The City of Atlanta has taken a significant step towards addressing the affordable housing crisis by breaking ground on a fully affordable apartment complex. This initiative is part of Mayor Andre Dickens’ ambitious plan to create or preserve 20,000 units of affordable housing by the year 2030. Currently, the city has successfully reached 6,800 units, with an additional 5,000 units in various stages of development.
On Wednesday, a tour highlighted the importance of such projects for the community. David Bond, an architect with the Fitzgerald Collaborative Group, emphasized that these developments prioritize community needs over profit. ‘It’s about what it could be for the community,’ he stated.
The push for affordable housing is complemented by efforts to redevelop historic buildings throughout the city. One notable site is the former Lakewood Heights Elementary School, where in 1936, General Motors workers held meetings that contributed to vital labor rights movements.
Historically significant, the school ultimately closed in 2003 and became another vacant property in Atlanta until recent revitalization efforts. It is one of eight surplus Atlanta Public Schools (APS) properties gaining new life in an effort to create community hubs. According to Daniel Drake, the senior executive director of facility services for APS, this is the first of several properties that the school system intends to retain for future generations while also incorporating affordable housing.
Among the eight properties slated for redevelopment are former elementary schools like Gilbert, Carey, Rosalie Wright, and Harper.
Another transformative development is the reimagining of the old Atlanta Constitution printing facility, now known as the Folio House. This long-vacant structure will be converted into approximately 200 affordable housing units. During the groundbreaking, Mayor Dickens made a commitment to preservation, stating, ‘We’re not tearing the building down. We’re going to make sure that this stays historic and preserved.’
These redevelopment projects hold significant potential for providing housing to some of Atlanta’s most vulnerable residents as the city experiences rapid growth and soaring housing costs.
David Mitchell, executive director of the Atlanta Preservation Center, underscored the importance of utilizing historic structures to serve contemporary needs. He referenced the Odd Fellows Building tower, a once-thriving center for Black business on Auburn Avenue, which has been repurposed by nonprofit Georgia Works to help accommodate homeless residents.
Mitchell pointed out the dilemma often faced in historic preservation: the narrative that buildings are ‘too far gone’ or that new construction is more viable. He claimed that projects like the Lakewood Elementary transformation help maintain structures that have stood for generations. ‘If you look at projects like Lakewood Elementary, the community is able to maintain something that has existed for decades — if not 100 years,’ he remarked.
Plans for the Lakewood Elementary redevelopment, led by APS and the Atlanta Urban Development Corporation, include both affordable housing and retail spaces aimed at stimulating economic development in the historic neighborhood. The request for proposal documents for potential developers highlight the preservation of the original 1932 section of the school building as a crucial component of the project.
Mitchell also argued that preserving historically significant buildings is worthwhile, particularly in a housing market that often promotes monotonous construction. ‘The housing market that we see now produces a lot of similarity. Now buildings that have defined those neighborhoods can influence what is being built,’ he noted.
Another crucial site is the Atlanta Constitution building, located at 143 Alabama St. SW, which has remained vacant since Georgia Power vacated the premises in the 1970s. This 95,000-square-foot property is noted for its distinct Art Moderne architectural style, making it one of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2024 “Places in Peril.” As nature takes its course, with trees emerging from its deteriorating roof and graffiti covering its walls, City Council member Jason Dozier remarked last month that this property ‘has stood as a silent witness to our city’s evolution.’
These ongoing projects are seen as a means to blend preservation with progress. As quoted by Dozier, they demonstrate ‘how our past can be a powerful foundation for an equitable and inclusive future.’
The redevelopment of these properties aligns with a broader vision for revitalizing downtown Atlanta, as Mayor Dickens prioritizes resources towards enhancing the city’s core. Through these initiatives, the city aims to create affordable housing, preserve historic structures, and foster communal growth.
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