The Neighbors Next Door
Atlanta’s poorest neighborhood lives in the shadow of its billion dollar investment
The initial projected cost of the New Atlanta Stadium was $700 million.
But year after year, the stadium’s price tag continues to increase. Atlanta Falcons team owner Arthur Blank recently revealed that it will take at least $1.5 billion to build the new sports facility. The city committed to contribute $200 million from hotel tax revenue, with the rest funded through private sources. Once completed, it’s expected to be one of the most expensive stadiums in the U.S.
The Atlanta Falcons announced earlier this month that the arena will be named the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The state-of-the-art facility will feature an eight-panel retractable roof, a seating capacity of 83,000 and several bars and restaurants. Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Steve Cannon did not disclose the full value of the naming rights deal.
The stadium will replace the Georgia Dome, home of the Atlanta Falcons since 1992. Once complete, the Georgia Dome will be demolished. Construction is underway and the stadium is expected to open in time for the 2017 NFL season.
The Great Divide
What’s commonly left out of the conversation about the newly named Mercedes-Benz Stadium is the impact it will have on the surrounding community. Within a mile from the stadium’s construction site are the neighborhoods of English Avenue and Vine City.
The historic neighborhoods were once home to many of the city’s African-American professionals and community leaders, but the area deteriorated over the decades. Today, plywood boards cover windows and doors of the majority of homes and rundown shopping plazas with vacant lots are ubiquitous along the community’s streets.
According to 2013 census data, the median household income for English Avenue is $21,327. The median income in Vine City is $23,286. In comparison, the median household income for metro Atlanta is $46,485.
More than $100 million has been poured into the community for development since the late 1980s, but lasting positive impact from those funds has yet to be seen.
Invest Atlanta and the Arthur M. Blank Foundation have pledged to provide $30 million to help revitalize the two neighborhoods, but the Falcons have said they want to focus on the stadium deal first.
LISTEN: “On Second Thought” hosted a live conversation about the pace of urban development in Atlanta on Wednesday, September 2nd on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Press play to hear a former urban planner, a current city councilman and a tree researcher weigh in on the challenges of changing cities without harming the community or environment around big redevelopment projects.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Do you live near a major development project? What has the impact been on your neighbors and community? How do you imagine a neighborhood like Vine City changing once the new sports stadium is open for business?
