Steel and scaffolding now fill the gap where the Reserve at LaVista Walk's clock tower used to mark the skyline. At 1155 LaVista Road NE, on the same block rocked by a three-alarm fire in November 2023 that displaced more than 300 residents, Union Eleven is climbing out of the ashes. Vertical construction kicked off roughly three months ago, and crews say the project is closing in on top-out as revamped buildings are tied into brand-new structures along LaVista.
What’s Being Built
When fully complete, Union Eleven is slated to include 339 apartments across four stories, with floorplans ranging from about 582 to 1,314 square feet. Monthly rents start at $2,394 for a two-bedroom, two-bath unit, according to Apartments.com. The listing flags the property as "now leasing," touts move-in specials, and shows a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes currently on the market. Those numbers signal a clear shift upmarket for this stretch between Midtown and Buckhead.
The Redevelopment And What Was Lost
Atlanta-based Fortis Property Management is both developing and set to manage Union Eleven, combining heavy renovation with fresh construction, as reported by Urbanize Atlanta. Contractor Buckhaven told the outlet that nearly half of the original complex had to come down: 155 of 283 former rentals were demolished. The remaining 128 units were renovated and are reportedly more than 70 percent leased. Along LaVista Road, 211 new apartments are rising in five- and six-story buildings, bringing the property back to a total of 339 units.
Legal Fallout
The Nov. 10, 2023 blaze, blamed on celebratory birthday fireworks, forced hundreds of people from their homes and set off a federal class-action complaint that alleges a faulty fire-suppression system and negligence by management, according to Atlanta Magazine. Former residents told reporters they felt pushed to sign waivers in order to retrieve their belongings, and court filings remain active even as the rebuilt complex takes shape.
Amenities, Timeline And Local Context
Marketing materials and project representatives say Union Eleven will add a second onsite swimming pool, a full game room, a yoga and wellness studio, a grand clubroom with work-from-home nooks, and a rooftop terrace promising skyline views, per Urbanize Atlanta. Fortis, which the developer says manages more than 50 communities and roughly 13,000 units across the Southeast, expects the project to fully deliver next year. For neighbors who watched charred shells come down and cranes roll in, the rising frame is a visible sign of recovery, even as residents and attorneys say they are still waiting for answers about how the disaster unfolded.
