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There are 186 days left until the November 2nd election. Which means all of the sudden City Hall and the Mayor's office will be at a lot of ribbon cutting and groundbreaking ceremonies for a miraculous amount of affordable housing. A thread: https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/atlanta-to-use-city-owned-land-to-build-affordable-housing/BEWBL4VWWRHRJAPCQP2DVSA2LY/
Before we get too excited and jump on the current administrations bandwagon let's read the fine print. Some of these initiatives are just now happening. The city has had an affordable housing shortage for as long as I can remember. Why is this option just now being activated? 2/
But this initiative isn't new. Many cities have used their land banks and land trusts for affordable housing. There are plenty of parcels available spread amongst the city and all the orgs who push for an "affordable Atlanta for All." 3/
But out of 490 usable parcels, only 4 will be built out. And conveniently the city all of the sudden is ok with building ADUs. But only on these sites. No mention was made of the much needed rezoning ordinance or the variance process they will go through to build these homes. 4/
If this is the "scaled down" version Mayor Bottoms talked about we're in trouble. Hopefully, I'm wrong and these few homes will be enough proof that expanding the option is the only way to go. Thanks @AtlCivicCircle 5/ https://atlantaciviccircle.org/2021/04/14/atlanta-mayor-says-density-focused-zoning-changes-could-be-scaled-down/
There are also going to be rehab/conversion projects on bunch of existing units that will be either starting or finishing just in time for the election. Like this
6/ https://twitter.com/InvestAtlanta/status/1385205548388335618?s=19
6/ https://twitter.com/InvestAtlanta/status/1385205548388335618?s=19
And this mash up of Senior/Teacher housing. 8/ https://twitter.com/InvestAtlanta/status/1383103343673937921?s=19
8/ https://twitter.com/InvestAtlanta/status/1383103343673937921?s=19
All of these projects will help make a dent in the goal of 20,000 affordable housing units by 2026. But more can always be done because there are just as many luxury units going up around the city. 9/
https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/mayor-s-office/projects-and-initiatives/affordable-housing-dashboard
https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/mayor-s-office/projects-and-initiatives/affordable-housing-dashboard
And projects that will leave out important infrastructure needs like walkability. 10/ #BeltlineRailNow @beltlinerailnow https://twitter.com/beltlinerailnow/status/1387864844553138179?s=19
Check out my previous take on development in Southwest and Westside Atlanta. 11/ https://www.mainlinezine.com/what-you-should-know-about-atlantas-current-development-deals-on-the-westside/
And the update from February. 12/ https://www.mainlinezine.com/update-what-you-should-know-about-atlantas-current-development-deals-on-the-westside/
Also, please donate to @mainlinezine, check your voter registration, and be ready to change Atlanta for the better.
/13 https://twitter.com/mainlinezine/status/1387116854288683008?s=19
/13 https://twitter.com/mainlinezine/status/1387116854288683008?s=19
