Atlanta University Center

• History
• Projects
• Future Projects
• Neighborhood Facts

History

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) is the world’s oldest and largest consortium of African-American, private institutions of higher education. The AUC includes the following educational pioneer academic institutions less than a mile from downtown Atlanta: Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Clark College, Morris Brown College, Spelman College, and the Interdenominational Theological Center. These campuses form a unique environment to showcase the black intellectual experience and for the staging of two Olympic venues; field hockey, and basketball preliminaries.

Location of large public housing projects, such as University Homes - the second federally funded low cost housing project to be built in the country, has resulted in an overconcentration of public housing in the neighborhood. Nevertheless, the university has a stabilizing influence in the broader community and there is a concerted interest in coordinating campus and community development through the University Community Development Corporation (UCDC).

Projects

As a result of the Olympic planning process, the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) has spent approximately $51 million for various facilities at the AUC campuses. The AUC is home to the facilities for the Olympic field hockey and basketball preliminaries. Morris Brown College received a new 15,000 seat stadium. Clark Atlanta University received a 5,000 seat stadium along with an Olympic size track, baseball and tennis courts. Morehouse has a new basketball arena, and Morehouse Medical School received assistance in building a new facility that will be utilized during the games for drug testing. The Metropolitan Atlanta Olympic Games Authority (MAOGA) has acquired 21 parcels for the Clark University dormitories. The dormitories were built at a cost of $10.5 million and can accommodate more than 600 beds. At Spellman College a $5.5 million parking deck, along with a retail center, has been added.

The City of Atlanta’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has committed $450,000 in funding for the rehabilitation of 16 single family homes in the Atlanta University, Westend, and Ashview Heights neighborhoods. After the sale of the houses, the money is returned to a restricted account that provides a revolving loan fund. Two homes are complete and four are under construction. Through the HOME program, the DHCD has allocated $774,000 for the rehabilitation of Columbia Plaza Apartments in the West End neighborhood. Additional funding was provided by the Georgia Housing Finance Authority and Low Income Housing Tax Credits have been syndicated. A total of 96 units will be rehabilitated. Fifty of these units will be reserved for homeless mothers with children. The remaining 46 units will be available for low income individuals. The City allocated $250,000 for substantial renovations to two Headstart centers operated by CAU. Furthermore, the City provided $50,000 in funding for the rehabilitation of two homes through the HOME Single Family Rehabilitation Program located on 537 Boulevard Place and 118 Mildred Street respectively.

CODA has created the AUC/Westside pedestrian corridor that connects three Marta stations (West End, Vine City, Ashby Street) to each of the six educational institutions. The corridor consists of streetscape improvements such as tree-lined streets, lighting, benches and upgraded crosswalks. There are gateways located in the vicinity of the three MARTA stations which serve as markers to pedestrians. Three Unity Plazas are proposed to be located in the heart of the corridor. These plazas provide a common ground for music, dance, drama, and areas for exhibition of public art. Additionally, CODA has created another pedestrian corridor along Lower Broad Street. Two information history panels and five wayfinding panels were added in the neighborhood as part of CODA’s pedestrian signage location project. Additionally, CODA has improved 2,130 feet of sidewalks, planted 70 trees and added new street lights and other street furniture at a cost of $436,000 along Fair, Elm and Beckwith streets.

Future Projects

The Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) is in the process of transforming John Hope Homes into a mixed-income rental community. The existing 587 units will be replaced by 280 units on-site and 307 units off site. Half of the replacement units (294) will receive low income tax credits while the remaining 293 units will be leased at market rate. The total development cost is estimated at $33 million.

The rehabilitation of existing structures ensures continued improvement and growth in this neighborhood. One such example is UCDC’s proposed Holderness Street Project, the rehabilitation of 18 multi-family units. ANDP has committed $102,000 for this project.

In addition, the AUC community has been targeted as a priority area for homeownership downpayment assistance.

Neighborhood Facts

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