City of Atlanta officials were on hand Wednesday, Dec. 17 for the ribbon-cutting of Juanita H. Gardner Village in Adamsville.
The new Atlanta development honors the legacy of Mrs. Juanita H. Gardner, who was known around the city as a devout advocate for affordable housing, education, and community empowerment.
The project was funded through a mix of public and private sources, including the AH-Invest Atlanta Co-Investment Fund, $13.5 million in tax-exempt bonds from Invest Atlanta, and 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. To ensure long-term affordability, AH purchased the project site and provided a 75-year ground lease at a nominal rate to the owner entity.
What Is the Juanita H. Gardner Village?
The Juanita H. Gardner Village in Adamsville is comprised of 108 affordable units designed for the city’s senior community. The project, which came together from a consortium of entities, including Atlanta Housing, Invest Atlanta, and other partners.
Does Atlanta Have Affordable Housing?
Atlanta, like much of the nation, continues to see its affordable housing inventory shrink, due to several factors.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the housing crisis, as many residents lost jobs, experienced income reductions, or faced increased difficulty paying rent. The economic fallout led to more people being unable to afford housing, and while eviction moratoriums helped temporarily, they did not address the underlying affordability issues.
Over the past few decades, Atlanta has experienced rapid population growth, particularly as people move from other states for job opportunities, better weather, and a relatively low cost of living (compared to cities like New York or San Francisco). The population increase has resulted in a higher demand for housing, putting pressure on the existing stock of affordable homes.
As certain neighborhoods in Atlanta, particularly in historically Black areas, undergo gentrification, housing prices rise, displacing long-time residents and reducing the availability of affordable homes.
Atlanta has a significant shortage of affordable housing units to meet the needs of low- and moderate-income residents. As property values rise, developers are more inclined to build luxury housing, which generates higher profits, while affordable housing projects often face more financial challenges.
Public housing, which is a critical source of affordable homes, has not kept up with the growing need. Many of Atlanta’s public housing units are outdated and in need of renovation, but funding to update or replace them has been insufficient.
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