In the heart of Atlanta’s historic West End, just steps from Morehouse College and Spelman College, a major new residential development is rising to meet the growing needs of students at the Atlanta University Center (AUC). The Den at Eight50 West, a $147 million apartment-style complex at 850 West End Avenue, will deliver 305 units totaling 793 beds when it opens for the fall 2028 semester.
Construction began in July 2026 after financing closed earlier in the year.
The Den at Eight50 West: What To Know
A formal groundbreaking ceremony on October 15, 2026, brought together Mayor Andre Dickens, Spelman President Ayanna Howard, Morehouse President F. DuBois Bowman, developers, and community leaders on the site immediately south of Morehouse’s B.T. Harvey Stadium.
Addressing a Critical Housing Need
Morehouse (a historically Black men’s liberal arts college with more than 2,800 students) and Spelman (a historically Black women’s college with roughly 2,500 undergraduates) have long faced rising demand for quality, affordable housing near campus. The Den is designed specifically to serve students from both institutions, marking what developers describe as a first-of-its-kind joint housing partnership for the two HBCUs.
The roughly 360,000-square-foot project offers a mix of studio, one-, two-, and four-bedroom apartments. Lounges are planned on every floor, and a central green courtyard is intended as a gathering space. Rents are projected at about $1,200 per bed per month, positioning the community as an affordable option relative to market-rate housing in Atlanta.
Mayor Dickens highlighted the broader context at the groundbreaking: “The Den at 850 West will address a problem in Atlanta, and in most cities, that is, the cost of housing has gone up.” The project aims to improve both affordability and safety for AUC students while supporting enrollment growth at the colleges.
Amenities and Design
Common-area amenities include a 24/7 staffed lobby, outdoor recreation space, a fitness room, community lounges, study rooms, bike storage, and a dog run. The design balances independent living with communal featurees suited to college students.
The courtyard rendering shows a landscaped green with walking paths, seating, and spaces for students to gather outdoors—features expected to become central to daily campus life once the building opens
Development Team and Economic Impact
Philadelphia-based Radnor Property Group is the lead developer, partnering with Madrone Community Development Foundation. Financing came primarily through approximately $146.8–$147 million in bonds issued by the Development Authority of Fulton County (Develop Fulton).
Construction is managed by a joint venture of Clark Construction Group and C.D. Moody Construction. The latter is led by Morehouse alumnus C. David Moody Jr., whose firm brings a direct connection to the AUC community. Black-owned architecture firm Moody Nolan is the architect, and Pape-Dawson serves as civil engineer. Once complete, the property will be managed by Radnor Campus Management, a joint venture between Radnor Property Group and COCM.
The project is expected to generate roughly 350 construction jobs and 14 permanent positions. Tim Gigliotti, Radnor’s managing director of development, called the groundbreaking a “historic milestone” for the joint partnership between the two HBCUs.
Redevelopment Comes To Atlanta’s West End
The site sits near Interstate 20 and Spelman’s Mary Schmidt Campbell Center for Innovation and the Arts. Its location on West End Avenue places it at the doorstep of the AUC, one of the largest consortia of historically Black colleges in the nation. Local officials and college leaders have described the development as transformative for the neighborhood, adding purpose-built student housing where demand has outpaced supply.
With construction already underway and a clear timeline targeting fall 2028 occupancy, The Den at Eight50 West represents a significant public-private investment in student housing, HBCU support, and West End revitalization. As Atlanta continues to grow, projects like this help ensure that students at its most prominent historically Black institutions have access to high-quality, nearby housing.