Atlanta City Council Approves $1.4M to Prep Foreclosed Properties for Redevelopment, Affordable Housing

ATLANTA — The Atlanta City Council approved an ordinance providing $1.4 million to the Metro Atlanta Land Bank to prepare foreclosed properties for redevelopment, focusing on creating and preserving affordable housing (24-O-1507).

Other items that the Council adopted include:

• An ordinance approving the transfer of $15 million to the Water and Wastewater 2025 budget for Capital Improvement Program architectural and engineering projects (24-O-1462).
• An ordinance approving the transfer of $5.5 million to the Water and Wastewater 2025 Renewal and Extension Fund for the small meter installation project (24-O-1442).
• An ordinance authorizing acceptance of $10.8 million in FEMA Shelter and Services Program grant funding. The program funds non-federal agencies that serve non-citizen migrants to provide shelter, food, transportation, and other services and to increase its sheltering capacity for non-citizen migrants (24-O-1506).
• An ordinance creating the Gulch Housing Trust Fund according to the Tax Authority District (TAD) development agreement for the Atlanta Gulch Project and authorizing the transfer of almost $8.5 million to the fund (24-O-1521).
• An ordinance authorizing a $650,000 agreement with Live Nation Entertainment for event production services required for the 2024–25 Peach Drop Festival (24-O-1509).
• An ordinance ratifying the City’s Department of Labor and Employment Services’ application for a $486,000 award from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Pathways to Career Empowerment Grant program to serve 75 justice-involved individuals with career, training, and employment services (24-O-1510).
• A resolution calling for a $250,000 donation to the Grove Park Foundation to support community leadership in the Grove Park and historic Westin Heights (Bankhead) neighborhood revitalization efforts (24-R-4109).
• A resolution authorizing officials to seek a $2 million U.S. Department of Transportation Reconnecting Communities Pilot Planning Grant for the Centennial Yards Complete Streets Project (24-R-4187).
• A resolution declaring the City’s intention to provide financial assistance for redeveloping the 2 Peachtree property into a transformative, transit-oriented, mixed-use development (24-R-4115).

Items introduced for consideration include:

• An ordinance approving the execution of agreements to provide city-wide construction, renovation, and other services for $100 million annually for a three-year term with two one-year renewals.
• A resolution enabling the Atlanta Police Department to seek a $2.4 million Department of Justice grant to support law enforcement crime reduction and community partnership programs.
• An ordinance amending the agreement with the nonprofit Park Pride organization to add $750,000 in funding annually beginning in Fiscal Year 2025 to support historically disinvested communities through the Community Park Fund.
• An ordinance authorizing the use of $489,000 in accrued interest from the 2015 general obligation public improvement bond issuance to fund improvements at the Municipal Market.
• A resolution authorizing a $300,000 donation to the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation for station improvements as part of the Moving Atlanta Forward infrastructure initiative. This item was approved for immediate consideration.
• A resolution extending the operating hours of C.T. Martin Natatorium, M.L. King, Jr. Aquatic Center, Washington Park Natatorium, and Rosel Fann Natatorium to include free swimming Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Dec. 30, 2024. Earlier this year, the Council adopted the extended hours until Oct. 30. This item was approved for immediate consideration.
• A resolution requesting the Atlanta Department of Transportation provide a list of all outstanding Renew Atlanta and Moving Atlanta Forward infrastructure bond projects within 30 days and asking the Chief Financial Officer to provide funding sources.
• A resolution calling for a $201,000 contribution to the Department of Parks and Recreation for lighting and ADA improvements at Windsor Street Park.
• A resolution donating $200,000 to Emory University to support the development of a digital housing platform to enable city residents to apply for subsidized housing.
• A resolution accepting a $100,000 donation from the Atlanta Hawks Foundation to fund improvements at C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center.
• A resolution calling for the honorary dedication of Brown Avenue SE as “Reverend Doctor Robert Rice, Jr. Way” in honor of Rev. Rice’s 50 years of service as pastor of Brown Avenue Baptist Church and adding the name to existing signage.
• A resolution requesting that the director of the Urban Design Commission nominate the Chastain Arts Center and Gallery, established in 1968 on the Chattahoochee Brick Company site as a Landmark Building or Site under the City zoning ordinance.

The City Council presented proclamations and recognitions to honor multi-talented entertainer and artist Royce Hall, the 10th anniversary of ATL311, Coach William Walker, and Department of Watershed Management employees Juliett Jones and Christopher Coats, who are retiring after more than 30 years of service.