Atlanta real estate: Past and Present

Atlanta is the state capital and county seat for Fulton. In 1842, the city was initially named Terminus and was later changed to Marthasville, a name held in honor for Governor Wilson Lumpkin's daughter. In 1848, ‘Atlanta’ was permanently named the metropolis it is today.

It wasn’t only until December 29, 1845 was Atlanta incorporated officially as a city. Then on April 20, 1868 was Atlanta named the State Capital. At present, Atlanta holds the title as the state’s Cultural Center. It boasts a wide array of arts available to the public, which include: the Atlanta Ballet, High Museum of Art and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Atlanta is home to many well-known professional and collegiate clubs, they are: Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Thrashers and Atlanta Falcons. A lively city, Atlanta also hosts a number of parades and celebrations. Such festivals include:  the National Black Arts Festival, the Georgia Renaissance Festival, Sweet Auburn Festival, Black College Spring Break and the Atlanta Dogwood Festival.

In terms of real estate and historic architectures, Atlanta homes are very structured. A policy, also known as the 1980’s Atlanta Housing Code, is responsible for maintaining and preserving existing stock and home structures. To ensure compliance of Atlanta’s Housing Code, inspectors examine all residential buildings. This code was conceptualized from necessity, parallel to Atlanta’s growing housing projects.

In 1936, Atlanta’s first housing project was born: Techwood Homes. However, as the years progressed, a great percentage of Atlantan’s were living on housing projects, giving birth to crime, poverty and destitution. As of June 1990, government officials together with Atlanta real estate owners, helped improve the capital’s deteriorating image of sprawling, red-brick barracks. Old housing projects were demolished in accordance to a long and divisive campaign to decentralize poverty.

According to AHA (Atlanta Housing Authority) Executive Director, Renée L. Glover:  “We’ve realized that concentrating families in poverty is very destructive”. Glover adds that this type of concentration bears negative consequences for families, neighborhoods and the city itself.

Atlanta’s plan is to create functional housing that decentralizes destitute communities in order for its residents to live in an environment where progress is possible. Currently, the role of the government is to move people into the market so that they are exposed to growth.

Where and how we live is a reflection of who we are. The environment we inhabit marks the potential either for progress or failure, and the residents of Atlanta aspire to continue its capital’s advancement, even if only through the aesthetics of neighborhoods and homes.

With Atlanta homes and housing projects in full swing, positive results have been observed among its residents. Most occupants easily find work; kids perform better at school and most residents report satisfaction in their current living conditions.

This pro-active approach against poverty affirms that Atlanta is not only home for the elite. Atlanta is serious about improving the way of life of all of its residents, regardless of stature. Similar to the method of the 1930s Techwood Home social engineers, present Atlanta real estate developers aim to create innovative solutions for its growing population.