Over 200 affordable housing units coming to southwest Atlanta
Why it matters: Skyrocketing housing costs and gentrification are making it hard for long-time Atlanta residents to remain in their communities.
The latest: Sylvan Hills II will include 233 affordable housing apartments and townhomes built on the site of the former Sylvan Circle Apartments.
This project will sit near a 184-unit affordable housing development for older residents that opened two years ago.
What they're saying: Alan Ferguson, chief housing and real estate officer for Atlanta Housing, said at a groundbreaking event Tuesday the type of units offered in the new development will range from "efficiencies" to three-bedroom layouts.
"What you see here is today is a result of the shared values, the common vision and innovation and belief, and what's possible when you work together," Ferguson said, adding the project is funded through a public-private partnership.
Zoom in: Rents will range from $1,149 to $2,100, according to Atlanta Housing.
24 units will be reserved for two-income households making around $45,700 or 50% of the Atlanta region's area median income;
93 units will be for tenants who make 60% of the AMI ($54,840); and
116 units will be for those who bring in 80% of the AMI ($73,120).
Where is Sylvan Hills: The neighborhood, which is majority-Black, is bordered by Langford Parkway to the south, Lee Street to the west, the Downtown Connector to the east and Deckner Avenue to the north.
The big picture: Mayor Andre Dickens, who set a goal to preserve or add 20,000 affordable housing units by 2030, said the project shows Atlanta is taking "another step forward to this lasting legacy of progress in our great city."
So far, Atlanta has completed 6,800 of those units and another 5,000 are already under construction or funded.
He also said Atlanta has implemented initiatives, such as a density bonus program and rapid housing projects, to increase the affordable housing supply in the city.
Context: Council Member Antonio Lewis, who represents the area, said the project will provide social mobility to people facing economic hardships on the south side of the city.
"There simply aren't enough words to express my gratitude for these public-private partnerships which are making these possible," he said. "At the heart of these partnerships is this shared truth that everyone deserves a decent place to live and a place to grow."
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