LISTEN: This year, Dickens' remarks focused on how the city is revitalizing neighborhoods through affordable housing and public safety efforts. GPB’s Amanda Andrews reports.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens gave his fourth State of the City Business Address February 25, 2025 focused on how the city is addressing the housing crisis.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens gave his fourth State of the City Business Address on Feb. 25, 2025, highlighting how the city is addressing the lack of affordable housing.

Credit: City of Atlanta

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens delivered his annual state of the city address Tuesday night and told those in attendance he plans to make the city the best place to raise children. His plan includes providing jobs to young people, increasing affordable housing and reducing crime.

Since 2022 homicides in Atlanta have fallen 26%. The mayor credited the first responders with the Atlanta Police Department and non-policing alternatives such as The Center for Diversion and Services.

Dickens said a safer city starts with housing and helping the homeless.

“I promised to build or retain 20,000 units of affordable housing, and we are well on track to exceed that goal,” he said. “We are building or have families already moved into over 11,000 housing units.”

As part of those efforts, Dickens has established “rapid rehousing” developments such as The Melody for people experiencing homelessness. Now the city plans to open The Waterworks, a 100-unit supportive housing development later this year.

The address also included updates on how the city will address ongoing issues such as Atlanta’s aging water system .

“The Department of Watershed Management is already on the job, including the use of AI technology to detect and address potential issues proactively,” Dickens said. “And thanks to our federal delegation, the city is receiving significant support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to make our water system more resilient.”

Major partnerships are also working to expand greenspaces and food access in the city. Atlanta is working with food market Savi Provisions to open two new grocery stores in parts of the city where larger chain stores refused incentives to operate.

Dickens said the city also forged a new connection between Atlanta Public Schools and Atlanta Parks and Recreation to increase park accessibility.

“We've acquired nearly 600 acres of protected greenspace: That's more than the previous 12 years combined, “he said. “Also, we finalized a partnership with the Atlanta Public School system to bring their parks and playgrounds and spaces into our network."

Ahead of the FIFA World Cup in 2026, the city also plans to complete the final segment of the Proctor Creek Greenway connecting trails from the Atlanta Beltline to the Chattahoochee River.

Tags: Mayor Andre Dickens  Atlanta  State of the City  affordable housing  public safety  greenspaces  Politics  Georgia Politics  Georgia