Mayor Kasim Reed, City of Atlanta Department of Planning and Community Development and Partners Work to Revitalize West Atlanta

$30 million HUD grant will leverage $395 million to invest $425 million in West Atlanta

ATLANTA – December 10, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Mayor Kasim Reed and the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) joined officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Invest Atlanta and the Atlanta Housing Authority yesterday to begin work on the Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant. To kick off redevelopment efforts, HUD representatives conducted a site visit to the City of Atlanta to host strategic planning sessions with leading partners, service providers and community members.

The $30 million award was announced in September by HUD Secretary Julián Castro who applauded the City of Atlanta for developing a collaborative approach to revitalizing Vine City, Ashview Heights and the Atlanta University Center neighborhood.

“The Choice Neighborhood grant provides us with the resources needed to bring about unprecedented change in the West Atlanta community,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “Leveraging funding and strategic partnerships with Invest Atlanta, the Atlanta Housing Authority and other stakeholders, we will promote community transformation in this historic area of Atlanta.”

“The redevelopment approach for Vine City, Ashview Heights and the Atlanta University Center neighborhood incorporates strategies, partnerships and resources to provide services that will improve the economic, health and educational outcomes for the residents,” said Tim Keane, Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Community Development.

To secure the grant, DPCD and the Atlanta Housing Authority completed a comprehensive planning process which involved receiving input from partners and creating a community development model to redevelop Atlanta’s Westside communities.

“The issues facing our neighborhoods are complex and interrelated,” said Craig J. Richard, President and CEO of Invest Atlanta. “This grant demonstrates that our coordinated and comprehensive approach, which engages residents in creating solutions, is working. More importantly, what we’ve done is create a model that other cities can learn from.”

“The transformation of West Atlanta, which was developed with extensive community engagement, will include the continued redevelopment of the former University Homes site, development of affordable housing in the neighborhood, strategies to remove blight and stabilize the community, and services to enable families and children to reach their full potential,” said Joy Fitzgerald, Interim President and CEO of the Atlanta Housing Authority.

The $30 million HUD grant will leverage $395 million in other public and private sector funds to invest $425 million in West Atlanta’s housing and neighborhood revitalization, as well as workforce development and education for residents.

To date, redevelopment plans in the neighborhood include new housing and retail, new transit opportunities and the addition of new greenspace.
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For more information about the City of Atlanta, please visit http://www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26. Follow the City of Atlanta on Facebook and Twitter @CityofAtlanta. Follow Mayor Reed on Facebook and Twitter @Kasim Reed

Jewanna Gaither, Press Information Officer
404-330-6942, office
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Anne Torres, Director
404-330-6423, office
404-904-2618, cell