Georgia State University announced it will move the Olympic flame cauldron from the Summerhill neighborhood, where it has been located since Atlanta hosted the 1996 Olympic Games, to Centennial Olympic Park in Downtown.
The 120-foot Olympic Flame Tower, cauldron, and rings became not only a reminder of the Olympic Games but also a symbol of pride, resilience, and part of the area’s branding. While the cauldron will find a new home in Centennial Olympic Park, the tower structure and bridge will remain over Hank Aaron Drive.
For two years, Summerhill leaders have been asking for the cauldron to be restored and remain in place, stating in a letter to GSU that they thought their opposition had been registered – until Thursday’s announcement.
The letter was signed by John Helton, president of Organized Neighbors of Summerhill; Cheron Pitchford, executive director of Summerhill Neighborhood Development Corp; State Rep. Phil Olaleye, a Summerhill resident; and Atlanta City Council member Jason Winston.
“Our position was, and remains, that preserving and showcasing its legacy does not require taking it from the community that has sat in the shadow of its tower for 30 years,” the letter states.
Summerhill was the first neighborhood established by formerly enslaved people after emancipation, playing a foundational role in Atlanta’s history. Later home to Jews, Greeks and African Americans, Summerhill thrived in the early 1900s.
When the neighborhood was redeveloped in preparation for the 1996 Olympic Games, tens of thousands of residents were displaced, businesses and institutions closed and “community ties were broken in service of an event that brought worldwide recognition and charted an upward trajectory for our city,” the letter states.
Olaleye, a Summerhill resident, posted on social media: “People should never come second in their own city,” suggesting the process be paused to give residents a seat at the table.
“Through hard fought and overdue revitalization in the past 10 years, the torch has become the manifestation of Summerhill’s revitalized identity,” the letter states. “Historic neighborhoods deserve a meaningful voice in decisions that shape their identity, preserve their history, and define their future. Our fervent request remains that the Olympic torch stay where history placed it—in Summerhill.”
Georgia State University President M. Brian Blake said the project reflects both preservation and progress.
“Georgia State is honored to help preserve and advance Atlanta’s Olympic legacy. The story of the Olympic Flame Tower is also the story of Summerhill and Georgia State’s evolution. We are committed to celebrating the history that shaped Atlanta while creating new opportunities for students, residents and visitors,” Blake said.
A GSU representative said the university does not have a response to the letter.
