Atlanta’s “Affordable Housing Week”

The city of Atlanta will debut a more streamlined approach to speed up permitting for affordable housing projects, as part of its first-ever Affordable Housing Week from February 12 to 16.

?? The new plan from Mayor Andre Dickens’ office, called Welcome HOME (Housing Opportunity Moves for Everyone), aims to expedite developments that often get bogged down by red tape from the city’s planning department.

Details of the new permitting system have not yet been announced, but the city has invited developers, nonprofits, architects, and other organizations to Atlanta City Hall next week to get help fast-tracking their affordable housing projects.

?? “We will have dedicated staff on site to provide personalized project guidance and feedback and celebrate permits issued for projects in the pipeline,” City Planning Commissioner Jahnee Prince said in the release. “This week will allow us to move forward critical affordable housing developments addressing Atlanta’s affordable housing demand.”

Is 500 shipping container homes realistic?

Last week, 40 unhoused people began moving into a downtown community of shipping container homes built by the city of Atlanta – a pilot program for rapid rehousing.

The Melody rental complex, composed of 40 cargo containers converted into college dorm-like apartments, is step one in Mayor Dickens’ plan to scatter 500 similar housing units across the city by 2026.?

But that’s easier said than done.

??? Located on a former city-owned parking lot at 184 Forsyth Street, The Melody neighbors the Greyhound bus station, Garnett MARTA train station, Magic City strip club, and a smattering of offices, government buildings, and bail bonds shops.?

While most of Atlanta’s homeless population is concentrated in the city’s urban core, many also live in more residential neighborhoods, where homeowners are more likely to take issue with the development of shipping container communities to rehouse homeless Atlantans.

??: Residents of The Melody can take advantage of Atlanta’s warm weather and lounge in the red lawn chairs outside their micro apartments. Photo: Claire Becknell for ACC

WHAT WE’RE READING

American Planning Association: Housing opportunity through zoning reform

The American Planning Association has identified zoning reform as its singular federal policy priority for the year.

?? ?Their legislative agenda includes passing the bipartisan Yes In My Backyard Act and incentivizing local zoning reform → Read more

HEARD ON HOUSING

“The Atlanta BeltLine is the heartbeat of our city—a cherished resource connecting neighborhoods and fostering economic growth. ?However, excessive parking requirements have hindered its potential and worsened traffic congestion.

“Abolishing parking minimums unlocks opportunities for sustainable development, encourages mixed-use projects, and enhances the pedestrian experience along the BeltLine corridor. ?We're building a more inclusive, resilient Atlanta for all.”

–– District 4 Atlanta City Councilman Jason Dozier on X The Atlanta City Council voted on Feb. 5 to approve Dozier’s legislation to remove minimum parking space requirements on the Atlanta BeltLine.

More affordable units bound for Old Fourth Ward

Eighty-eight much-needed affordable housing units will be part of an Old Fourth Ward mixed-use development that’s kicked off just a few blocks from the gentrification-inspiring Eastside Beltline Trail, according to What Now Atlanta.

The five-story apartment building, developed by Wingate Multifamily, will replace four low-rise apartments that have just been razed on a stretch of Boulevard south of North Avenue, running from 579 Boulevard to 495 Boulevard Place.?

The 88 affordable apartments will be priced as affordable for households earning up to 60% of the area median income—or about $58,000 for a family of four. The project is the first phase of Wingate’s sprawling “City Lights” mixed-use development, which will consist of some 700 affordable and market-rate units.

PadSplit surpasses 10,000 rentals

Atlanta-based housing startup PadSplit announced in January that it has surpassed 10,000 affordable rental units nationally since its launch in 2017. Half are located in metro Atlanta.

??? PadSplit, which rents individual rooms in suburban homes to tenants on behalf of homeowners, has become a controversial name in the housing industry. Proponents call it an innovative model that makes better use of single-family properties to provide affordable rentals, while critics complain the PadSplit system creates substandard housing options.

???? The company is currently embroiled in a bitter legal feud with the city of Morrow over the abrupt eviction of 22 low-income residents who were living in PadSplit units. The city claims PadSplit had unlawfully housed the renters in three single-family homes, while the company contends that Morrow officials unconstitutionally deprived people of safe housing by evicting them.

??: Holly Stratton

300 affordable apartments—behind a downtown church?

?? Atlanta First United Methodist Church is moving forward with plans to build a residential tower behind the historic downtown house of worship, Urbanize Atlanta reported.

The 20-story residential high-rise at 360 Peachtree Street is expected to include 170 housing units. Most will rent at prices affordable for households earning from 80% of the area median income (AMI)—about $77,000 for a family of four—to as little as 30% AMI (around $29,000 for the same size family).

??: Moody Nolan Atlanta; courtesy of Atlanta First United Methodist Church (via Urbanize Atlanta)

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Have you got tips or story ideas about metro Atlanta’s multifarious housing issues? Email Sean Keenan, Atlanta Civic Circle’s housing reporter.

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