Demolished public housing projects in Atlanta facts for kids

The Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) started a big project in 1994. They wanted to make old, struggling public housing areas much better. Their plan was to replace these areas with new communities where people of different income levels could live together. This idea was encouraged by a federal program called HOPE VI.

Atlanta's Changing Neighborhoods: From Public Housing to Mixed-Income Communities

Many public housing projects in Atlanta were replaced with new, mixed-income neighborhoods. This means homes for people with different income levels were built together.

Capitol Homes: A New Beginning

Capitol Homes was finished in 1942. It was built for Black families and had 694 units. These buildings were taken down and replaced by Capitol Gateway. This new community has 1,000 homes for people with various incomes.

Carver Homes: A Community Transformed

The George Washington Carver Homes project was completed in 1953. It had 990 units for African-American families. This project was taken down and partly replaced with a new area called the Villages at Carver. The Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) is still working to improve this area.

Eagan Homes: From Old to New

John Eagan Homes was a large complex built in 1941 for Black families. It had 677 units. In the 2000s, it was torn down and replaced by a new community called Magnolia Park.

East Lake Meadows: A Big Change

East Lake Meadows was built in 1971 and had 654 units. It faced many problems, like poor construction and safety concerns. Because of these issues, it was sometimes called "Little Vietnam" by reporters.

In the 1990s, a developer named Tom Cousins worked with the AHA to change East Lake Meadows. They wanted to create a mixed-income community. This was part of a bigger effort to update public housing in Atlanta. The new plan included not just homes, but also an education center, a golf course, and other local services. Over ten years, East Lake Meadows was replaced by The Villages at East Lake. This big project cost $172 million.

Grady Homes: Replaced by Auburn Pointe

Grady Homes was finished in 1942 and had 495 units for Black families. It was located in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood. This project was torn down and replaced with the Auburn Pointe mixed-income community.

Harris Homes: A Shift in Community

Built in 1957, Harris Homes had 510 units. It was originally meant to separate white and Black residents. However, it was mostly empty until segregation ended. It was later replaced by Ashley Collegetown. A nearby building for seniors, the John O. Chiles Senior Residence, was updated.

John Hope Homes: Modern Living

John Hope Homes was built in 1941 next to University Homes. It had 606 units for Black families. In the 2000s, it was demolished and replaced with The Villages at Castleberry Hill.

McDaniel-Glenn Homes: New Development

The McDaniel-Glenn housing project was built in 1967. It grew to 768 units, including a high-rise for older adults called the Martin Luther King Memorial Building. This complex was torn down in 2006. By 2007, a new development called Columbia at Mechanicsville Station was completed. The Martin Luther King High-Rise was taken down in 2010.

Perry Homes: A Community Rebuilt

Perry Homes was finished in 1954 with 1,100 units for Black families. Part of the project was damaged by a tornado in 1975, and those buildings were replaced. The entire project was torn down by 1999. It was replaced with the West Highlands development, which includes mixed-income housing and other facilities like a YMCA.

Techwood/Clark Howell: A Historic Transformation

Techwood Homes was the very first public housing project funded by the federal government in the United States. It opened in 1936 with 1,230 units. Clark Howell Homes, also for white residents, was added in 1940. Before the 1996 Olympics, both Techwood and Clark Howell Homes were torn down and replaced by Centennial Place.

Public Works Administration: Architect's drawing of the University Housing Project in Atlanta, Georgia will replace slums depicted in 53227(1596), 1934

University Homes: A Future Vision

University Homes was built in 1938. It was considered the counterpart to Techwood Homes for African Americans. Residents moved out in 2006, and 500 units were torn down in 2009. In 2015, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provided a grant to revitalize the area. The housing plan renamed University Homes to "Scholars Landing." Construction is expected to be finished in 2023.

Demolished Projects: Vacant Land or Future Plans

Some public housing projects were torn down, and the land is now empty or being planned for new uses.

Antoine Graves: A Unique Design

Antoine Graves was a high-rise building for senior citizens built in 1965. It was designed by John C. Portman Jr., a famous architect who designed many buildings in Downtown Atlanta. This was one of his earliest and most important projects, and his only public housing building. It was torn down in 2009.

Bankhead Courts: Demolition Underway

Bankhead Courts was built in 1970 and had 550 housing units. Demolition of this project began around 2011.

Bowen Homes: A Large Project Gone

Bowen Homes was built in 1964. It was a large complex with many colorful duplexes, an elementary school, and a library. It was located near I-285.

In 1980, a boiler malfunction at a day care center on site caused a serious accident. In 2007, another furnace exploded, causing damage but no deaths.

Bowen Homes faced many safety challenges. In 2008, all 913 residents had to move out of the 650-unit complex. Bowen Homes was the last big family housing project in Atlanta. Its demolition on June 3, 2009, made Atlanta the first major U.S. city to remove all its large family housing projects.

Englewood Manor: Empty Land

Englewood Manor had 324 units built in 1970. It was torn down in 2009 by the Atlanta Housing Authority. The land remains empty today.

Gilbert Gardens: Cleared for New Development

Gilbert Gardens, also known as "Poole Creek," was built in the 1960s with 226 units. It was torn down in 2004, and families had to move.

Herndon Homes: A New Community Rising

Herndon Homes was completed in 1941. It had 520 units for African Americans. It was torn down in 2010. The project was named after Alonzo Herndon, who was born into slavery and became a very wealthy African American in Atlanta.

In 2016, the Atlanta Housing Authority announced plans for a new mixed-use and mixed-income community called "Herndon Square" on the site. Construction began in 2020.

Hollywood Courts: Almost Gone

As of 2011, the demolition of the 202 public housing units at Hollywood Courts was nearly finished.

Jonesboro North and South: Demolished in 2008

Jonesboro North had 145 units, and Jonesboro South had 160 units. Both were torn down in 2008.

Leila Valley: Torn Down

Leila Valley had 225 units and was torn down in 2008.

Palmer House: A High-Rise Demolished

Palmer House was a high-rise building for senior citizens. It was named after Charles Forrest Palmer, the first president of the Atlanta Housing Authority. It was taken down floor by floor in 2011.

Roosevelt House: Demolished by Explosives

Roosevelt House was a high-rise for senior citizens with 150 apartments. It was built in 1973 and named after President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The last residents moved out in 2009, and the building was demolished with explosives in 2011.

Thomasville Heights Projects: Gone in 2010

Thomasville Heights Projects was built in 1967 and had 350 units. It was torn down in 2010.

U-Rescue Villa: Demolished in 2008

U-Rescue Villa was torn down in May 2008.

Section 8 Communities: Continued Affordable Housing

Some former public housing units were changed into Section 8 apartment complexes. Section 8 is a program that helps low-income families afford housing.

The View at Rosa Burney

The 288 apartment units that were once part of the McDaniel Glenn housing project were updated and became a Section 8 apartment complex.

The Element at Kirkwood Apartments

These apartment units were part of the East Lake Meadows housing project. The Atlanta Housing Authority decided to keep them and turn them into Section 8 housing.

Edgewood Court: Still Operating

The Edgewood Court housing project was built in 1950. It is now a Section 8 housing project with 204 available units.

Forest Cove: A Section 8 Community

Forest Cove is a Section 8 community that receives housing assistance for 404 units from the Atlanta Housing Authority.

Not Demolished: Remaining Public Housing

A few public housing communities in Atlanta are still operating today.

Martin Street Plaza: Still Active

Martin Street Plaza, also known as the Summerhill Projects, was built in 1979 and continues to operate today.

Westminster: A Smaller Community

Westminster is a public housing community in Atlanta with 32 units.

East Lake Highrise: The Last of Its Kind

East Lake Highrise is a 150-unit affordable housing community. It is owned and managed by the Atlanta Housing Authority and is the last remaining building from the East Lake Meadows housing project.

Cosby Spear Highrise: Another Remaining Structure

Cosby Spear Highrise is a 282-unit affordable housing community. It is the last remaining building from the U-Rescue Villa housing project.

Hillcrest Homes: Vacant but Standing

Hillcrest Homes used to have 100 units and was owned by the Atlanta Housing Authority. It was sold to the East Point Housing Authority and has been empty but not torn down.

Hidden Village Homes: Abandoned Due to Fire

Hidden Village Homes was an abandoned 500-unit housing project once owned by the AHA. It is located in northwest Atlanta and was abandoned because of fire damage.

John O. Chiles: A Remaining Part of Harris Homes

John O. Chiles (Harris III) is a 190-unit affordable housing community. It is the last remaining building from Harris Homes.

Tucker Homes: Renovated and Private

Tucker Homes was built in the 1940s and is still standing. It was renovated in 2004 and sold as a private development called The Station at Richmond Hill.

Images for kids

• Public Works Administration, Architect's drawing of the University Housing Project in Atlanta, Georgia will replace slums depicted in 53227(1596)', 1934

  Public Works Administration: Architect's drawing of the University Housing Project in Atlanta, Georgia will replace slums depicted in 53227(1596), 1934