More than 100 units of affordable housing are in the works in Reynoldstown, an east Atlanta neighborhood that’s been welcoming little more than luxury development in recent years. On Wednesday, the Atlanta Housing (AH) board of commissioners elected to extend the ground lease for a city-owned property at 890 Memorial Drive, paving the way for […]
Author Archives: Sean Keenan
Posted inAtlanta Civic Circle
To accommodate population boom, Atlanta must learn to use space smarter
Atlanta has all the tools it needs to be a dense, world-class metropolis, but the city’s leaders aren’t properly utilizing them in a way that could one day accommodate the ongoing population boom and boost housing affordability. As housing experts and city officials will tell you, Atlanta today has plenty of construction-ready land, dilapidated and […]
Posted inHousing Affordability
New affordable housing district proves city could beef up inclusionary zoning policies
Developers in some Westside Atlanta neighborhoods will soon have to abide by new rules regarding affordable housing when reimagining property in the fast-evolving area. On Monday, the Atlanta City Council adopted legislation that creates the “Westside Park Affordable Workforce Housing District,” which includes neighborhoods encompassing the soon-to-be-completed Westside Quarry Park — such as Grove Park, […]
Posted inAtlanta Civic Circle
Atlanta’s emergency housing assistance program hasn’t taken online applications in nearly three months. What gives?
Nearly three months have passed since the City of Atlanta closed the online application portal for its COVID-19 housing assistance program, and it’s still unclear when exactly people will again be able to apply for potentially vital help. In August, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced that, with the support of federal COVID-19 relief money, […]
Posted inAtlanta Civic Circle
After withering for years, Forest Cove apartments headed for much-needed rehab
A Section 8 apartment complex on Atlanta’s southside that’s been falling apart for years seems primed for a revamp that officials say will finally make the property safe and livable. For years, residents at the Forest Cove apartments complained of dangerous, even “uninhabitable” living conditions, including rats, roaches, mold and structural failures, among other blight. […]
Posted inAtlanta Civic Circle
Will Atlanta’s emergency housing assistance program take new applications soon?
The City of Atlanta intends to start accepting new applications for coronavirus-related emergency housing assistance. Some day. In a now-deleted Instagram post, Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development arm, announced that the online portal that allows people to apply for money to help with rent, mortgage bills or other housing-related expenses would open back up yesterday, Feb. 1. […]
Posted inAtlanta Civic Circle
Federal eviction moratorium extended (again) until end of March
By Sean Keenan Once again, federal officials have cast a lifeline — albeit one with an expiration date — to Americans threatened by eviction amid the coronavirus pandemic. On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced it would extend a nationwide moratorium on residential evictions that was set to expire on Jan. […]
Posted inAtlanta Civic Circle
With new tool, Atlanta officials aim to “demystify” affordable housing resources
By Sean Keenan The City of Atlanta this week unveiled a guide that could help residents navigate its housing affordability crisis. On Tuesday, officials debuted Affordable Housing ATL: A Resource Guide for Residents, a brief catalog that educates people on housing terms and rights, points people toward housing-related services and highlights public agencies and nonprofit organizations […]
Posted inAtlanta Civic Circle
AH commissioner misses meetings, but he’s still an asset, agency leader says
By Sean Keenan Atlanta Housing (AH) commissioner Robert Highsmith has missed nearly as many agency board meetings as he’s attended, an investigation into AH roll-call records shows. Between Highsmith’s November 2017 appointment by former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and October 2020, he’s been absent from 20 of 40 AH board of commissioners meetings, agency documents […]
Posted inLatest News
Atlanta City Council member aims to legitimize street racing, stunt driving
Could regulating and monitoring the otherwise out-of-control practices of street racing and stunt driving transform them into safe, city-sanctioned events? That’s what Atlanta City Councilman Antonio Brown wants to find out.
Posted inSean Keenan
Could initiative boost intown housing affordability with more accessory dwelling units?
Imagine more tiny homes in backyards or apartments over the garages in Atlanta. A new program by investment company GROUNDFLOOR could spur the development and preservation of more accessory dwelling units (ADUs) — a move that could provide more affordable housing in the city and beyond.
Posted inLatest News
Of Atlanta Housing’s 2,500 senior residents, five have died of COVID-19
Five elderly Atlanta Housing (AH) residents have passed away due to COVID-19-related complications, a spokesman for the housing authority said Thursday.
Posted inLatest News
Atlanta’s housing authority wants COVID-19 vaccines for its senior residents
The city’s public housing authority is exploring the possibility of vaccinating its elderly residents to protect them from the spread of COVID-19 at the agency’s apartment complexes.
Posted inLatest News
Atlanta’s massive affordable housing bond program is officially a go
On Monday, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms inked her signature on legislation that green-lights $50 million in bond funding aimed at producing and preserving affordable housing across the city.
Posted inAtlanta Civic Circle, Housing Affordability, Latest News
City to open warming center to protect homeless during pro-Trump demonstrations
As groups of pro-Trump activists gear up to rally across the nation this weekend in protest of what they consider a fraudulent election, the City of Atlanta is preparing to protect some of its homeless residents from the demonstrations.
Posted inLatest News
Atlanta Beltline claims Buckhead property, plans affordable housing
Affordable housing could be bound for an area near the Atlanta Beltline — and in Buckhead no less.
Posted inLatest News
Atlanta police arrest racial justice activists for “obstructing traffic” after Trump fans wreak havoc across nation
Just hours after a violent mob of pro-Trump activists stormed the nation’s capitol, and after a pro-Trump militia’s presence forced Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger to evacuate the downtown Atlanta statehouse, Atlanta police arrested nearly two dozen racial justice activists for demonstrating on city streets.
Posted inLatest News
Rental assistance program has helped nearly 2,700 metro Atlanta families
A rental assistance program launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has helped almost 2,700 families, according to nonprofit Star-C, which kicked off the initiative in April.
Posted inLatest News
Atlanta’s long-awaited affordable housing bond program clears city council vote
On Monday, long after HouseATL leaders pitched the idea of architecting a bond program to help beef up the city’s affordable housing stock, Atlanta officials green-lit legislation that paves the way for a $50 million investment aimed at furthering the city’s housing goals.
Posted inLatest News
COVID-19 relief bill extends eviction moratorium, promises housing assistance
When President Donald Trump begrudgingly scribbled his signature on the $900 million COVID-19 relief package on Sunday, he effectively cast a lifeline to the countless Americans — including many Atlantans — threatened with displacement amid the nearly year-long pandemic.
