The Transformative Ralph David House Is Now Open, Providing Permanent Supportive Housing
On December 18th, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta Beltline, Inc. President and CEO Clyde Higgs, and other City and housing leaders celebrated the opening of Ralph David House in Reynoldstown...
- Affordable Housing
- Atlanta Beltline‚ Inc.
One year ago, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta Beltline, Inc. President and CEO Clyde Higgs, and other City and housing leaders gathered at 277 Moreland Avenue to break ground on a transformative project: permanent supportive housing for individuals who were previously unhoused.
Fast forward to today, and the vision has become a reality. On December 18, the former Atlanta Motel, built in the 1960s, reopened. The Ralph David House has transformed into 56 modern studio apartments in the Reynoldstown neighborhood.
This adaptive reuse development marks a historic first for the Atlanta Beltline, as it is the organization’s first investment dedicated to permanent supportive housing.
“Once an aging 1960s era is now a driving community for our cities most vulnerable residence that needed the most. These two-story buildings have been full on the inside and reimagined. We delivered affordable housing, faster, and more efficiently proving that creative solutions can drive real results,” says City of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.
Led by Stryant Investments, the apartments will be reserved for those earning 30 percent of Area Median Income (AMI) or less and who were previously unhoused. Rents and utility costs combined will be capped at 30 percent of each tenant’s income. Plans include having a social worker office onsite, ADA-compliant units and a design that meets Fair Housing Guidelines.
“This is the first time the Atlanta Beltline has invested in this kind of project. We saw this as a catalytic opportunity to continue guiding equitable, inclusive and sustainable development in Atlanta, which has many historically disinvested neighborhoods,” says President & CEO of Atlanta Beltline, Inc., Clyde Higgs
As with many projects in Atlanta, the success and impact of initiatives like this is possible from collaborative efforts. Along with Atlanta Beltline’s $500,000 investment from the TAD Increment Fund, managed by Invest Atlanta, the project has received funding from the Atlanta Affordable Housing Fund and City of Atlanta HOME funds, as well as support from Partners for HOME’s HomeFirst program, which provided funding, Housing Choice Vouchers from Atlanta Housing, and supportive services for all individuals housed in the units.
The Ralph David House exemplifies the Beltline’s dedication to providing equitable and inclusive housing opportunities for everyone who calls Atlanta home. The Beltline’s goal is to create or preserve at least 5,600 affordable and workforce housing units within the Beltline Planning Area by 2030. As of November 2024, the Beltline has already reached 69% of that goal—a major step forward in making housing more affordable for Atlanta’s residents.
To learn more about the Beltline’s commitment to affordable housing, click here.
To track current units through the Beltline’s Affordable Housing Dashboard, click here.
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