MM: Decatur Housing Authority Property, MARTA Privatizes Paratransit, and Libraries
Decatur Metro | November 6, 2015 | 11:23 am
- Plans remain uncertain for Decatur Housing property [AJC]
- MARTA to privatize paratransit service [AJC]
- Confidence is key – DHS Girls Volleyball’s season [3ten]
- Tucker Plans Next Steps To Cityhood After Successful Vote [WABE]
- The Sacredness of Public Libraries [Brain Pickings]
Map courtesy of Tucker 2015 website
What was the total number of units and persons housed in DHA homes before the teardowns and renovations? What will be the total numbers once the work is complete? There are two stories circulating around. One is that capacity in DHA homes has declined, contributing to the drop in affordable housing in the City of Decatur. The other is that the new buildings will have a greater number of units per building so that the final number of units and persons housed by the DHA will be no lower than the total number before the renovations. Which is true?
If anyone is saying the number of DHA units is being reduced through the redevelopment they’re either misinformed or lying. Once Trinity Walk is complete, the cumulative number of units across Allen Wilson and Trinity Walk will equal more than we had before. From the breakdown I’ve seen, Allen Wilson has a small number less but Trinity Walk has considerably more. The net result is an increase overall.
This is what I wanted to know. Is there a reference, website, something with the breakdown to refer folks to? It’s understandable that folks who see a big empty area where Allen Wilson Terrace buildings used to be would think that there’s been a decrease in units, especially since the Gateway/Trinity Walk rebuild hasn’t been completed yet so you can’t see the increased capacity there.
We previously had 475 units and will now have 518 when Trinity Walk is done. The green space resulted because the new buildings, especially the Oliver House, are denser than the previous buildings, allowing for more units on less land. There’s a big summary article in this month’s Focus that lays it all out.
One note about the green space: Whereas it’s nice to say “make it a park,” that needs to be said knowing that the sale and development of that property is part of the DHA’s funding strategy. The revenue from doing so will allow them to provide or continue to provide more affordable housing in the city. The city would need to buy it from the authority at fair market value for it to become a park. It’s not just land the city has lying around wondering what to do with.
Perfect, thanks! The hardcopy of the Decatur Focus hasn’t reached my house yet so I’ll bet it hasn’t reached others as well.