Adrienne Rice grew up in East Point but often visited Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood. She says for years the area, which has been historically a “hot spot,” experienced disinvestment due to white flight. But over time, she has watched the area undergo a shift because of gentrification.
Understanding the systemic challenges and now seeing the area’s new growth and investment, Rice, who currently serves as the executive director of Sustainable Georgia Futures (SGF), admits that it’s hurtful to visit the Atlanta Beltline now. The Beltline, which is a 22-mile loop, connects several Atlanta neighborhoods through trails, businesses, parks and housing.
“It just hurts because you see a whole different population of people and it seems like it couldn’t be for us,” Rice said. “And it seems like everybody else is benefiting from the horrors that happened here.”
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