Beulah Heights University looks to sell property along newly opened Beltline trail

ATLANTA — Beulah Heights University is seeking a buyer for its campus along the Atlanta Beltline, opening the door for a major mixed-use redevelopment on one of the last large, trail-fronting sites in southeast Atlanta.

The university, founded in 1918, has tapped Adams Commercial Real Estate to market its property at 882 and 892 Berne Street SE in the Ormewood Park and Grant Park area. The offering includes five contiguous parcels totaling about 4.3 acres with roughly 400 feet facing the Beltline’s Southside Trail, which officially opened April 16.

School leaders say they are open to selling all or part of the campus but intend to maintain a presence on the site. Any redevelopment plan that removes existing campus buildings or parking would require replacing those facilities within the new project.

The campus currently includes administrative offices, classrooms, a library and a chapel totaling just over 31,000 square feet, along with about 80 parking spaces.

Marketing materials outline multiple redevelopment scenarios, ranging from a smaller one-acre portion of the site along the Beltline to the full 4.3 acres. Larger redevelopment options would require developers to incorporate up to 31,000 square feet of replacement space for the university.

The property is currently zoned for office and residential uses, meaning rezoning would be required for a mixed-use project. Brokers say the site is well-suited for apartments with ground-floor retail and restaurants oriented toward the Beltline. 

Unlike major developments along the Eastside Trail, such as Krog Street Market and Ponce City Market, this site borders townhomes to the north and single-family homes to the east and south. New apartments and townhomes, along with Maynard Jackson High School, sit to the west. 

The surrounding Ormewood Park, Glenwood Park, and Grant Park area has seen rapid growth in recent years, with rising incomes, home values, and demand for walkable amenities. Despite that growth, this stretch of the Southside Trail remains relatively underdeveloped for retail, according to marketing materials.

Offers for the property are due May 30. Developers are required to submit detailed proposals outlining pricing, site plans, financing and how they would integrate the university’s continued presence into the project.

Beulah Heights University, founded in 1918 in Atlanta, is a Protestant Christian institution focused on ethical leadership. It offers programs in ministry, leadership, and professional studies, including doctoral degrees, according to the university website.