Atlanta’s rapid rehousing plan faces resistance from Mechanicsville

ATLANTA — Atlanta’s efforts to address affordable housing with its “rapid rehousing” project for people without permanent housing are stirring controversy in the Mechanicsville community.

Concerns are centered around a two-acre property at 405 Cooper Street in southwest Atlanta. A homeless encampment currently occupies the property.

The land is currently owned by Atlanta Public Schools, but will be exchanged with the City of Atlanta as part of an agreed-upon land swap.

Once the city takes possession of the encampment, it is expected to launch an aggressive operation to clean it up. At a “community engagement” meeting at the Mechanicsville library Tuesday night, the city explained the process to community members.

Several community members who attended the meeting expressed concerns about relocating encampment residents to the same property due to safety concerns.

Atlanta City Councilman Jason Dozier said he understands his constituents’ concerns.

“The encampment that is at 405 Cooper Street has been the site of a lot of violence,” Councilman Dozier said, adding, “One of the things I’ve heard, even tonight (Tuesday), is that we don’t want a homeless shelter. Well, my understanding is that this project is not a homeless shelter, it’s an apartment complex.”

The city has offered some renderings of what the complex could look like when completed.

Councilman Dozier said he wanted to clarify that this property would not include repurposed shipping containers like the city’s first Rapid Housing initiative project, known as “The Melody.”

“There are efforts underway to build other types of housing around the site to integrate it much more organically into the neighborhood,” Councilman Dozier said.

“It’s a different paradigm in how we approach our homeless population,” Councilman Dozier said.

Mechanicsville Civic Association President Dr. David Holder is behind a petition to stop the project along Cooper Street. Holder said that even if the encampment is to be evacuated, he believes the city should prioritize other projects in his community, many of which he said the city has neglected for decades.

“We need a building for seniors, a space where our children can play,” Holder said.

As of Tuesday night, he said they had collected more than 200 signatures and plan to continue collecting them from Mechanicsville residents and businesses. The city plans to hold another community consultation session to hear more community feedback and answer questions.