Many of you have asked how Emmaus House is engaged in the ongoing conversation about the departure of the Atlanta Braves and the future of the Turner Field property, located on the northern border of Peoplestown. We are well aware that what happens there will have a tremendous impact on our neighborhood and those we serve. To that end, Emmaus House has become a founding member of the Turner Field Community Benefits Coalition.
Mia Hobdy, Director of Community Partnerships, provides the following update.
Turner Field Community Benefits Coalition
Purpose:
A few months ago, a small group of neighborhood leaders from Neighborhood Planning Unit V (NPU-V) began to develop the Turner Field Community Benefits Coalition (TFCBC). We believe that the best way to ensure a positive development for the residents of our communities is to come together with one unified purpose and voice. To that end, the TFCBC will organize residents and supporters to advocate for transparent development, inclusive planning, and community benefits related to the redevelopment of the Turner Field Stadium area. Our goal is to represent community residents in the recommendation and negotiation of specific community outcomes that should result from this major redevelopment project. (Click here to learn more about Community Benefits Agreements.)
The TFCBC seeks to partner with the City of Atlanta and Invest Atlanta to ensure a robust and inclusive planning process through the recently awarded Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) planning grant. (Learn more about the LCI award here.) Emmaus House believes there must be a competitive and transparent process to select a developer for the area.
Coalition Membership:
Key organizations that have laid the groundwork for this coalition include: Organized Neighbors of Summerhill, Summerhill Neighborhood Development Corporation, Peoplestown Revitalization Corporation, Peoplestown Neighborhood Association, Mechanicsville Civic Association, Emmaus House, ECO-Action, Annie E. Casey Foundation Atlanta Civic Site, NPU-V, Georgia STAND-UP, 303 Community Coalition, South River Watershed Alliance, Partnership for Southern Equity, and others.
Organizations can participate in the Coalition in one of three membership tiers: Resident Organizations based in the immediate communities; Community-Based Organizations based in south Atlanta communities; and Endorsing Organizations. Please see the TFCBC Operating Agreement (attached) for more information on eligibility, responsibilities, and authority of each membership tier. All organizations may attend monthly Coalition meetings and participate on committees.
We hope you’ll offer your support to this powerful grassroots effort to create equitable and visionary development in our communities.
