Grant Park Residents Debate 200-Unit Affordable Housing Proposal Near Zoo

A spirited community meeting drew over 300 residents to debate a proposed affordable housing development on Boulevard SE near Zoo Atlanta. Supporters say the project addresses a critical need, while opponents cite traffic and density concerns.

More than 300 Grant Park residents packed into the Neighborhood Charter School gymnasium Wednesday evening for a heated discussion about a proposed 200-unit affordable housing development on Boulevard SE, just north of Zoo Atlanta. The project, backed by the Atlanta Housing Authority and developer Columbia Residential, would reserve all units for households earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income.

Supporting residents and housing advocates argued that the project represents exactly the kind of inclusive development Grant Park needs to remain economically diverse as property values continue to climb. Several speakers pointed to recent data showing that the neighborhood has lost nearly 40 percent of its renter households earning below $50,000 since 2018.

Opponents raised concerns about traffic impacts on the already-congested Boulevard corridor, the scale of the building relative to surrounding homes, and the adequacy of nearby school capacity. The developer has agreed to conduct a full traffic study and return for a second community meeting in April before submitting final plans to the city.