Drove through Bankhead today

[netdragon]

Originally Posted by residinghere2007

Just wanted to highlight the bold of this post.
But did want to again contribute to the fact that this area is not the hell hole, gun toting, gangster haven that many fearful Atlantans think it is. I hope for many of the nice resident's sake that more of you don't go over there and "discover" how not so dangerous it is so that they won't be kicked out to make way for a new yuppie/buppie/hipster development of coffee shops and shopping and other so-called "cool-isms" that people like to fawn about enjoying.

To prevent that from happening, the city is going to need to shield them from rising taxes and rents, and down-payment assistance and subsidies for working class people in exchange for limits on how much higher they can sell the property for per year. There still aren't enough protections to create affordability in gentrifying neighborhoods. Until that's solved, we're just pushing around poverty rather than spreading it out like Bill Clinton wrote we should do in the long paper he authored.

Right around where Bankhead Courts used to be, I think that's already happened. Mableton is surging near there (though Smyrna is quickly gobbling up the river) and Whiitier Mill, Bolton Hills and Riverside are heading towards unaffordable territory. Bankhead Courts itself is now a giant open area blank canvas that could become anything.

Around Hollywood Courts, Perry Homes (the Highlands) is doing really great, as is Rockdale. However, Scott's Crossing, Lincoln Homes and Grove Park are still very affordable for the nice people.

The Bankhead Courts property itself is a blank slate right on the river which will probably become something grandiose in typical Atlanta style, especially with Riverview Landing going in along the river on the other side in Smyrna.

[residinghere2007]

AHA never told us what was in store for Bankhead Courts but it was targeted for redevelopment in the future. Like you said above, due to the proximity to the Chattahoochee and to a developing area of Cobb County, I do think if AHA decides to build there or even sell the location to a private company, that it will be very successful and further elevate the area. Contrary to what people believe about Bankhead Courts, that portion of Bankhead was really not all that bad anyway. Bowen Homes, was worse in regards to crime on Bankhead Hwy. Hollywood was actually one of the most difficult properties to manage. We had to hire off duty, armed APD officers for a long spell there for security due to violent crime, but that area is really turning around like you said.

Many areas of the NW corner of the city are affordable and crime has gone down substantially since the demolition of Herndon, Bankhead Courts, Bowen Homes, and others close to or off of Hollowell Pkwy. They still contend with the "danger" aspect due to the old reputation along with the fact that that is a "blacker" part of the city. I always loved living on that side of town though, my neighbors were always nice and we never had any issues and traffic is not bad on that part of town.