ION College Park

College Park, GA

ION College Park is an arts centric development project that includes a mix of arts programming and housing. Housing will offer a mix of ownership opportunities and affordable rentals, while arts programming will be led by our arts partner, PushPush Arts. The master development includes a 9% low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) apartment, for-sale live/work units, shared-living, a community living room that includes a cafe/gallery space, and a diversity of artist spaces, including galleries, a black-box theater, rehearsal spaces, a commercial kitchen and creative workspaces of different shape, sizes and scope. The development is connected through the “Art Walk,” a pedestrian alleyway that is fronted by artisan spaces occupied by various creative businesses and artists.

Our vision for ION is a creative playground that welcomes the community to re-discover their inherent creativity, create authentic works, and use exploration as a path to inspiration. “Ion” is founded on the idea that playful, storied, and inspirational spaces can act as a conduit of creativity and connection. ION celebrates diversity in all things; of thought, of people, and perspectives. Ion inspires curiosity, togetherness, and drives collaborative exploration for artists, residents, and visitors alike. ION builds and fortifies College Park by actively reflecting and engaging with it in ways that support and galvanize our community through the arts.

The project follow a participatory design process through a series of design charrettes tailored to artists in the community as well as the community at large. As part of the participatory process, potential buyers may choose different appliances options that best suit their budget and use of their future space, such as a workspace option for artists who wish to have their own studio, and a residential option for artists who wish to purchase the space as their home. These options were developed through a combination of surveys, group workshops and one-on-one artist interviews.

eightvillage provided urban design, master planning, development assistance, financial analysis, programmatic development, architecture and a tailored community engagement process, including the development of a project website: ioncollegepark.community

Done proudly in collaboration with Good Places.

Services: master planning, vision planning, urban design, community engagement, development, architectural design