In 1980, civil rights leaders Coretta Scott King, Christine King Farris, and John Cox had one goal: restore the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic District, known to many Atlantans as Sweet Auburn, to the economically diverse and viable neighborhood that raised Rev. Dr. King.
Thus, the Historic District Development Corporation (HDDC) was born. What started as a small group of volunteers developing affordable housing has grown in 45 years to a powerhouse organization that has transformed Sweet Auburn while maintaining the integrity of the historic neighborhood.
“Being an advocate for our neighborhood, Sweet Auburn, is so important, not just to Atlanta but to the deep South,” Chenee Joseph, the President and CEO of HDDC, told Rough Draft. “There are so many of our historically African American neighborhoods that are in danger of, essentially, extinction. We want to make sure that that never happens here.”
HDDC’s primary concern is ensuring the non-displacement of legacy residents in the district, but their work extends far beyond affordable housing. Since 1980, the organization has built or restored more than 120 single family homes along with helping to launch 95 new businesses, creating more than 400 new jobs, showcasing more than 30 local artists in their gallery, and introducing more than 9,000 square feet of gardens to the neighborhood, all with the direct involvement of community members.
“We are the community,” Joseph said. “We have been here as long as some of our longest residents, and with that comes a rapport, a relationship. The projects we take on, the initiatives that we begin, we don’t do any of that in a silo. I like to call our residents our co-developers. When you’re in a co-development agreement, you have partners that walk alongside you through the duration of whatever that project is.”
When projects like the Front Porch, a 100,000 square foot mixed-use development that includes affordable housing and retail space built in 2022, are introduced by HDDC, the organization engages with the community to ask them what they want to see from the project and how it could best improves their lives in Sweet Auburn.
Related stories:
• Atlanta leaders break ground on fully affordable housing complex
•Atlanta’s Black arts legacy celebrated in ‘Black Zeitgeist’ exhibition
While Joseph says the organization works to ensure the neighborhood is affordable for long-time residents in perpetuity, she also recognizes the realities of gentrification and the need to toe the line between revitalization and preservation.
“Gentrification is very alive and well, and we’ll take some responsibility for that because when you’ve improved a neighborhood, now people want to be here,” she said. “It’s always that balance of making sure that you’re protecting your history, protecting your culture, while ensuring that you don’t get left in the past.”
HDDC is currently working on redeveloping Henderson Place, a $20 million project in partnership with Mercy Housing transforming a ‘50s-era building into 76 apartment units with a ground level community food market. The project is set to be completed by July 2026. HDDC is also maintaining their work at building a self-sufficient and sustainable neighborhood through their ongoing Sweet Auburn Green and Equitable (SAGE) initiative.
Moving forward, Atlantans living in other neighborhoods may see HDDC’s work hit closer to home. Joseph says other communities have asked the organization to replicate their work in Sweet Auburn, but she says they will only become involved if the residents want to see them there.
“I don’t believe in just showing up in neighborhoods,” she said. “I want to be invited and know that we’ve got so many people that recognize the work, appreciate the work, and really want to improve the part of life for the people that live in their neighborhoods and see us as a source that can help them do that.”
To get involved and volunteer with the Historic District Development Corporation, visit hddc.org.
