San Saba Court

The San Saba property is a 3.7-acre infill property located in Harlem, Georgia.  As the site of a former pecan factory, the property holds significant potential for redevelopment with its large size and location at the main-main intersection of Harlem’s downtown.  MWA prepared this master plan for the City of Harlem to explore how the site could support the City’s goals for downtown revitalization and introduction of small-scale, attainable housing options. The plan was developed in collaboration with Brian Mork of Studio Mork, who provided building designs that reflect the scale and character of Harlem’s traditional architecture.

The plan is centered on a sequence of pedestrian spaces.  A cottage court provides shared green space for residents, encouraging neighborly connection and informal gathering. On the commercial edge, a courtyard offers additional space for shopping and outdoor dining which is tucked away from the adjacent trucking route.  The plan envisions a mix of small-scale building types—including cottages, garage apartments, four-plexes, live-work units, and the courtyard mixed-use building—carefully arranged to complement the existing urban fabric.  Each building is designed with scale, massing, and detailing that reflect the historic character of Harlem’s downtown so that this infill development meets the community’s present needs in a way that is context-sensitive and clearly rooted in the heritage of the place.

Location:  Harlem, Georgia

Client:  City of Harlem, Georgia

Type:  Infill 

Program:  37 residences & 12,020 SF commercial

Transect Zones:  T4, T5