On the morning of Monday, September 16, 2024, Westside Future Fund (WFF) joined City of Atlanta leaders for a significant press conference in the heart of historic English Avenue, held on land owned by WFF that is planned for high-quality affordable housing development. The event highlighted ongoing strategies to combat blight and hold absentee landlords accountable throughout the city.

Before the press conference, speakers and attendees toured the James P. Brawley Ave corridor, witnessing firsthand the blighted properties that hinder safety, security, and the visual appeal of the community. The walk provided a stark reminder of the challenges faced by residents and the urgency of the work being done. The tour also included a look at ongoing single family construction and renovation projects led by WFF.

During the tour, attendees met Destiny Motley, a WFF Home on the Westside resident who works at the @Promise Center in the neighborhood, and Ms. Thelma Reneau, a recipient of WFF’s Anti-Displacement Tax Fund. Both women spoke passionately about the progress made in addressing blight, crediting the collaborative efforts of public and private sector partners, including Westside Future Fund. However, they emphasized that while strides have been made, the journey to a fully revitalized community is still underway.

Following the walking tour, a press conference took place with remarks from City of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, City Councilmember Byron Amos, Invest Atlanta COO Dawn Arnold, Atlanta Housing Authority CEO Terri Lee, and WFF President & CEO John Ahmann. The leaders discussed the importance of newly available tools aimed at holding negligent landlords accountable for properties left to deteriorate in underserved neighborhoods.

A key highlight among the City’s toolkit is the Blight Tax, an ordinance passed by the Atlanta City Council in early August. This bold measure imposes a tax rate 25 times higher than the City millage rate on owners of neglected properties. Importantly, occupied properties are exempt, ensuring no residents are involuntarily displaced.

Courtney English, Chief Policy Advisor and Senior Advisor to the Mayor, noted that over 500 properties on the historic Westside and more than 3,000 citywide currently meet the criteria to be considered legally blighted. With the Blight Tax now in effect, city officials have a powerful tool to hold property owners accountable, signaling long-overdue support for community residents surrounded by deteriorating, absentee-owned properties.

Transforming blighted properties is central to Westside Future Fund’s mission to restore the historic Westside. The organization has made significant progress, supporting 646 completed multifamily units, including 214 owned by WFF. An additional 121 units are under development, slated for completion by 2025. WFF has also facilitated homeownership for over 45 families, a key step in building long-term community stability.

Looking ahead, WFF continues its efforts through the “Our Next Chapter” capital campaign, launched in August 2023 with a goal to raise $55 million. This campaign aims to leverage an additional $45 million in low-cost financing from its Impact Fund, alongside $10 million in public grants. The funds will help finance:

• 285 multifamily units, with 185 serving families at 60% Area Median Income (AMI) and below.
• 225 single-family homes, supported by income-qualified down-payment assistance.
• The ongoing support of the Anti-Displacement Tax Fund to help legacy residents remain in their homes.

These initiatives are designed to ensure that all residents and those with live, work, and learn connections to the historic Westside can benefit from the community’s transformational growth and seize wealth-building opportunities for themselves and their families.