Council narrowly approves selling city jail to Fulton County
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The exterior of the Atlanta City Detention Center. Photo: Kristal Dixon/Axios
A divided City Council has given Mayor Andre Dickens the green light to go ahead with plans to sell Atlanta's Detention Center to Fulton County.
Why it matters: The Downtown jail has been at the center of a fight between residents and activists who want to see Atlanta get out of the jailing business and those who say Fulton County should acquire the facility to ease overcrowding and address other issues at its Rice Street jail.
The latest: After nearly two hours of debate, Council members voted 8-7 on Monday to authorize Dickens to sell the 471,000-square-foot City Detention Center on Peachtree Street to Fulton County for no more than $68 million.
What they're saying: Council Member Kelsea Bond said she voted against the resolution because "this sale does not address the core concerns at the Fulton County Jail," namely reports of human rights abuses at the facility.
- Council Member Eshe Collins, who also opposed the sale, said there are still unanswered questions surrounding Fulton County's plans to address overcrowding at its jail and improve diversion services in its court system.
The other side: Council Member Wayne Martin said he was in favor of the sale because "it's a humanitarian purpose that I envision would be better for our neighbors and folks that are incarcerated."
- "I think we need to be in the jailing business, and it's that simple," said Council Member Byron Amos, who voted in favor of the resolution.
Follow the money: Any financial savings the city sees from not running a jail will be diverted to programs like community and youth violence intervention, pre-arrest diversion, eviction relief and cost-of-living adjustments for employees.
Catch up quick: Fulton County began leasing bed space at the jail in 2022 to address overcrowding at Rice Street. That agreement is set to expire next month.
- Dickens originally offered to sell the building for $80 million, but withdrew it in July when commissioners opposed extending several tax allocation districts (TAD) to fund the mayor's Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative.
- Fulton County then submitted a counteroffer of $56 million.
- Dickens put forth another counteroffer to sell ACDC for $68 million, but with several stipulations related to funding a new hospital in the West End and changing its commercial property tax assessment and appeals process.
- Fulton County accepted the price, but rejected the other conditions Dickens put in his counteroffer.
What's next: Dickens' administration will bring back proposed intergovernmental agreements with the county that outline operational issues for the City Council to approve.
- Fulton County also has to approve the building's purchase.