Westside Future Fund (WFF) hosted a ribbon cutting today at 220 Sunset Avenue to celebrate the restoration of a historic Vine City property and announce a transformational new partnership with Spelman College. The property, once home to one of Atlanta’s most influential families and located next door to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s former family residence, will now provide deeply affordable rental housing and a structured pathway to homeownership for Spelman College faculty and staff.

“At Spelman, we believe our mission extends beyond the classroom,” said Roz Brewer, Interim President of Spelman College. “By deepening our institution’s roots in this historic neighborhood, we’re investing in our people and this community’s future — ensuring that the legacy of leaders who came before us continues to grow and thrive.”

Built in 1949 by Rev. Maynard Jackson Sr. and Dr. Irene Dobbs Jackson, a civil rights pioneer who integrated Atlanta’s public library system, 220 Sunset Avenue was home to the Jackson family — including their son, Maynard Jackson Jr., who would become Atlanta’s first Black mayor. During the 1950s and 60s, the home also provided rental housing for Black families during a time when discriminatory policies restricted access to safe and affordable housing. Next door, Dr. King lived with his family during the final years of his life, making the block a center of civil rights leadership and community.

In the late 1960s, the property was acquired by The King Center and used to house visiting scholars and staff. In 2020, The King Center sold the property to Westside Future Fund to ensure its long-term preservation and impact. Since then, WFF has led a comprehensive restoration effort, supported by philanthropic and civic partners including The King Center, Invest Atlanta, Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Vine City Civic Association, and NPU-L. The neighboring King family home has since been acquired by the National Park Service, further establishing the block as a landmark of national significance.

“Preserving the Maynard Jackson family home is not merely an act of safeguarding a physical structure; it is a commitment to honoring the legacy of a visionary leader who reshaped our community,” said Dr. Eloisa Klementich, President & CEO of Invest Atlanta.

The partnership between WFF and Spelman is supported by WFF’s Home on the Westside program, the organization’s flagship initiative aimed at preventing displacement and fostering economic mobility in Atlanta’s historic Westside. The program offers high-quality, affordable homeownership and rental opportunities, financial coaching, and property tax relief through the WFF Anti-Displacement Tax Fund for residents with live, work, or learn connections to the community. Through the partnership, WFF will lease the newly-restored units at 220 Sunset Ave at 60% AMI to qualified Spelman employees, who will also receive homebuyer readiness support and priority access to for-sale homes through the Home on the Westside program.

“Standing on this block — between the homes of Dr. King and the Jackson family — we’re reminded that history lives on through the people who continue to invest in this community,” said John Ahmann, President & CEO of Westside Future Fund. “This partnership with Spelman College is a powerful example of what it means to honor our past while creating pathways to opportunity for the future.”

The partnership is expected to support 6–8 faculty and staff members over five years, with up to five anticipated to transition into homeownership. Lease terms are designed to support that transition, with no penalty for early departure when purchasing a home.

The ribbon-cutting event also celebrated the Jackson family’s enduring legacy and the role of local residents and community partners in preserving Atlanta’s cultural heritage. Remarks were delivered by:

• John Ahmann, President & CEO, Westside Future Fund
• Mayor Andre Dickens, City of Atlanta
• Roz Brewer, Interim President, Spelman College
• T. Dallas Smith, Chair, Westside Future Fund Board 
• Councilman Byron Amos, Atlanta City Council
• Dr. Eloisa Klementich, President & CEO, Invest Atlanta
• Reginald Chapple, Superintendent of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District, National Park Service