Going to see a movie at a neighborhood theater was once a major pastime for Americans, and suburban cinemas provided plenty of free parking for guests.
That was the case at an AMC cinema in the Atlanta suburb of Kennesaw, with a large parking lot surrounding the property. But as in-person movie attendance declined over the years, much of that parking lot sat empty.
Enter Related Group. The developer purchased a portion of the movie theater's parking lot for $8.6 million in April 2021 and proceeded to work on its plan for a multifamily property, now called Manor Barrett.
The project was selected for a 2025 CoStar Impact Award for multifamily development of the year in Atlanta, as judged by a panel of local industry professionals familiar with the market.
Related Group constructed a new entryway to create a visual and physical separation of the apartment building from the movie theater. The developer also widened the street entryway, installed new lighting and signage, and improved landscaping.
Within the residential complex, its outdoor spaces include firepits, gazebos, swinging daybeds, a gaming lawn, grilling stations, a pool, cabanas, a pavilion and a kitchen. Indoors, amenities include a sports game simulator and billiards tables.
About the project: Manor Barrett is a 347-unit apartment complex in the northern suburbs of Atlanta. The property is about 96% leased, according to CoStar data.
What the judges said: "Any project that elevates a blighted parking lot in Atlanta's suburbs to a higher, better use is generally considered a success, but the execution of Manor Barrett deserves praise," said Christa DiLalo, senior research director at Cushman & Wakefield.
"The necessity to negotiate access and easements added layers of complexity to the development process but, more importantly, the transformation of the plot turned it from an ugly, desolate parking lot into a multifamily opportunity," DiLalo said.
They made it happen: Related Group's Maya Choucair, development coordinator, and Ed Allen, executive vice president of development.