Atlanta Through the Archives

Egleston Public Housing Discourse

Summary

In 1959, Atlanta officials began planning for an urban renewal project around Butler Street and the Sweet Auburn Neighborhood, spurring controversy concerning the construction of replacement housing for the black families who would be displaced by the project. To remedy the situation, officials proposed a site located near the old Egleston hospital as the potential location of a 350 unit, $3.5 million public housing project for blacks. The recommended site was located in a majority white neighborhood -- and after being brought up amongst the Atlanta Aldermanic board for approval, faced almost immediate backlash from the white residents of the nearby neighborhood, who were intent on isolating themselves from the city’s black population. In early December, just 24 hours before a petition for the site was to be heard amongst the Aldermanic board, a “preacher” and other white residents frantically began to drum up community opposition to the proposed public housing site. As a result, at the meeting the next day, the board voted against approving the site for construction.

Despite the board’s refusal, work for the renewal program continued even though housing for the displaced had not been settled; Black leaders and community members became outraged. Through the end of the year and into February, members of the community and concerned organizations protested the board's decision and advocated for a successful reevaluation of the property. On February 25, 1960, the Aldermanic board hosted a standing-room only hearing, where an estimated 1000 people attended to debate the future of the city’s housing opportunities for blacks. Despite massive community support, by March, the proposed site had finally failed. The Aldermanic board denied the property in a close vote, and instead agreed to construct a project in the already black Bankhead neighborhood. Outrage at the city’s blatant support of residential segregation continued well into the next year, by which time hundreds of families still remained displaced and without homes.