PRESS RELEASE: Historic Sweet Auburn to house Atlanta’s newest co-living development
The Guild expands its unique co-living model focused on empowering changemakers and building resilient communities in Atlanta
Atlanta, GA — March 20, 2018: Atlanta based co-living social enterprise The Guild announces its second location on Auburn Ave, launching this summer. In partnership with developer Good Places, the newest affiliated member of the international Ethical Property family, and Urban South Development, this newly renovated location at 340 Auburn Ave. is called the Awethu House, named through a community engagement process conducted in 2017 by community organizer Lalanya Abner. “Amandla Awethu!”, a popular rallying cry in the days of resistance against apartheid, loosely translates to “Power to the People”, which is fitting for this historic property. The $2 million project, developed with a $550,000 grant from Invest Atlanta’s Eastside Tax Allocation District, offers office, retail, and residential space to changemakers, social enterprises and nonprofits. The Awethu House will be a place to welcome, celebrate, and enrich the lives of the people in the community.
“We are proud to launch our first US property (that will be part of the Ethical Property Family) very aptly in the heart of Atlanta’s internationally recognized civil rights district.” stated Cherie Ong, founder and CEO of Good Places, “For us, this investment is not just in a building or an area but it is an investment in our generation’s capacity to participate in and continue fuelling a legacy that is still so powerfully relevant today more than ever.”
Coliving continues to grow as a national trend. By allowing residents to share amenities and common spaces, it allows for more affordable living in cities faced with rising housing costs. The Guild further distinguishes itself by adding intentional programming and prioritizing the existing communities in which its members are housed.
The Guild will be the operators of the Awethu House and will work closely with tenants and the extended community to build an inclusive space for social change, in a community that has a deep-rooted history of civic and social impact. “There couldn’t have been a more synergistic project and community for our second location”, stated Nikishka Iyengar, founder and CEO of The Guild, “Sweet Auburn is a very special place, but like many neighborhoods in Atlanta, it is dealing with the struggle between revitalization and preservation. We recognize that it is both an honor and a responsibility to serve this neighborhood with a strong focus on equitable development”
Tenants of the first floor include Remerge, a community building and activating faith-based nonprofit with a design studio and coworking space, and Atlanta Breakfast Club, offering their famous sweet and savory chicken & waffles along with equitably sourced single-origin coffee by Phoenix Coffee Roasters. On the second floor, The Guild will bring together diverse changemakers in a co-living environment designed for them to thrive. Guild members have access to thoughtfully designed private suites and shared spaces that encourage collaboration. The suites themselves showcase the delicate balance between historical, modern, and all-natural — vintage sinks in the bathrooms, exposed brick and concrete, purifying house plants, and wall accents by local artists all add rich character.
A Guild membership comes with benefits; from guest lectures and workshops to community dinners and wellness sessions, our members have access to a wide variety of holistic programming that equips them to thrive, be active creators and participants in their community, and maximize their impact in the world. We are looking forward to extending our unique co-living program to build community in Sweet Auburn.
About The Guild
The Guild is a social enterprise that develops intentional co-living spaces and programs to empower changemakers and build resilient communities. We provide beautiful living spaces, curated events and a mission-community to help changemakers thrive and invest in their communities more effectively. By living at The Guild, you can also be assured that you’re living in a space that is ethically developed and operated.
About Good Places
Good Places invests in and develops places that do good. We are the newest affiliated member of the international Ethical Property family and the first in the United States. The Ethical Property Company is changing the way we all profit from property — socially, environmentally, and financially.
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