The Turner Field Community Benefits Coalition, which represents the neighborhoods of Summerhill, Mechanicsville, Peoplestown, Pittsburgh and others nearby Turner Field, unveiled a Community Benefits Platform during at press conference this morning at the stadium.
The platform was created ahead of the Atlanta Braves vacating The Ted at the end of the year while the city negotiates the sale of the stadium property to Georgia State University and its partners for a mixed-use development including athletic fields, housing, restaurants, retail and more.
Included in the coalition’s platform are calls for diverse housing with affordable units; amenities such as a supermarket, retail and entertainment; infrastructure upgrades to prevent future flooding; transportation options; a walkable street grid that connects neighborhoods; greenspace and public space; job training and education for youths and adults; and better policing and security.
“We are excited that we have been able to unite the neighborhoods surrounding Turner Field and the institutions, churches, and organizations with one voice.” Said Coalition member and longtime Peoplestown resident Alison Johnson. “After decades of development projects that have hurt our communities we are excited about the opportunity to finally get it right”
“As the sale contract is set to be signed between the Atlanta Fulton County Recreational Authority (AFCRA) and the developer, we’re hopeful that AFCRA will include a binding requirement that the developer must negotiate a Community Benefits Agreement with the coalition” said Mechanicsville resident Jason Dozier, adding, “They have the power to set us off on the path to building a community that works for all of us.”