1994-2002
During this time period we began to see the first "experiments" with demolishing large scale AHA held housing projects and replacing them with "mixed-income" developments. The first was East Lake Meadows, followed soon by Techwood and Clark Howell Homes. These clearings of housing projects was a large part of the city's efforts to ready itself for display on the world-scale in the upcoming 1996 Olympic Games. Following the Olympics the demolition of housing projects continued with Perry Homes.
1994
Renee glover begins reign as Executive Director of AHA, at this point AHA is designated by HUD as a “troubled agency”[1]
Contract jointly awarded to (1) Integral group and (2) McCormack Baron Salazar to demolish Techwood Homes and build Centennial place
Atlanta chosen by HUD as one of the nation’s six “Empowerment Zones”, a designation that awarded $100million in federal grants (Social Service Block Grants) and $150million in federal tax credits[2]
[1] https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/AtlantaFY10Plan.pdf
[2]Darryl Fears, “City Expecting Empowerment Designation,” Atlanta Constitution, 20 December 1994, C1; Darryl Fears, “City Hall aglow over expected $100 million dollar gift,” Atlanta Constitution, 21 December 1994, A1; Darryl Fears, “Atlanta gets $100 million for troubled intown areas,” Atlanta Constitution, 21 December 1994, A18; Final report of the APCO associates, “Review of Atlanta Empowerment Zone,” December 1997, Empowerment Zone Office Files, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Atlanta, GA.
1995
East Lake Meadows torn down to make way for “The Villages at East Lake” – project headed by Tom Cousins – project cost $172 million
Techwood and Clark Howell Homes demolished and replaced by “Centennial Place” through the efforts of “Olympic Village Community Redevelopment District” program as a collaboration between the AHA, Mayor’s office, GA Tech, Atlanta Olympic Committee in the leadup to the 1996 Olympics. [the 1,195 public housing units were replaced with 800 luxury units for Olympic athletes and the “mixed income” housing following the games]
At this time 47% of AHA assisted households lived in public housing developments, 33% used Housing Choice vouchers and 20% lived in properties primarily serving the elderly, the same study estimated 21% employment among AHA supported households.[1]
[1] EuQuant’s MTW benchmark study included as part of FY2010 AHA report -- https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/AtlantaFY10Plan.pdf
1996
Olympics in Atlanta, after the games 78 of the original Techwood Homes moved back into Centennial Place.
Moving to Work (MTW) demonstration program enacted by congress. MTW program was to be administered by HUD to provide “certain ‘high performing’ public housing agencies the flexibility to design and test various approaches for: (a) facilitating and providing quality affordable housing opportunities in their localities, (b) facilitating opportunities for family success and self-sufficiency, and (c) achieving greater efficiency and effectiveness.”[1]
1996-1997 – Paul white serves as the Atlanta Empowerment Zone’s first Executive director. He was removed by Mayor Bill Campbell after less than one year following outcries of his mismanagement of Zone Funds.[2] After removing Paul White, Joseph Reed is appointed – he later pled guilty to accepting bribes in abuse his authority as director of Zone funds[3]
[1] https://www.atlantahousing.org/about-us/ah-history/
[2] chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fgetd.libs.uga.edu%2Fpdfs%2Fholliman_irene_v_201005_phd.pdf&pdffilename=holliman_irene_v_201005_phd.pdf (Using Zone funds, White ran up thousand dollar phone bills, bought first‐class plane tickets, and footed the bill for office “happy hour” meetings and lunches.)
[3]“Former Atlanta Deputy COO, Spectronics Principal Get Prison Time and Fines,” Atlanta Business Chronicle, 22 May 2003.
1999
Perry Homes demolished
AHA has moved from “troubled agency” status and is now designated by HUD as a “high performer”[1]
[1] https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/AtlantaFY10Plan.pdf
2001
AHA received it’s Move To Work (MTW) designation from HUD