For decades, Herndon Homes stood as a defining part of Atlanta’s Westside. Now, 201 new homes are helping write its next chapter.
Atlanta Housing, Pennrose, city leaders, development partners and community stakeholders gathered Thursday, Aug. 27, to celebrate the grand opening of Legacy at Herndon Square, the second phase of the Herndon Homes redevelopment in the English Avenue community.
The 201-unit, mixed-income rental community includes 170 affordable homes for residents earning up to 60% and 80% of the area median income. The remaining 31 units are market-rate. In metro Atlanta, the AMI for a family of 4 is $114,200.
“This is a sight to behold,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “The group project really made this happen.”
Herndon Square is a master-planned redevelopment of the former Herndon Homes public housing site, led through a public-private partnership between Hunt Companies and Atlanta Housing, with Penrose serving as development manager.
The redevelopment is planned in multiple phases. Phase 1, located across the street from Legacy at Herndon Square, created 97 senior apartments. Phase 2 is the 201-unit Legacy at Herndon Square, which includes one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
The work is not finished. Phase 3 is expected to welcome people back for another ribbon-cutting in the coming months, while Phase 4 will be built across the street. Phase 5 is planned to include a homeownership component with townhomes. Together, the redevelopment is expected to bring 502 units to the community.
“This is now the front door,” Dickens said of Herndon Square’s location along Northside Drive.
The mayor said people entering downtown Atlanta from Northside Drive will now see new construction and infrastructure rather than what he described as a missing part of the community.
Herndon Homes was the site of a public housing complex from 1941 until it was demolished in 2010. The development also carries the name of Alonzo Herndon, whom Dickens described as Atlanta’s first Black millionaire. Herndon was born into slavery, became one of the country’s most successful Black businessmen and ministers and founded Atlanta Life Insurance Company.
“This is the next chapter in that,” Dickens said of Herndon’s legacy.
Councilmember Byron Amos reflected on the history of Herndon Homes and his own connection to the neighborhood.
“I remember being up in Brooks Lounge up here on the corner when Herndon Homes was here,” Amos said. “But now I’m able to stand here and cut the ribbon on these fabulous houses because the people made it be.”
Amos said the redevelopment is about moving forward while respecting the history of the families and generations who came before.
“Most importantly, it’s about creating a place where families can live, grow and feel proud to call home,” Amos said.
Tiffany Cobb, deputy regional administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Southeast Region, said the project demonstrates what can happen through collaboration.
“Legacy at Herndon brings 201 new homes to this community, including 170 affordable homes,” Cobb said.
For Kiwana Lewis, a resident of Herndon Square, the development is already making a difference. Lewis, a single mother of two who moved to Atlanta from Macon, said being close to work, schools, transportation and other necessities has changed her everyday life.
“It has allowed me to spend less time worrying and more time focusing on what truly matters, …my children, my career and creating a better life for my family,” Lewis said.
As Phase 2 opens its doors, Herndon Square is continuing a redevelopment that combines new housing with the history of the community. With three additional phases ahead, the project is building toward a 502-unit neighborhood that Dickens said reflects what can happen when Atlanta comes together to make a vision a reality.
