Bring Affordable Housing to Reynoldstown
Addressing the needs of the 2000+ people experiencing homelessness in Atlanta is a daunting task, but on March 13th, Reynoldstown has a great opportunity to provide some relief -- and we need your help with sending emails of support!
In May 2022, the City of Atlanta approved plans at 111 Moreland Ave for 45 studio units. The original plan was to reserve seven unitsfor households earning 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), per the Beltline Overlay requirements, but the developer wants to go further and create even deeper affordability for more Atlantans..
Their solution provides 42 people experiencing homelessness with their own studio apartments. On-site counselors will work full-time to help residents receive other benefits (SNAP, Social Security, etc), coordinate dental and health care, and complete job training.
Despite the Mayor’s commitment to building 20,000 new affordable units across the city, the current City procedure defers to the neighborhood before granting the necessary public funding to make projects like this possible. If Reynoldstown votes “no” then the project reverts back to 38 market rate units and only 7 units at 80% AMI.
How can you help?
Click here to email Terri Lee, COO of the Atlanta Housing Authority, local City Councilmember, Liliana Bakhtiari, and Mayor Andre DIckens, and let them know you support the project going forward with deeper affordability!
Are you a Reynoldstown resident? Attend the Reynoldstown Civic Improvement League neighborhood association March meeting at Lang Carson or via Zoom for a vote on Monday, March 13 at 7:00 PM. No presentation will be given during this meeting.
If you want to engage in discussion, questions, and presentations with the developer and other Reynoldstown community members, you can attend the RCIL Zoning meeting on March 2nd at 7:00 PM at Lang Carson or via Zoom.
The Project At-A-Glance
Already Approved
45 studios with kitchenette
7 parking spaces with 36 total cars estimated*
7 units at 80% AMI ($54K)
38 units at about $1050/month
Requested
42 studios with kitchenette
7 parking spaces with 4 employee cars (program does not accept renters with cars)
42 units at 30% AMI ($20,500)
*According to the 2019 American Community Survey, the car ownership rate for households in the city of Atlanta earning between $25,000 and $49,999 per year (which includes households with incomes between 60% and 120% of the Area Median Income) was 81.1%. This means we could reasonably expect at least 36 total cars- 7 in the provided spaces and 29 parking in the street.
The Project In Detail
What the city approved in May 2022:
Total Number of Units: 45 studios with kitchenettes (no stove) and 1 shared full kitchen per floor
Must meet Beltline Inclusionary zoning requirements. The owner is leaning towards 15% of their units for incomes at or below 80% of AMI, which means:
7 units reserved for those at 80% AMI ($54,000 income limit for a single person)
38 units at market rate rent ($1050 for a studio)
Parking: No parking is required by law, but the owner offered 9 spaces. This was reduced to 7 spaces to save a tree per an appeal filed.
According to the 2019 American Community Survey, the car ownership rate for households in the city of Atlanta earning between $25,000 and $49,999 per year (which includes households with incomes between 60% and 120% of the Area Median Income) was 81.1%. This means we could reasonably expect at least 36 additional cars around the property.
What the owner is requesting now: A letter of support from the neighborhood, which would allow for $1,181,148 of additional funding from the Atlanta Housing Authority. This funding would allow the owner to change the project to:
Total Number of Units: A decrease to 42 studios with kitchenettes (no stove) and 1 shared full kitchen per floor
42 units at 30% AMI ($20,250 for a single person) as Partners for Home Supportive Housing
3 remaining market-rate units will be converted to offices for Supportive Services to help tenants in getting other social services, coordinating dental and health care, finding jobs, etc.
Parking: No change to the 7 spaces provided BUT
Given the high demand for the units with Supportive Housing and in response to neighborhood concerns, any applicant with a car will be rejected.
Supportive Housing Staff will use 4 of the 7 spaces during the day while working.
Take a look at a video highlighting the necessity of Partners for Home, who would provide support for the future residents: