CRE IMPACT River Arts District, LLC, an affiliate of Atlanta-based CCI Real Estate, and the Rome Floyd Chamber celebrated the start of vertical construction on Nova River District, a mixed-use destination located along the Oostanaula River in Rome, Georgia. The first phase of the redevelopment is expected to be completed in Fall 2025 and will create a walkable and welcoming community featuring 250 residences, street-level dining, wellness-driven amenities and one acre of programmed greenspace.
“Downtown Rome is already a vibrant, inviting place that brings people together to enjoy charming and historic streetscapes, eclectic shopping and delicious food. We envision Nova River District as an extension of that main street experience, creating new opportunities to gather and enjoy all the things that make Rome a great place to live and visit,” said Jeff Warwick, founder and CEO of CCI. “By engaging local business owners, connecting to existing greenways, delivering much-needed residences and infusing the project with wellness-focused amenities, we hope Nova will draw people to the River District and become part of the fabric of Downtown Rome.”
Partners, stakeholders and the community celebrated progress and momentum at Nova River District with a groundbreaking ceremony on April 11. Speakers at the event included: Pam Powers-Smith, president of the Rome Floyd Chamber of Commerce; Sammy Rich, City Manager of the City of Rome; Jamie McCord, County Manager at Floyd County; Aundi Lesley, director of the Rome Downtown Development Authority; Wright Bagby, Floyd County Commissioner; and Warwick.
“For years, the city has worked strategically to attract growth along the riverfront and the West 3rd Street corridor, and the Marriott Courtyard was the first phase of the four-acre tract we assembled with hopes for a mixed-use concept to be the second phase,” said Rich. “Now, we’re pleased that Nova River District represents the second phase of our long-sought plan to grow our downtown riverfront with private investment. The developers have been exceptional to work with and are here at just the right time. Their project will not only provide valuable housing options, but also new food and beverage opportunities.”
Nova River District will create a community centered around wellness, recreation and social spaces, complementing existing businesses in Downtown Rome and adding to the vibrancy of Historic Broad Street located across the river. Positioned on 6.4 acres between the Courtyard Rome Riverwalk and Fifth Avenue, the redevelopment will provide 250 newly constructed residences – including 178 one-bedroom and 64 two-bedroom apartments – and nearly 14,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. Two of the original buildings on the property will also be redeveloped into an additional 4,000 square feet of adaptive reuse retail space.
In March, Pinnacle Financial Partners and Commerce One Bank closed a $37 million construction loan for Nova River District. Additional partners include Poole & Poole Architecture as the architect; True North Companies as the general contractor; Focus Design Interiors, Inc. as the interior designer; Davis & Church, LLC as the structural engineer; Phillips Gradick Engineering, PC as the MEP engineer; and Dovetail Civil Design, Inc. as the civil engineer. Gallery residential will handle property management for the multifamily component.