Atlanta City Council Member Mary Norwood says she’ll never forget her friend, renowned artist and photographer Lucinda Bunnen.
“She was delightful. Sharp as a tack. Lovely. Charming,” Norwood said.
When she passed away in 2022, she left behind a 7,000-square-foot home in the middle of Buckhead that sits in the middle of 30 acres of forest.
“In our part of town we see a lot of homes that sell, all the trees are cut down, and a McMansion is thrown up,” Neighborhood President Sally Riker said. B
But this time, it won’t happen. The City of Atlanta has bought the land along Randall Mill Road and will protect it.
“I think that came together because of the importance of saving 30 acres in an area under tremendous development pressure,” Stacy Funderburk said. He’s with the national nonprofit The Conservation Fund.
The Fund acquired the property two years ago and held it until Atlanta was ready to buy at the same price.
Half of the $15 million dollars came from the city’s Tree Trust Fund, the other half from private donations. Norwood says the forest will remain a forest, the trails will open to the public as early as next year, and artists in residence will eventually take up residence in the home—where they will hold art exhibitions.
She believes her old friend Lucinda Bunnen would approve. “Just a great artist and a gentle woman. She would love it,” Norwood said.