An Investigation of Affordable Housing Failure on the Atlanta Beltline

Willoughby Mariano, Lindsey Conway, and Anastaciah Ondieki share the findings of an investigation by the Georgia News Lab and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution into the gap between intentions and reality on affordable housing connected to the Atlanta Beltline.

"Along with the ribbon of parks, trails and transit, Atlanta Beltline Inc. was supposed to create at least 5,600 affordable houses and apartments — a goal so important that City Council put it into law," according to the article. "But halfway to the Beltline’s scheduled completion, it has only funded 785 affordable homes, more than 200 of which remain under construction."

"At that rate, the Beltline, one of the nation’s most ambitious urban redevelopment projects, won’t meet its 2030 goal and rising housing costs may drive away more middle class residents," adds the article.

According to the investigation, some of the disappointing results with regard affordable housing are the fault of Atlanta Beltline Inc., the entity overseeing the planning and execution of the Atlanta BeltLine vision. To summarize, with more detail included in the source article:

Beltline Inc. kept units that it funded affordable for only a short time; decreased spending on affordable housing as the city entered its current housing crisis; and even passed up on millions of dollars of potential funds. The untapped funds were enough to more than double the project’s affordable housing budget, the investigation found.