The affordable housing crisis is not exclusive to Atlanta’s city limits; it is now extending its reach into the suburban towns and cities surrounding the metro area.
As housing prices continue to rise and construction activities gradually slow down, developers of affordable housing face significant challenges in these rapidly growing suburbs.
This pressing issue was highlighted by panelists at Bisnow’s Atlanta Affordable Housing Summit, where they discussed how arduous permitting processes and the pervasive presence of NIMBYism (Not In My Back Yard) hinder the efforts to construct affordable units for critical professionals, such as nurses, police officers, teachers, and firefighters.
The Atlanta metro area has witnessed a dramatic growth of nearly a million residents over the past decade, resulting in increased strain on housing availability and affordability, especially for low- to moderate-income households.
In contrast to some suburban towns like Woodstock, which openly embrace affordable housing initiatives, there are neighboring cities where just the mention of affordable development can lead to strong opposition.
Philip Searles, president of the Beverly J. Searles Foundation, noted the stark differences in attitudes toward affordable housing projects, illustrating the challenges faced in towns like Roswell.
He stated, “Next door in Roswell, if you breathe the word affordable, they will run you out of the city.”
Even when affordable developers have secured local government backing prior to public hearings, public opposition can still scuttle planned projects.
Searles recounted his experiences, indicating that developers often find themselves blindsided at public hearings despite having support from city staff and council members.
“Hard to believe in 2025 we’re still dealing with NIMBYism, right?” remarked Emily Bowers, Senior Director of the Green Building Initiative, reflecting on the ongoing frustrations in the industry.
Further compounding these issues is the complex and lengthy permitting and approval processes, which significantly inflate the eventual costs of undertaking an affordable housing project.
Casey Craven, Vice President of Prestwick Development, explained how even if a developer secures a better land price in the suburbs, they can still face hurdles when attempting to convince the local community of the project’s necessity.
“Then you’re spending your time and efforts trying to convince the local community, you know, this is not what they think it is, and it’s something they need,
image source from：https://www.bisnow.com/atlanta/news/affordable-housing/atlanta-suburbs-need-affordable-housing-but-nimbyism-permitting-make-that-hard-129661
