Front Porch brings affordable housing units to Sweet Auburn
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The exterior of The Front Porch on Auburn. Photo: Courtesy of Addison Hill Photography
The first phase of a redevelopment project that produced Auburn Avenue's first new build in nearly two decades is sparking hope that one of Atlanta's most famed thoroughfares will see a rebirth.
Why it matters: Once considered the "richest Negro street" in the world, Auburn Avenue — dubbed Sweet Auburn by its boosters — had one of the largest concentrations of Black-owned businesses in the country.
- It was home to Atlanta's first Black-owned radio station, daily newspaper and office building, and was a business, political and cultural hub.
- In the last few decades, however, commercial investment into Sweet Auburn has not kept up with money poured into neighboring streets and communities.
Driving the news: The Historic District Development Corporation on Wednesday cut the ribbon on Front Porch, a mixed-use development that includes 33 fully furnished residential units.
- HDDC said 78% of the units, which start at $1,400 a month, are designated as affordable.
- Utilities are also included in the rent.
- Front Porch also has a rooftop garden, and event and retail space.
What they're saying: Michael Hatcher, president of Sovereign Construction and Development, which was part of the construction team, said the project is the first new build on Auburn Avenue since 2007.
- Hatcher told Axios he hopes this development will spur "more activity and a lot more attention and investment" into Auburn Avenue.
Friction point: The path to last week's ribbon cutting wasn't easy, HDDC president and CEO Cheneé Joseph told Axios.
- They faced several roadblocks when an appraiser "redlined" the property and undervalued it by $7 million, she said.
- Knowing that valuation could jeopardize their ability to get financing, HDDC sought the services of another appraiser who Joseph said understood the significance of the neighborhood.
- They eventually got the financing needed to move ahead with Front Porch.
- "We knew that if we were not going to be able to finish this project, there was never going to be a product of this caliber in Sweet Auburn," she said.
The big picture: Along with Front Porch, other redevelopment projects are also underway in the neighborhood — such as Sweet Auburn Grande, a multi-phase mixed-use project that would transform much of Auburn Avenue between Jesse Hill Jr. Drive and Bell Street into a large mixed-use development.
- The restoration of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge, which has housed many influential Black organizations since it was built in 1940, is also underway.
- Big Bethel AME, the oldest Black church in Atlanta, is teaming up with the Benoit Group to build residential units and to renovate its administrative offices.
The bottom line: Joseph said she hopes Atlanta will see Front Porch as a catalyst to re-invest in a once-thriving community torn apart by the construction of the Downtown Connector.
- "I think that now that we've got the proof of concept that we can do it, Atlanta has to decide are they going to stand behind their words as far as what is truly the Atlanta Way," she said. "You cannot have a project like Sweet Auburn and the city — our people — not support it and ensure that it's successful."