Vine City

• History
• Projects
• Future Projects
• Neighborhood Facts

History

Vine City, located west of Downtown Atlanta, is one of Atlanta’s earliest predominantly African-American residential neighborhoods. It was settled in the 19th century by large land owners, with separated subdivisions, schools, and churches for whites and African-Americans. Railroads and industrial areas, and Atlanta University played an important role in the neighborhood’s social and economic organization. The neighborhood was characterized by the presence of all social classes that shared community institutions.

The Atlanta fire in 1917 had a vital influence on the growth of the area as a favored African-American residential neighborhood. The family home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is located on Sunset Street, along with that of Julian Bond, one of the first African-Americans elected to the Georgia legislature in the 20th century. In the 1960’s, Vine City suffered a population decline with increased poverty and deteriorating conditions. However, Vine City still retains many of the housing patterns characteristic of African-American, residential communities in the South. In recent years, neighborhood CDCs, government agencies and the private sector have been working diligently on the revitalization of the neighborhood.

Projects

With the assistance of charitable agencies, the Vine City Housing Ministry (VCHM) has worked energetically in recent years to rehabilitate existing housing units and construct affordable new housing.

VCHM is currently constructing a 77-unit apartment complex, Northside Drive Housing, on Magnolia Street with a development cost of $5 million. The Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership (ANDP) and the Urban Residential Finance Authority (URFA) are funding the project. The VCHM Single Family Home Project, 50 newly constructed single-family homes, is near completion. VCHM constructed 25 homes and provided financing for the remaining 25 houses. Other funding sources for this project include ANDP and URFA. VCHM has begun the development of the $15 million Northside Drive Hotel. The development cost will be funded by ANDP, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), and URFA. Other important projects by VCHM underway are the Vine City Estates, the renovation of 83 multifamily units and the construction of 30 new single family houses at a cost of $2 million. The City of Atlanta’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) committed $50,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for land acquisition and $24,000 for site development for Vine City Estates. Project Hope, funded by the Georgia Pacific Corporation, has rehabilitated and constructed approximately 30 single-family homes in the neighborhood to date.

In 1995, the DHCD allocated $75,000 from CDBG funds for site development and street improvement costs for the construction of affordable housing. The site development will be conducted on five vacant lots located at Maple, Foundry and Walnut streets. The street replacements and repairs will be conducted on portions of Electric Avenue, Thurmond, Maple, Vine, Walnut, Magnolia, Spencer, Foundry and Graves streets. In order to address the safety needs of the community, a mini police precinct will be constructed. DCHD allocated $100,000 from CDBG funds for the acquisition cost of the police precinct. In 1993 the Planning Department designated Parcel 25, located at Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Carter Street, a housing enterprise zone. A 184-unit multifamily complex has been built at cost of $8.5 million. The complex has a 100% occupancy rate and 20% of the units are reserved for low income residents with rents ranging from $400 to $475 per month. The remaining rents range between $475 to $650 per month. The project was funded by URFA, the Georgia Dome Housing Trust Fund and First Union Bank. In addition, DHCD has committed $25,000 in CDBG funds for a neighborhood youth cultural center. The project is currently being revised to include additional work required to bring the facility up to code.

As part of their Public Spaces Program, the Corporation for Olympic Development in Atlanta (CODA) has created a pedestrian corridor along Mayson Turner, Lena, Taliaferro, James P. Brawley, and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive is a major east-west artery that forms the southern boundary of the Vine City neighborhood and it is expected to draw many visitors to this area during the Olympic Games as spectators move from the two MARTA stations in the neighborhood to the Atlanta University Center venues. CODA spent $914,000 for additional street improvements along James P. Brawley, Griffin, Rhodes, Spencer, Elm, Newport, Thurmond, Pond, Magnolia, Vine, Delbridge, and Chestnut.

Vine City has completed a comprehensive plan for neighborhood revitalization and is currently finalizing the urban design guidelines. The City’s Department of Planning and Development (DOP) has allocated $60,000 for the development of the plan. A redevelopment plan for the Simpson Road Corridor Phase I is in process. The Westside Public Development Authority (WPDA) is managing this process.

Future Projects

Vine City is conveniently located with regard to the major interstate, regional and local roadways, and railroads that serve the City of Atlanta. Its location along the western edge of Downtown Atlanta offers Vine City residents favorable access to jobs and governmental and cultural services in the area. MARTA bus service is available, and the neighborhood is served by 2 MARTA rapid rail stations, Vine City and Ashby. In addition, the neighborhood’s proximity to the Georgia Dome Stadium and the Atlanta University Institutions gives Vine City a strong potential for higher quality housing and community amenities.

VCHM proposes to construct 25 single family townhouses on Northside Drive. The project cost is estimated at $2.4 million and predevelopment funding will be provided by ANDP. The Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) is undertaking a major renovation of Eagan Homes, the first housing project for African-Americans. As a result, AHA and VCHM are cooperating on the relocation of 44 families. Some of the families will be relocated to the Vine City Estates while the remaining relocation will occur in the proposed residential infill. Funds would be provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), AHA, and URFA with a relocation cost of $65,000 per house. Other projects that are being considered are the construction of a neighborhood park and a mixed use residential development on Thurmond, Simpson, Maple and Northside Drive. The funding sources and project cost are to be determined.

Although increased housing opportunities, through rehabilitation and new construction, remains the top priority of many residents and neighborhood leaders, economic development issues are receiving a great deal of attention. The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the Atlanta Economic Development (AEDC) have proposed the creation of an urban village at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Ashby Street. The location of a grocery and drug store, along with other neighborhood orientated retail services, would fill an existing void in the retail services now available to residents. Other elements of the revitalization plan includes the development of a specialty-retail marketplace with a tenant mix that appeals to students, residents and visitors, the establishment of a fund for storefront improvement loans, and the construction of a new destination retail center (King’s Palace) on the block between Mason Turner and Taliaferro. The total development cost is $15 million. The City has allocated $1.3 million in CDBG funds for this project. Other funding sources include a $6.7 million section 108 loan guarantee, an EDI grant with private sector equity. An additional $667,000 in CDBG funds were allocated for the design of streetscape improvements to support the retail development. The Georgia Department of Transportation plans a pedestrian corridor along Northside Drive. Funds will be provided by state and federal sources, but the project cost is yet to be determined.

Neighborhood Facts

...Stories Worth Sharing Index...