An Atlanta-based real estate development firm is working on several projects in metro Atlanta.
Vida Companies has completed its seed funding round on Vida Opportunities Fund I, LLC, a $47 million fund. It will fund the construction of two projects, one located in Atlanta’s Upper Westside and one in Buford.
Vida Companies is headquartered in Atlanta and has projects across the Southeast. The company is led by Joe Martinez.
“I always had this idea that we could start a company that focused on delivering great projects serving our community, delivering excellence to our investors, and really thinking about exceeding their expectations and creating purposeful and joyful places,” Martinez said in an interview with What Now Atlanta. “When I think about the way that people spend their lives, housing is such a basis. How can we create memorable moments where people say, ‘I’m glad I spent time living at that place’?”
Martinez was previously the director of development at Crescent Communities, then the managing director at RangeWater Real Estate. Now, as the president of Vida Companies, he sees opportunity to deliver new projects and housing options in the next several years.
“Peak supply of apartments in Atlanta hit in the third quarter of last year, and there is a lack of new deliveries in the next three years to handle the absorption we’ve historically had,” he said. “We think this presents a tremendous investment opportunity.”
GuildHouse at Upper Westside
Located on seven acres at 2085 Marietta Boulevard NW, GuildHouse will include build-to-rent townhomes, multifamily apartments and 7,200 square feet commercial space.
There will be 39, three-story townhomes with garages, as well as 354 apartments ranging from 550 to 1,350 square feet with a parking deck. Shared amenities will include a coffee bar, a coworking space, a saltwater pool, a pet spa, a sky lounge, two courtyards, and a pocket park.
Vida is working with Edie Weintraub from Terra Alma to identify a restaurant and other retail businesses for the commercial space.
GuildHouse is located near other neighborhood features. The next phase of the Woodall Rail Trail by the PATH Foundation will connect to the north of the site down to The Works, a mixed-use dining, retail and entertainment destination, and also to the Atlanta BeltLine.
“We’re really excited about that particular site,” Martinez said of the GuildHouse project. “There’s so much momentum in the Upper Westside as an extension of all the technology companies based in West Midtown.”
They expect to break ground in June of this year, with first move-ins planned for summer 2027.
Carrena Apartments
Carrena Apartments will be located in Buford at 3172 Financial Center Way. It will feature 332 units, ranging from alcove studios to one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans.
Martinez said they are excited about this development’s location and its proximity to Mall of Georgia.
“We love Buford, as you can get more space out there, but you still have access to some great retail,” he said. “You’ve got golf, Pickle and Social, Sprouts, all these great retailers in and around Mall of Georgia. We’re literally one traffic light off the freeway. It’s really easy access to come in and out of where we’re located.”
They anticipate being able to break ground on the project this spring, with units ready for residents in late summer 2026.
Vida’s other current projects in Georgia include Verona in Fairburn and Solara in Powder Springs.
During his time in the commercial real estate industry, Martinez has seen several changes, notably, the effects of inflationary pressures and increased costs.
“Building materials are more expensive, labor is getting more expensive, but the need for housing is more acute than ever,” he said. “We take that very seriously. We’re building best-in-class differentiated product, but the supply of housing, building it at all price points, is incredibly important, from affordable to luxury. We need new supply across the board.”
Consumer preferences and needs are changing as well, with a shift toward smaller apartment buildings and build-to-rent townhomes appealing to renters more than high-rises. Vida is aiming to meet this demand with the 39 townhomes planned for the Upper Westside project.
Overall, Martinez is excited about the future of commercial real estate in metro Atlanta.
“I’m super excited about what the next 30 years look like for Atlanta,” he said. “We should be dreaming big as a city, state and region.”
