This week, housing advocates, city leaders, and Beltline officials broke ground on The Overlook at Garson, which will bring 130 affordable housing units and 10,000 square feet of affordable commercial space to Buckhead.
(Marlon Hyde/WABE)
The Atlanta Beltline is hosting its first-ever housing fair on Saturday. The organization behind the trail has been working to expand access to affordable housing. At the event, renters and aspiring buyers can connect with community partners who can help them find and purchase homes.
Atlanta Beltline President and CEO Clyde Higgs says attendees can also learn about a new down payment assistance program launched in partnership with Invest Atlanta that provides $20,000 to $30,000.
“If you are in a specific Beltline neighborhood, you can qualify for a grant that will give you the opportunity to buy property along the Atlanta Beltline,” said Higgs.
According to JPMorgan Chase, homeownership is out of reach for many in Atlanta. And the housing affordability crisis is worsening in low-income areas of the city.
The free event is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Monday Night Garage in the West End, along the Beltline.
Meanwhile, business opportunities and low-income housing are coming to one of Atlanta’s most expensive neighborhoods.
The Overlook at Garson will bring 130 affordable housing units and 10,000 square feet of affordable commercial space to Buckhead. (Marlon Hyde/WABE)
Affordable housing along Beltline coming to Buckhead
This week, housing advocates, city leaders and Beltline officials broke ground on The Overlook at Garson, which will bring 130 affordable housing units and 10,000 square feet of affordable commercial space to Buckhead.
“Buckhead is not afraid of affordable housing,” said Thomas Worthy, Atlanta City Council member for District 7, where the mixed-use community is being built.
“I would tell you that there is no other neighborhood in this city more connected than Lindbergh, Morosco. Two freeways, the Lindbergh, MARTA station, Beltline, Path 400, South Fork Trail, Peachtree Creek Greenway,” said Worthy.
Beltline officials purchased the land for under $1 million over five years ago.
Construction is expected to be completed in 2028. (Marlon Hyde/WABE)
“Outside of just land for the trail, we’ve amassed almost 100 additional acres. Future affordability, and this is a great example of that,” said Clyde Higgs. “We’re going to put this to the test with 130 affordable units, literally on the creek side of the Beltline. You’ll have the new segment of the Beltline, the Northeast Trail segment three, that will be completed just after this section of affordable housing is completed.”
According to Invest Atlanta, about two-thirds of a family’s household income in the city is spent on housing and transportation.
Atlanta Beltline President and CEO Clyde Higgs says attendees can also learn about a new down payment assistance program launched in partnership with Invest Atlanta that provides $20,000 to $30,000 during this weekend’s housing fair. (Marlon Hyde/WABE)
Atlanta-wide goal of 20,000 affordable units by 2030
Jamie Olson has lived in Buckhead for 25 years and is the president of the neighborhood association.
“The fact I can, at some point, go all the way to Doraville on the Peachtree Greenway, go over to Emory on the South Fork Trail, and then eventually go down and get a beer at Sweetwater without having to get in a car is really important and really great for this neighborhood,” said Olson.
Terri Lee is the president and CEO of Atlanta Housing.
“I just believe that there’s more for us to do in Buckhead. I do, because our families deserve the opportunity to live in communities that are amenity rich, that have good schools, and have excellent assets,” said Terri Lee.
Terri Lee, the president & CEO of Atlanta Housing, says families deserve the opportunity to live in communities that have more to offer like good schools. (Marlon Hyde/WABE)
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens says the city is getting closer to his goal of preserving 20,000 affordable housing units.
“Here we are already with 16,000 or more under construction or already built. In four-and-a-half years. And we’re adding 130 of them to it right now,” said Dickens.
