The former Methodist church and headquarters in Downtown Atlanta is getting new life as an apartment complex.

Braden Fellman Group purchased the former Atlanta First United Methodist Church headquarters at 159 Ralph McGill Blvd. — a six-story, 36K SF brick office building and the adjacent chapel — for $3M from American Capital Properties. The complex, including the distinctive round steepled church building, was operated by the Methodist Church through 2000 when the group moved to the suburbs. It has been empty since.

The developer plans to convert the 54-year-old office building into 50 loft-style apartments, Braden Fellman principal Andrew Braden said. The developer will spend $7M on the project. The former chapel is slated to become a gym and amenities building, Braden said.

Braden said rents will range from $1,200 to $1,300 a month at the new apartment complex, which is next to the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center and Georgia Power's headquarters. Units will range between 400 and 650 SF. Braden said the firm is seeing growing demand for housing in Downtown Atlanta.

“We've seen a lot of young professionals who live in that area,” he said. “Although it's interesting times … our whole portfolio is in-town Atlanta, and our occupancy is doing better than it has ever done.”

Construction is set to begin immediately, with delivery expected in late 2021 or early 2022.