new, live-work-play community four miles south of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International.
University Station has become a regional destination centered on the existing National and State Archives and Clayton State University. As part of the county's vision to have the project spur economic development, the authority is moving forward with the final component, University Station Town Center, which will serve as a focal point for this growing community.
"We are all very excited about University Station and the live-work-play environment, which has become a centerpiece of our Economic Development program here in Clayton County," said Chairman Jeff Turner of the Clayton County Board of Commissioners. "Not only will University Station create jobs and offer investment opportunities, the extensive impact in our community will include visitor attraction from many areas, including Archives researchers, Clayton State students and recurring visits by parents of those students."
With a total build-out value of $100 million, University Station will feature more than 165,000 square feet of retail, hotel, office, civic and residential offerings. The project already is home to a new sound stage where several recent projects have been filmed, including the upcoming Scary Movie 5 starring Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan.
"The film stage is expected to be a huge economic driver for Clayton County. The film industry has already created more than 100 permanent jobs in the area, and the annual economic impact could exceed $10 million a year," said Grant Wainscott, Economic Development and Film Office Director for Clayton County. "Several projects are looking to use the stage in the coming months, and we are actively recruiting other types of entertainment industry users like catering companies and casting agencies."
Plans call for the first building to be a four-story office building designed to house local economic development agencies and business groups as tenants. The project's proximity to the Archives and Clayton State will make it attractive to hotel, retail, residential and office developers as well. Here's a breakdown of what is planned on the 10-acre Town Center portion of site:
Retail: 100,000 – 150,000 square feet
Hotel: Up to 100 beds or 20,000 square feet
Office: 30,000 – 50,000 square feet
Senior Living / Other: 15,000 – 20,000 square feet
Soundstage (operational now) – 60,000 square feet
"University Station will create a unique sense of place unlike any other," said Yulonda Beauford, president of the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce. "The modern, sustainable office building is an ideal fit for tenants including incubator companies, targeting those with innovation, civic service and genealogy or education at the core of their missions. Additionally, University Station is targeting restaurant, coffee shop, bookstore, genealogical retail and other support retail tenants."
The Development Authority of Clayton County owns the development. Carter is serving as the development advisor, and the master planner is HGOR.
"This new addition is great for our district," said Clayton County Commissioner Sonna Singleton, who represents the area surrounding the project. "The economic impact created by University Station will help Clayton County attract the jobs we need and visitors we desire."
About University Station
University Station is comprised of 155 acres of retail, hotel, office, educational, civic and residential offerings. Attracting visitors in search of history, education, and entertainment, University Station is a unifying destination centered around Clayton State University and more than $100 million of new civic infrastructure including the National and State Archives, parks and green space, and a future transit station. Located on the remaining 9.8 acres of the development, University Station Town Center represents the final piece of the vision, to create a timeless community asset for the ages. Visit www.universitystationga.com for more information about the project.
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