Atlanta Mayor and Public Schools Join Forces to Tackle Affordable Housing and Homelessness Issues
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Atlanta Public Schools (APS) have announced an innovative plan to swap land in order to advance their shared goals of affordable housing and consolidating APS facilities. Under this proposed arrangement, the city will transfer ownership of a property to APS while receiving a vacant property from the school system.
Councilmember Jason Dozier introduced legislation to the City Council, seeking authorization for the transfer of ownership of a 1.5-acre parcel at 70 Boulevard, located near Hope-Hill Elementary School in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood. This transfer will allow APS to consolidate their facilities into a single, secure campus, integrating on-campus improvements within this 1.5-acre land.
As part of the exchange, APS will transfer a two-acre vacant property it owns at 405 Cooper Street SW to the city. Mayor Dickens sees this property as a crucial component of his comprehensive strategy to address homelessness. The aim is to holistically tackle homelessness by strategically utilizing public land for affordable housing solutions.
The announcement comes after a year of close collaboration between APS and the city through the Mayor’s Affordable Housing Strike Force. This partnership between local government and non-profit organizations aims to activate public land to support affordable housing initiatives. By leveraging their collective resources, Mayor Andre Dickens and APS are taking an integrated approach to address the pressing issues of affordable housing and homelessness.
Moreover, this proposed land swap follows Mayor Dickens’ recent executive order to implement the first phase of his Rapid Housing initiative. This initiative allocates $4 million to Partners for HOME (PFH), the designated Continuum of Care provider for the city. The funding will be utilized to quickly deliver new housing options for individuals experiencing homelessness.
In order to make this land exchange a reality, the Atlanta Board of Education will deliberate on the matter during its upcoming September meeting. Pending their approval, Atlanta will witness a transformative step toward consolidating APS facilities and utilizing public land to address the critical issue of homelessness in the city.
By prioritizing collaboration and cooperation, Mayor Andre Dickens and APS are demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to tackling the challenges of affordable housing and homelessness in Atlanta. The proposed land swap underscores their commitment to utilizing public resources effectively while delivering tangible solutions for the community.
As both the mayor and APS move forward with their shared vision, the residents of Atlanta can anticipate a more consolidated and secure campus for APS, as well as innovative strategies to combat the homelessness crisis. This holistic approach, coupled with the Mayor’s Rapid Housing initiative, reflects Atlanta’s determination to prioritize the needs of its citizens and create a more inclusive and sustainable future for all.
