Transit Proximity Means Higher Commercial Rents in Atlanta

Transit-oriented office development is booming in Atlanta. Jarred Schenke writes, "What has arguably been the strongest office submarket in the past few years has been Midtown, which has spawned a number of new office projects, all of which have been close to MARTA stations."

But transit proximity comes at a price. According to a recent study, "Office rents at spaces within a half-mile of a transit station are approaching $30/SF this year, nearly 25% higher than the average office rents throughout Metro Atlanta."

Like their residential counterparts, these offices trend on the newer side. "They are also predominantly new construction, including MARTA's seven transit-oriented development projects in various stages of either planning or development. Any new construction will have market-high rates to cover the costs to build in today's market."

Limited parking is another factor behind the rising rents. As one market expert weighed in, "MARTA has to be an option. Whether someone takes it, that’s a whole different story."