The developer in charge of remaking the shuttered Atlanta Medical Center into a community hub announced Tuesday it is moving forward with the demolition of some of the aging hospital’s structures.
Integral Group and Wellstar Health System selected Ferma Corp. to lead demolition work at the 22-acre Old Fourth Ward property, clearing the way for new mixed-use development. The project team is still evaluating which structures need to be torn down and which ones can be reintegrated into the new development, but it’s a major step for one of the city’s most prominent pieces of property.
Demolition, which is slated to begin as soon as late March, will be the first visible sign that the century-old hospital is being reborn as something new.
“The demolition phase represents the groundwork for transformation,” Eric Pinckney, senior vice president at Integral, said in a news release. “Our commitment is to deliver a redevelopment that aligns with the values and aspirations of those who live and work here.”
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
The hospital campus, which first opened in 1901 and is currently owned by Wellstar, was abruptly closed in 2022, leaving Atlanta leaders in shock and disrupting the city’s health care ecosystem. The closure left Atlanta with only one Level 1 trauma center: Grady Memorial Hospital.
The city placed a series of zoning moratoriums on the property along the Boulevard corridor to evaluate redevelopment options. In October, Wellstar selected Integral — an Atlanta developer known for pioneering the mixed-income housing model — as the project lead to revamp the shuttered hospital into a district with for-sale and rental residential units alongside public green spaces and neighborhood retail. City leaders gave their nod of approval, clearing the way for the site’s eventual transformation.
Ferma said the initial demolition phase will begin with “unsafe and unusable facilities,” including a circular parking structure. Integral officials previously said a majority of the hospital could be demolished, but further specifics are still being determined. Some of the campus’ towers may be preserved for conversion into other uses. A spokesperson for Ferma said they’ve provided Integral with demolition estimates and budgets for “all the structures included within the Wellstar campus.”
Preliminary site preparation is scheduled to begin in early February, Ferma said in its news release. Once proper permits are issued, visible demolition will begin and is expected to take place until late 2025. Subcontractors Trinity Green and Atlanta Demolition will assist with the work.
“Our approach to this demolition goes beyond clearing structures,” Barry Roberts, founder of Atlanta Demolition, said in the release. “This project is about laying the groundwork for a future that respects the site’s history while opening doors for growth and inclusivity.”
Credit: Courtesy Integral Group
Credit: Courtesy Integral Group
The final project’s specifics, which are still being formed, will be based on city-formulated redevelopment plans previously presented to the area’s local neighborhood planning unit. While it doesn’t include any on-site medical facilities, it consisted of up to 2.4 million square feet of residential units, 120,000 square feet of commercial and retail shops and 240,000 square feet of office space. The redevelopment could also connect the longtime hospital to Freedom Park Trail, Old Fourth Ward Park and the east side of the Beltline.
“While additional planning is required to finalize specifics, Wellstar looks forward to partnering with the Mayor, City Council, the community, and other stakeholders to realize a shared vision for the site,” the health system said in the release.
Ferma officials will be at Tuesday’s Old Fourth Ward Neighborhood Association meeting to further discuss the project.
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