One of Atlanta’s hottest neighborhoods is set to get a cash infusion to spur development and more.
Bank of America and Chick-fil-A recently announced a pledge of $2 million to Grove Park Foundation to create the Grove Park Performing and Cultural Arts Center by renovating the historic Grove Theatre on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway.
The new Grove Park Performing and Cultural Arts Center, located at 1576 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, will create an accessible marketplace for small businesses and house community and cultural programming. The 10,000-square-foot facility will feature performance and studio space for arts and culture partners, office space, and a café/vending space.
“Our longstanding commitment to the Grove Park Neighborhood and its residents, in partnership with Grove Park Foundation, is part of our approach to driving economic opportunity in Atlanta,” said Bank of America’s Wendy Stewart, president, Global Commercial Banking. “This grant is just one way we are working to remove barriers to economic success and building a more sustainable community.” Stewart will also serve as chair of Grove Park Foundation’s Grove Park Forward capital campaign, of which the theatre is a key component.
Chick-fil-A’s senior director of corporate social responsibility Brent Fielder echoed Stewarts remarks, adding, “Chick-fil-A is a long-time supporter of Grove Park Foundation and their impactful work in this Westside Atlanta community. As part of our commitment to caring for communities, we are honored to make this investment in helping preserve this historic Atlanta neighborhood.”
Grove Park Foundation acquired a historic theatre building in 2017 as part of its early commercial and affordable housing investments. The building previously had multiple uses and increasingly fell into disrepair. With Fox Theatre Institute grants for historic planning and emergency repair, and early funding from the Kendeda Fund, Grove Park Foundation has worked with the community to envision a cultural and performing arts center with flexible space for performance, program, wellness and small business activities.
“The renovation of a historic building in the heart of the Grove Park community is a key to revitalizing the commercial core,” said Grove Park Foundation Executive Director Gavin McGuire. “We are creating affordable and accessible arts and commercial space to serve a neighborhood that has experienced generational disinvestment. The community has asked for this kind of flexible, engaging space, and with support from our partners we will be able to deliver.”
Additional support from SouthFace’s GoodUse Program will improve the building’s efficiency to save on utility costs and improve its environmental impact.
Grove Park Foundation will be raising funds for its Grove Park Forward campaign in 2023, bringing new projects online and expanding existing efforts in affordable housing, affordable commercial, economic mobility, legacy resident retention, and “out of school time” initiatives for youth, while also bolstering its own internal capacity to ensure the organization can continue to serve as a resource to community residents. As the needs across the Grove Park community continue to grow, the foundation is inviting other partners to join efforts to assist residents in the areas of housing, economic mobility, arts and culture, education, and health.
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