ATHENS, GA—Students in this Georgia city will have a new housing option when they begin the fall 2014 semester. Landmark Properties, a locally based development firm, and Harrison Street Real Estate Capital have kicked off work on what’s said to be the first core, purpose-built student housing property in the city’s Downtown.

The community, dubbed the Standard at Athens, is located at Thomas and Strong streets in the former Athens Hardware building. “With our location, product and amenities, we should compete very well in the Athens market,” says Landmark president and CEO Wes Rogers. “This is a site we’ve had our eyes on for a while and we’re excited to be building in our hometown again.”

In the works since last January, the $30-million project will consist of 610 bedrooms and 24,788 square feet of ground-floor retail space in an eight-story building. Features include a rooftop infinity edge swimming pool complete with cabanas, a 10,900-square-foot clubhouse with strength training and cardio fitness centers, gaming lounge, sauna, study rooms with coffee bar, golf simulator, tanning beds and a courtyard.