Butler/Auburn

• History
• Projects
• Future Projects
• Neighborhood Facts

History

The Butler/Auburn neighborhood has been home to some of Atlanta’s most outstanding African-American businesses, institutions, and residents. In the last century the area was characterized by moderate mix of African-Americans and whites. However, at the beginning of this century, more African-Americans began moving into the area while whites left for other parts of the city. by 1920, Butler/Auburn became the center of African-American commerce, culture, and leadership no only for Atlanta, but for all the Southeast. Racial segregation was a pivotal force in the community’s business and residential growth.

The 1930’s and 1940’s were the area’s peak period of prominence. All kinds of business flourished in the area, showing the social and economic success that African-Americans were able to accomplish. Auburn Avenue was home for banks, insurance and entertainment facilities. During this period the area was named “Sweet Auburn”.

The resettlement of prominent residents in other African-America neighborhoods before World War II, the construction of I-75/I-85, and the civil rights movements of the 1960’s contributed to a decline of the physical, economic, and social conditions in the area. African-Americans started moving to the outside areas and to businesses from which they once were excluded. However, Auburn Avenue still comprises Atlanta’s most important African-American institutions.

Projects

In 1994 the Corporation for Olympic Development in Atlanta (CODA) prepared a Redevelopment plan for the Butler/Auburn neighborhood. Many of the projects included in the Redevelopment Plan have been accomplished, while others are under construction or in the proposed phase.

CODA has spent $635,000 on street improvements along Auburn, Edgewood Avenues, and Bell and Butler Streets using City Bond Funding. The improvements included 1,260 feet of curb repair, 2510 feet of sidewalk repair, 95 trees planted and 1,200 feet of lights and street furniture. Designed by Patrick & Associates, the $5,1 million Auburn Avenue Streetscape improved sidewalks, repaved the street, added new street furniture, overhead and pedestrian lights, and created sequential gathering places along the street. Acting as an economic development node, CODA spent $2,1 million in developing the Auburn Market/Dobbs Plaza beneath the freeway overpass. The plaza is an attractive multi-purpose community park with spaces for street vendors, and an enhancement to the new Fulton County Community Service Center - a day facility for senior citizens on Edgewood Avenue.

The Downtown Development Authority (DDA), NationsBank and the City’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) have committed funding for the relocation of the Martin L. King Jr. Community Center. The DHCD has allocated $100,000 from CDBG funds for the renovation of a historic building (328 Auburn Avenue) to be used as a computer learning center for women - the SCLC Women Center. A $188,000 in CDBG funds were used by DHCD to acquire the property for the Butler Street YMCA Boys Branch, while the City’s Public Works Department repaired the existing sewer lines of the facility at a cost of $40,000 from CDBG funds.

The owner of the Casino building (183 Auburn Avenue) has begun renovating the building at a cost of $80,000 to return it to the original use as a ballroom facility. A private developer is developing 20 loft apartments as adaptive re-use of the existing building located on 19 Hilliard Street. Current renovations to the Palamount Lodge will replace the existing 44 units with 35 units. Approximately $100,000 will be used for this project. Other renovation projects that have been completed in the neighborhood include the Big Bethel Church and Thelma’s Rib Shack. The latter project received a Business Improvement loan from the Atlanta Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) valued at $75,000. The DHCD allocated $300,000 in HOME and CDBG funds, and reserved Section 8 vouchers for the rehabilitation of the Edgewood Center Single Room Occupancy facility. Additional financing was made available by the Georgia Housing Finance Authority (GHFA). The center provides accommodation for 46 persons who tested positive for HIV or have AIDS.

A private developer is renovating two commercial spaces at a cost of $110,000 in the Odd Fellows Building (228-250 Auburn Avenue) to be occupied by Popeyes and Da Bayou restaurant. APEX is spending approximately $40,000 in renovating a building next to the museum as a gift shop. The DHCD has allocated $200,000, to be implemented by the non-profit, Sweet Auburn Improvement Association, for facade renovations of 12 to 14 buildings in the first phase of the Facade Improvement and Urban Renovation Project. A major gain to the neighborhood's commercial development, is Mutual Federal Savings Bank's construction of a new financial institution on Auburn Avenue at a cost of $2,5 million.

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site (NHS) boundaries were expanded in 1993 to provide land for visitors facilities. The National Parks Service (NPS) has recently completed a new visitor's center and restored the first fire station that was built in Atlanta on the corner of Boulevard and Auburn Avenue.

In an effort to expand the parking capacity within the neighborhood to support mixed-use development along Auburn and Edgewood Avenues, the United Way constructed a parking deck. The deck, located at the corner of Auburn Avenue, Courtland, and Peachtree Center, has a capacity for 852 cars. The Atlanta Urban Design Commission (AUDC) presented an award to United Way for the design of the new parking deck and enhancement of the neighborhood.

Future Projects

Butler/Auburn location in the Federal Empowerment Zone allows developers to qualify for grants and tax credits offered by this program, while the designation of the Auburn Avenue Enterprise Zone will abate property taxes for new development and rehabilitation over a 10 year period. Additionally, the neighborhood has a number of other attractive incentives for future development opportunities. Butler/Auburn is in close proximity to Downtown employment. It has excellent transportation access, served by both roadways, MARTA rapid rail and five bus routes. The neighborhood has a large residential population, and strong potential markets for commercial, retail and service activities along the Auburn-Edgewood corridor and Decatur Street. Additionally, there is a tremendous opportunity to capitalize on the community's international importance and visitor potential. In an effort to increase the visitor potential The APEX Museum and the Ebenezer Baptist Church have also proposed new projects along Auburn Avenue. APEX plans to use $5 million to $6 million for expanding the existing museum. The

museum hopes to raise the money through private fundraising. Ebenezer Baptist Church is planning to construct a new church on the corner of Auburn Avenue and Jackson Street at a cost of $7 million dollars. Ebenezer will use its own funds to finance the project.

Setting the tone for improving the commercial and retail services in the neighborhood, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is rehabilitating the Sweet Auburn Curb Market located on Edgewood Avenue. The rehabilitation of the public market will add 160 new parking spaces to the existing parking lot. Financing for this $7 million project will be provided through a Section 108 loan. One of the proposed projects documented in the Redevelopment Plan, is the historic renovation of the Rucker Building to include restaurants, retail, and offices. The projected development costs are $1,5 million. In addition, discussion about renovating the Old Atlanta Life Building and the possible relocation of the headquarters of 100 Black Men of Atlanta and the National Black Arts Festival are taking place.

Butler/Auburn has an existing land use pattern which reflects the loss of single-family housing stock to multi-family rental housing. The neighborhood has a concentration of housing types and rental conditions that serve low-income residents. Opportunity exists to retain and expand the limited housing that is owner-occupied, and at the same time create new housing that will attract more socially diverse residents.

The renovation of community facilities provide a much needed increase in the delivery of public safety and community services. To improve the public safety in the Butler/Auburn neighborhood, the City’s Fire Department has proposed the construction of a new Fire Station to be located at the intersection of I-75 and Edgewood Avenue.

Neighborhood Facts

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