On Tuesday, August 12, the Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association (ADNA) held its August General Body Meeting at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of over 50 residents, city officials, and community leaders.
This gathering was notably a part of Mayor Andre Dickens’ public town hall series, specifically focused on downtown Atlanta, co-hosted with the mayor’s office.
Courtney English, senior advisor to Mayor Andre Dickens, was the featured speaker, presenting the administration’s vision for transforming Atlanta into the ‘best place in the country to raise a child’ while addressing concerns regarding the future of downtown.
Also present were representatives from Atlanta 311, the city’s non-emergency service line, further emphasizing the importance of community engagement in city matters.
During his remarks, English painted a vivid picture of the ‘tale of two cities’ that exists within Atlanta—a long-standing geographic and economic divide.
He explained, ‘The system isn’t broken; the system is actually working exactly as it was intended to work.’
This commentary led to a deeper discussion of how systemic designs have perpetuated disparities across income, health, education, and life expectancy between the neighborhoods to the north and south of the city.
For instance, a staggering 20-year life expectancy difference between ZIP code 30305 in Buckhead, where residents enjoy an average lifespan of 87 years, and ZIP code 30318 in the APS Douglass cluster, where the average is 67.
English emphasized the grim reality of economic mobility, citing that a child born into the lowest income bracket in Atlanta has only a 4.5 percent chance of rising to the top 20 percent—marking the lowest rate of economic mobility among major U.S. cities.
His presentation then shifted focus to the efforts aimed at addressing these inequities downtown, detailing the city’s investments in affordable housing, public space enhancement, crime reduction, and homelessness services.
English revealed that the city has already delivered 12,000 affordable housing units, aiming to reach a target of 20,000, along with a commitment to permanently house all 550 individuals identified as living unsheltered in downtown Atlanta.
‘Our goal is to ensure that downtown is a healthy, whole neighborhood that’s walkable, that is dense, that is safe, that has access to opportunities,’ he asserted.
In outlining a strategy for downtown revitalization, English identified four key pillars: retail and mixed-use development, diversified housing across income levels, enhanced public spaces, and comprehensive homelessness strategies.
Highlighted projects include the $250 million renovation of Five Points station, major improvements to sidewalks and streetscapes, as well as conversions of office spaces to residential living at locations such as 2 Peachtree Street and 41 Marietta.
Jack Cebe, the project manager for The Stitch, a transformative plan for a 14-acre cap over the Downtown Connector, also spoke at the meeting.
Cebe described the project as being at the ‘start line,’ indicating that while design and agreements are secured, a funding gap still exists for phase one of the initiative.
Questions from the audience encompassed a range of topics, including the slow progress of redevelopment at the former Atlanta Medical Center site, and strategies to attract small businesses along the Edgewood Avenue corridor.
A resident inquired whether necessary improvements could take place near a proposed streetcar infill station ahead of its construction.
In response, English clarified, ‘You have to create the access and you have to create somewhere for them to go… you got to do both.’
He assured the audience of the city’s commitment to improving walkability and enhancing access to transit to foster connectivity and destination opportunities.
Addressing the challenge of securing local funding sources, English discussed tax allocation districts (TADs) and the proposed downtown enterprise zone, especially in light of reduced federal assistance.
‘Help is not coming from Washington, D.C.,’ he emphasized, urging the need for Atlanta to rely more on local revenue sources and aiming for a city that is ‘federally agnostic.’
Residents were encouraged to engage with city officials regarding downtown initiatives, with boards placed throughout the venue showcasing development goals and allowing community members to share suggestions.
One notable suggestion demanded immediate attention: ‘Mid-block crosswalk at Peachtree Center… Now!’
Concluding the meeting, English acknowledged the need for further discussions on complex issues, stating, ‘We got to talk about the hard stuff, because unless we face it, we can’t fix it.’
He expressed optimism about Atlanta’s future, asserting, ‘I do believe there’s nothing wrong with the city of Atlanta that can’t be solved by what’s right with the city of Atlanta.’
For those interested in continuing the conversation, ADNA will host a happy hour on Friday, August 15, with details and additional upcoming events available on their website.
image source from：saportareport
