In Grant Park: So Long, Lenny’s. Hello, The Leonard?
Wednesday, May 28, 2014, by Josh Green
From the ashes of a legendary Atlanta dive bar, an apartment community called “The Leonard” is rising, and now it has a website. The Memorial Drive site in question was once home to Lenny’s, the erstwhile “CBGB of Atlanta,” as Creative Loafing once called it. The Leonard is just like Lenny’s — if Lenny’s had a real job and an affinity for “Friends” reruns. Within the musty confines of Lenny’s, homegrown acts like Cat Power, Black Lips, Deerhunter and Janelle Monáe cut their teeth. At The Leonard, tenants will enjoy a 24-hour fitness center, a clubhouse and — no kidding — a concierge.
Just before Christmas, the Grant Park neighborhood held a “Wreck The Walls” party to honor the storied dive before its demolition, and leaders called the changes a positive step toward smart growth. Fast-forward a few months, and
The Leonard’s website says rents will range from $875 for a 500-square-footer with one bedroom to
$1,425 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit with 965 square feet. Last year, Urban Realty Partners told Curbed plans call for 94 apartments, 6,000 square feet of retail/restaurant space and a small amount of room for offices. The renderings suggest an understated four-story building with Juliette balconies. As for a timeline, the website promises the apartments and retail will be arriving this fall.
