The Atlanta City Council unanimously approved two bills at Monday’s meeting regarding old Atlanta Public Schools properties owned by the city.
An ordinance authored by Councilmember Joyce Sheperd authorizes the mayor to negotiate an agreement with APS for the disposition of the old Adair Elementary School in southwest Atlanta. Last month, APS Superintendent Meria Carstarphen said the city would not release the deed so the school system could sell the property to a developer who wants to build apartments on the site. Mayor Kasim Reed said he would not release the deed since it was part of ongoing negotiations over the city’s repayment of $13 million owed to APS in deferred Atlanta BeltLine taxes.
Also approved was a resolute from Councilmember Michael Julian Bond, which authorizes the mayor to evaluate all former APS properties to determine the feasibility of repurposing those properties for possible use as parks and greenspace. Bond cited a 2008 report that the city has a relatively low amount of parkland in relation to its population compared to other major U.S. cities.
