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August 30, 2021

Updated Food Hall Design, Addition of Great Lawn Highlight Next Phase of Development at Lee + White

MDH Partners and Ackerman & Co. unveil new plans at revitalized mixed-use project

ATLANTA, August 30, 2021 – Ramping up for its next phase of redevelopment, investment partners MDH Partners and Ackerman & Co. have released refined plans and renderings for Lee + White, the adaptive mixed-use destination in Atlanta’s historic West End. The latest renderings unveil new plans for the food hall, a proposed shipping container pop-up retail village and outdoor space with an expansive Great Lawn. Construction on the new phase is currently underway and will be delivered in spring 2022.

“We are working tremendously hard with the Ackerman team to cultivate an immersive experience to match the vibrant energy of the West End neighborhood,” said Jeff Small, CEO of MDH Partners. “There’s nothing else quite like Lee + White, and we are pleased to announce our new plans for the property. Our ultimate goal is to create a gathering space for the community, and we look forward to amplifying our existing tenants and welcoming new ones, with our revitalization of the food hall, unique retail spaces and activated green space.”

Originally planned as new construction, Lee + White’s food hall will now be located in the pre-existing Building 1020 and comprise 28,000 square feet. Construction is currently underway to revamp the space, and the full building will consist of an intentional mix of full-service restaurants, including the second location of Lake & Oak announced in May; fast casual dining options; and 13 food stalls. A large central bar will be situated at the front of the building and will open to the new exterior 24-foot patio, which extends along the surface parking lot facing the BeltLine. The Ackerman & Co. leasing team is currently in talks with a diverse mix of dining options for the available space.

Leading the leasing efforts at the food hall and retail spaces is Ackerman Retail Senior Vice President Kelly Wilson, whose many high-profile and successful leasing assignments include the 100% pre-lease up at Marietta Square Market, recognized as one of the top food halls in Metro Atlanta.

“We’re seeing great interest from a wide range of food vendors. The energizing environment provided by the surrounding breweries, distilleries and food manufacturers, along with the additional foot traffic soon to come from new office tenants, make this food hall a highly appealing destination for best-in-class and new-to-market concepts,” said Wilson. “We’re anticipating a rapid lease up and look forward to welcoming these new vendors to the West End community and Atlanta when the food hall opens next year.”

The updated plan for the food hall creates room for the addition of expansive green space fronting the BeltLine and food hall, creating a central gathering place that replaces an area that is currently asphalt, doubling the size of the green space from initial plans. The activated Great Lawn will allow for guests to socialize, dine and lounge while taking in the sights of the half-mile of BeltLine that runs in front of Lee + White. The integrated green space will be the largest of its kind along the BeltLine, differentiating the project from other BeltLine-accessible developments.

“The half-mile of BeltLine frontage, the four direct BeltLine entrances to the Lee + White property and the ample green space fronting the hugely popular trail are advantages that even the most established projects along the BeltLine can’t match,” said Leo Wiener, President of Ackerman Retail, a division of Ackerman & Co.

He added: “Utilizing the existing 1020 warehouse building and revitalizing it for adaptive re-use not only allows us to complete the food hall construction earlier than expected, but it also furthers our sustainable practices and aligns with our green initiatives.”

Adjacent to the Great Lawn will be five single-use 20-foot shipping containers transformed into pop-up retail spaces, creating a shipping container village on the property. The small-format retail spaces will house collections from small businesses ranging from clothing and fashion designers to homeware. The retail container village will offer visibility to local established business owners who are exploring different avenues to display new products. The places of business will continue to rotate as leases will be signed on a short-term basis.

“We’re always keeping our green initiatives at the forefront of our acquisition and redevelopment strategy,” adds Small. “Restoring an existing building, adding green space and readapting single-use shipping containers all further our goal of creating a more sustainable environment.”

The loft office redevelopment, a major component of the project, is well underway, with completion slated for this September on 61,000-square-foot Building 1050 and construction now underway on 90,000-square-foot Building 929. The offices offer convenient access to the nearby West End MARTA rail station and will feature high ceilings, abundant natural light and direct BeltLine access.

Acquired by MDH Partners and Ackerman & Co. in September 2019, Lee + White is a redevelopment of the former “Warehouse Row” buildings located at the intersection of Lee and White streets, comprising 11 buildings and totaling 433,204 square feet. Initial master plans for ongoing phases of development at Lee + White were announced in May 2020. In May of this year, the mixed-use development announced the second location of famed BBQ restaurant, Lake & Oak, joining the property along with Atlanta-owned nanotechnology company Carbice Carbon. Additionally, Monday Night Brewery expanded its existing space by nearly 10,000 square feet to accommodate increased production capacity.

Lee + White is located 0.4 miles from the West End MARTA station and is convenient to all of metro Atlanta’s major interstates, I-20, I-75, I-85 and I-285.

About Lee + White
Reimagining the West End’s former “Warehouse Row,” Lee + White is Atlanta’s next trendsetting adaptive re-use project. Already a go-to destination for foodies and beer lovers, Lee + White’s next phase of development is bringing loft offices, a food hall, retail, and expanded BeltLine access. This transformation continues in a spirit that recognizes the West End’s rich history. Construction is underway, and deliveries will begin in fall 2021. The growing tenant roster at Lee + White includes ASW Exchange, Best End Brewing, Boxcar, Carbice Carbon, Cultured South, Doux South Pickles, Honeysuckle Gelato, Hop City, Lake & Oak Restaurant, Mac Stadium, Monday Night Garage, The Overlook Boulder + Fitness, Plywood People and Wild Heaven Beer.

About MDH Partners
MDH Partners is an Atlanta-based real estate investment company managing its discretionary funds targeting industrial real estate across the United States on behalf of its institutional investors. Founded in 2005 as the successor to a fifty-year-old local real estate development company, MDH Partners has led and/or participated in over $4 billion (75 million square feet) of acquisitions, developments, and asset management as an advisor and investor. For more information, visit www.mdhpartners.com.

About Ackerman & Co.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Ackerman & Co. is a privately held, full-service commercial real estate firm focused on providing quality investment, brokerage, management and development services in the Southeast. The company, founded in 1967, retains an expert team of more than 100 real estate professionals. To date, Ackerman & Co. has developed and acquired more than 37 million square feet of office, medical, industrial, retail and mixed-use space, has 4.5 million square feet under management and maintains an investment portfolio valued at $1 billion. For more information, visit www.ackermanco.com