Dozens of Westside residents packed a meeting Thursday night to discuss a controversial proposal from Atlanta Mission. The nonprofit wants to convert the Village Skatepark near the Westside BeltLine Trail into a residential complex for people experiencing homelessness.
The project would include wrap-around services, but neighbors are pushing back. An online petition against the plan has collected nearly 1,100 signatures. City Councilman Byron Amos attended the meeting and questioned why this facility needs to be right on the BeltLine.
"I understand the project. I understand the need," Amos said. "I disagree with the location." The skatepark's current tenant says he was told to vacate by next Friday. He called it devastating, especially with summer events already planned.