Bedford-Pine Section 8 housing Redevelopment (Atlanta, Decatur: apartment complex, crime, construction)

[cqholt]

This week, Wingate Companies and Columbia Residential unveiled the first building in a multi-phase revitalization of largely abandoned lots around Boulevard and Angier Avenue — the eastern extension of downtown’s Pine Street.

The first phase, City Lights, features 80 one-bedroom apartments for seniors. But far from the dated garden-style walk-ups that dominate the area, the new building offers plenty of amenities such as a sundeck, state-of-the-art fitness center, a community kitchen, plenty of programming to keep residents active, and WiFi.
With City Lights complete, work will soon begin on a 96-unit apartment building across the street, officials said this week.

The five-story Station 464 apartments will replace four aging apartment buildings between Boulevard and Latta Street.

Look for construction to launch on that project in 2017.

http://atlanta.curbed.com/2016/12/16...ts-city-lights

[Iconographer]

Boring design, but I'm glad to see someone addressing the need for senior housing.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

Boring design, but I'm glad to see someone addressing the need for senior housing.

If the aim is affordable housing, the extra trimmings, accents, etc, just adds to the costs. Not saying affordable housing needs to be minimalist design, but it does not need spires and extras that will just raise the costs.

[Justice123]

Forget about the design for a minute. I think this type of development is needed for the area. Its a start in the right direction.

[Forhall]

Well there goes any hope of gentrification for Boulevard, which desperately needs it. Affordable housing is one thing, but Section 8 is an entirely different group of people and no amount of fresh paint or redesigned buildings will change the fact that just like every other section 8 housing development in Atlanta, this will be a hotbed of crime.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by Forhall

Well there goes any hope of gentrification for Boulevard, which desperately needs it. Affordable housing is one thing, but Section 8 is an entirely different group of people and no amount of fresh paint or redesigned buildings will change the fact that just like every other section 8 housing development in Atlanta, this will be a hotbed of crime.

There's not much that can be done short of HUD canning the Section 8 program, since Wingate makes a killing sucking off the federal teat.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by Forhall

Well there goes any hope of gentrification for Boulevard, which desperately needs it. Affordable housing is one thing, but Section 8 is an entirely different group of people and no amount of fresh paint or redesigned buildings will change the fact that just like every other section 8 housing development in Atlanta, this will be a hotbed of crime.

Yes, I can see it now; marauding bands of geriatrics on Boulevard, giving out beatdowns with their canes and walkers.

[Forhall]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

Yes, I can see it now; marauding bands of geriatrics on Boulevard, giving out beatdowns with their canes and walkers.

You should read the article before you comment. Only one apartment building is for seniors. That one is complete. I have no qualms with affordable housing for seniors.

The same developer is also building a huge apartment complex of affordable housing for all ages on Boulevard to start next year. if it's affordable as in income sliding scale, fine. Some of that is good. If it's section 8 housing then kiss gentrification of that area goodbye because nearly every section 8 large scale projects in the city is a crime hotspot.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by Forhall

You should read the article before you comment. Only one apartment building is for seniors. That one is complete. I have no qualms with affordable housing for seniors.

The same developer is also building a huge apartment complex of affordable housing for all ages on Boulevard to start next year. if it's affordable as in income sliding scale, fine. Some of that is good. If it's section 8 housing then kiss gentrification of that area goodbye because nearly every section 8 large scale projects in the city is a crime hotspot.

I really hope that they keep teardown to a minimum on Boulevard. A lot of those small scale apartment buildings have good bones and were probably built to replace the carnage left by the 1917 fire:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_...a_fire_of_1917

I wouldn't mind a lane reduction on Boulevard, either, with a little more pedestrian-friendliness.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

I really hope that they keep teardown to a minimum on Boulevard. A lot of those small scale apartment buildings have good bones and were probably built to replace the carnage left by the 1917 fire:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_...a_fire_of_1917

I wouldn't mind a lane reduction on Boulevard, either, with a little more pedestrian-friendliness.

Bus-only lanes on boulevard wouldn't be a bad idea, as it provides a N-S route.