May 1, 2007

OAKLAND PARK SIGNS FIRST RETAIL TENANT
New Restaurant from Rich Chey to Anchor Eco-Friendly Condos 

ATLANTA, May 1, 2007 – Oakland Park, an environmentally-friendly loft and condo project under construction in historic Grant Park, has signed its first retail tenant, Stella Neighborhood Trattoria, a new concept from restaurateur Rich Chey of Doc Chey’s Noodle House and Osteria 832 Pizza & Pasta. 

Scheduled to open this fall, Stella Neighborhood Trattoria will feature made from scratch pizzas, pastas, sandwiches and salads along with a full bar.  The design will include dark woods, rich colors and an open-air patio.  “We envision Stella as Grant Park’s gathering spot for great Italian food and good times,” said Rich Chey.  “Stella means ‘star’ in Italian and we aim to shine as an affordable, family-friendly eatery,” he added.  Stella will be open daily for lunch and dinner; more information is available at www.stellatrattoria.com. 

“The Memorial Drive corridor is one of the fastest-growing areas of the city as more people recognize the benefits of in-town living,” said Simon Tuohy of Urban Realty Partners.  “And beyond a high-profile location, the environmental sensitivity represented by this building is very attractive to today’s home buyer.  We hope to influence our residents and retail tenants to reflect the building’s eco-friendly features and finishes in their own interiors,” he said. 

Located at 563 Memorial Drive with unobstructed views of the Atlanta skyline, Oakland Park features 65 loft and condo residences and is aiming for certification under the US Green Building Council’s (USBGC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.  Upon completion, Oakland Park will be among the first LEED-certified condo projects in Georgia. 

Eco-friendly features of the property include a site convenient to public transit, bamboo flooring, high-performance plumbing fixtures that reduce water usage by 30-percent, operable windows that provide natural ventilation and a rooftop sun deck with stunning views.  It is also one of the only condo residences in Atlanta to offer on-site recycling for residents.  “This restaurant is a welcome addition to the project, not only for our residents but also for people from surrounding neighborhoods and from across the metro area who see Grant Park as a destination for dining and cultural attractions,” said Scott Doksansky, director of portfolio management for Melaver, Inc. 

“Rich Chey’s operations have a track record for success in many of Atlanta’s unique, in-town neighborhoods, making his restaurant a great fit with Oakland Park.” Oakland Park is a joint development between Atlanta-based Urban Realty Partners and  Melaver, Inc. who have developments in Atlanta, Savannah and Birmingham.  When open, the site will have a total of 6,400 square feet of retail space fronting Memorial Drive and Park Avenue.  Sales of the residences are being handled by Morris & Raper Realtors.  Retail brokerage is through Camden Commercial Real Estate.  The building is scheduled for completion and occupation in August.  More information can be found at www.oaklandparkatlanta.com.