Leadership
Looking to the top (& "bottom") for perspective on Atlanta's history of "progress"
The focus on city leadership of the city on this site provides a temporal breakdown of different periods of development in Atlanta with respect to urban renewal and shifting attitudes of the role of public housing. Everything about the concept of public housing is political so it makes sense to view changes in our city as demarcated by the change in city leadership.
The breakdown of specific dates in this story and the mayoral leadership are one story of leadership. Leadership is a story this complex however is more complex than elected officials. Here the less formal leadership is key. The private component of the public/private relationship in "the Atlanta Model" would not be possible. These are some of the men and women who made up the private tier of the "tlanta Model." To tell a complete story, the leadership of private persons also happened "from the bottom" after the city acquiesced from their leadership role within public housing and tenants were forced to organized from within the "projects."
The people behind the change
There are many others not mentioned here but these are some of the key "players" in the campaign for/against "progress."
Note: This is a working document with information added to it as more history is uncovered.
Please use the contact form at the bottom of this page to submit any suggested updates.
Atlanta
(1927-2022)
Charles Forrest Palmer
First chairman of AHA
Developed American's first public housing (Techwood Homes)
Palmer began his real estate and housing career by establishing the C.F. Palmer Company, a realty firm, in Santa Barbara, California. He met Judge John S. Candler, brother to Coca-Cola owner Asa Griggs Candler, who in 1920 [allegedly] persuaded Palmer to move to Atlanta to exploit the commercial investment opportunities there. Palmer opened a real estate firm there, Palmer. Inc., specializing in downtown office properties.
Later in his life, Palmer stated repeatedly in his book ["Adventures of a Slum Fighter" that he was a Republican and that his primary motivation was benefit to his real estate investments, although slum clearance might well "benefit humanity...as well”
In 1935 Palmer stated: “One of the main thoroughfares, coming into the center of the district where our properties are, was lined by obsolete dwellings; a very bad district. The spread of that area was injuring our properties.”
Renee Glover
President of AHA 1994-2013
BOD -- Fannie Mae
CEO -- Catalyst Group
Egbert Perry
CEO, President -- Integral Group
BOD -- Fannie Mae
Tom Cousins
Developed "Village at East lake" on the former site of East Lake Meadows
This project served as a pilot of what would come to be known as "The Atlanta Model" and demonstrated the feasibility, profit and legal structure of public/private collaboration to "solve the problem" of aging, poorly-constructed public housing projects, like East Lake Meadows
Eva Davis
President: East Lake Meadows Tenant Association
She vigorously fought the AHA to improve the conditions of her home and was known for calling the police to report on criminal activity – even to the point of having her home firebombed by gang retaliation, but she refused to leave and continued to fight for improvement until the destruction of East Lake Meadows
Shirley Hightower
Bowen Homes Resident/President of Tenant Assoc./Advocate
Mother of Rasheed Hightower ["Shop Boyz" rap group started out of Bowen Homes]
Example of advocacy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhaFCkhXshI