Back in July, North American Properties announced plans to bring 305 apartments to Pill Hill. Although they'd be located in Sandy Springs, the apartments drew strong criticism from neighbors in Brookhaven who felt they would be negatively impacted by the increase in residential density in what is currently an enclave of single-family homes. Not surprisingly, the outcry of people in another county has had little impact on the plans, and the Atlanta Business Chronicle reports the developer has been in discussions with Emory St. Joseph's Hospital to establish a shuttle linking the site to MARTA and even setting aside apartments for employees on the medical campus.

In addition to building apartments on the 3.8-acre site, North American Properties plans to bring more than 10,000 square feet of medical and office space to the development along with a small park. Designed by Dwell Design Studio — the architect behind many local mixed-use projects — the project has a definite traditional leaning.

Even as neighbors bemoan the development, government leaders point to a lack of rental housing around the area's major jobs center, home to an estimated 11,600 employees. Pending rezoning changes from an Office and Institutional District to a Mixed Use District — a switch that could happen as soon as next week — construction could start as early as next year.

· New apartments planned for Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital campus [Atlanta Business Chronicle]

· Pill Hill Apartment Plan makes Brookhaven Neighbors Wary [Curbed Atlanta]