Atlanta Civic Center redevelopment to include historic preservation

Caption

A rendering of the planned redevelopment of the Atlanta Civic Center.

Credit: Courtesy Atlanta Housing Authority

The Atlanta City Council approved at its Monday meeting a resolution to ensure historic preservation is part of the redevelopment of the Atlanta Civic Center.

The resolution calls for a 10-year agreement between the city and the Georgia State Historic Preservation Office, the Atlanta Housing Authority and developers of the Civic Center. The agreement will make sure the redevelopment complies with the National Historic Preservation Act. 

The redevelopment concept includes an affordable senior residential building, five multifamily residential high-rises, a 10-story hotel, a 12-story office building, commercial development and a charter school along with reuse of the Civic Center Performing Arts Center.

Other items the council approved include:

• An ordinance authorizing a memorandum of understanding with the Atlanta Braves Foundation, Morehouse College and the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority to redevelop the Southside Park sports complex on Jonesboro Road into the Henry Lewis Aaron Complex at Southside Park. The ordinance also authorizes the City to accept $3.8 million in donations to cover its share of the project.

• A pair of ordinances closing underdeveloped portions of Chickamauga Avenue SW and Sells Avenue to facilitate expansion of Enota Park, as outlined in the Atlanta BeltLine redevelopment plan.

• A resolution authorizing the city to apply for a $3.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s to fund the installation of solar- and battery-powered resiliency hubs in strategic buildings. 

• An ordinance accepting a donation from Atlanta Public Schools, allowing the City to install two markers on the Frederick Douglass High School campus to commemorate the school’s history as a civic institution (24-O-1227).

• A resolution requesting the creation of a commission to determine appropriate honors for the 150th anniversary of the First Regiment of U.S. Colored Troops formed in Atlanta by Bishop Henry McNeil Turner (24-R-3001).

The City Council presented proclamations and recognitions in honor of the Maynard Jackson High School girls varsity basketball team, the Lady Jaguars, who captured the 2024 GHSA 5A State Championship; Goodwill Industries of North America CEO Keith Parker; Momentemps Inc. CEO Terrence Smith; Shannon Heath Longino for her 30 years of service to the City of Atlanta; and in celebration of National Public Works Week May 19–25.

This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Rough Draft Atlanta.