Welcome to the West Hollowell Archives! This page houses valuable resources, including recordings from past working group meetings and previous studies conducted on the West Hollowell corridor. Explore these materials to stay informed about the initiatives shaping our neighborhood and the collaborative efforts driving progress.
Archives
West Hollowell Studies & Plans
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The Carey Park Healthy Neighborhood Redevelopment Plan outlines the Longline Westside Holdings (LWH) efforts for the redevelopment of Carey Park and surrounding areas within the West Hollowell corridor. It highlights a comprehensive strategy focused on creating mixed-income residential and commercial developments, activating public land, enhancing connectivity, and incorporating green spaces. The plan prioritizes community engagement and includes specific projects such as:
Hollywood Courts Redevelopment: Mixed-use development with housing, green spaces, and improved neighborhood connectivity.
Carey Park Residential Infill: Over 500+ homes in a mixed-income, mixed-product approach, alongside pedestrian and trail connectivity.
John Carey Elementary School Redevelopment: Conversion of a vacant school site into affordable housing and neighborhood retail.
Commercial Corridor Development: Efforts to attract retail, improve infrastructure, and address brownfield remediation.
The document also details partnerships, funding needs, and design plans aimed at sustainable and community-driven growth in the West Hollowell corridor. It serves as a roadmap for aligning public and private resources to benefit both the residents and stakeholders.
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The Proctor Creek Greenway Carey Park Study outlines a detailed plan for developing an 8.1-mile multi-use trail network in the Carey Park area of Northwest Atlanta. This study, prepared by the PATH Foundation and KAIZEN Collaborative, emphasizes connecting residential, commercial, and recreational areas while addressing key infrastructure needs in the community. The proposed trail network will integrate with the future Proctor Creek Greenway, aiming to improve multimodal accessibility, environmental sustainability, and community cohesion.
Key elements include:
Identifying eight trail segments and alternative routes, each with specific challenges, costs, and design considerations.
Highlighting opportunities to repurpose existing infrastructure and create new greenways to enhance connectivity.
Addressing challenges such as land acquisition, creek crossings, and integrating trails with ongoing neighborhood developments like the Bowen Choice Neighborhood and Gun Club Park.
This study serves as a roadmap for transforming Carey Park into a highly connected, trail-integrated neighborhood, leveraging partnerships and sustainable urban planning strategies.
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The Neighborhood Planning Unit-G (NPU-G) Master Plan Update outlines a community-driven vision for sustainable growth and revitalization. Developed in partnership with Georgia Conservancy, Georgia Tech, and local stakeholders, the plan focuses on equitable development, improved connectivity, and environmental preservation.
Key Highlights:
Improved Connectivity: Proposes multi-use trail networks and enhanced access to Proctor Creek and the Chattahoochee River corridor.
Land Redevelopment: Targets underutilized properties for mixed-income housing and economic development.
Environmental Restoration: Prioritizes preserving natural assets, including water quality and green spaces, to ensure long-term sustainability.
Community Input: Integrates feedback from residents to identify priorities and address neighborhood challenges.
Balanced Growth: Focuses on equitable strategies to foster new development while preserving affordability for legacy residents.
Empowered Leadership: Provides tools and guidance for NPU-G leadership to collaborate with policymakers, developers, and stakeholders.
This plan serves as a roadmap for creating a resilient, vibrant, and connected NPU-G community while ensuring that growth aligns with residents' needs and aspirations
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Link to the Project Fact Sheet
The Proctor Creek Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project Fact Sheet provides an overview of efforts to restore the aquatic ecosystem of Proctor Creek in Northwest Atlanta. The project focuses on improving the creek’s ecological health, addressing flooding, enhancing water quality, and restoring habitat for aquatic life. The fact sheet outlines key goals, such as stabilizing stream banks, removing invasive species, and reintroducing native vegetation to support biodiversity. It highlights collaboration between local, state, and federal partners, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and environmental sustainability.
This project is a critical step toward revitalizing Proctor Creek as a natural asset, promoting ecological balance while improving the quality of life for residents in surrounding neighborhoods.
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Link to the Study
The Donald Lee Hollowell Veterans Memorial Highway LCI Study provides strategies to revitalize the Hollowell Parkway corridor through sustainable land use, transportation improvements, and economic development.
Key Focus Areas:
Land Use: Promote mixed-use development and redevelop underutilized properties like Bowen Homes.
Transportation: Improve pedestrian safety, add bike lanes, and implement transit options like Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
Green Spaces: Enhance connectivity to trails, parks, and natural areas along the Chattahoochee River.
Economic Growth: Revitalize industrial areas, attract businesses, and create workforce housing opportunities.
This study aims to transform the corridor into a vibrant, connected, and sustainable community.
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Link to this Plan
The Bowen Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Plan outlines a comprehensive strategy for transforming the Bowen site and surrounding neighborhoods, addressing housing, economic development, and environmental stewardship through the Critical Community Improvements (CCI) initiatives.
Key Highlights:
Part 1: Neighborhood Introduction
Introduces the 593-acre Bowen Choice Neighborhood, a historically underserved area with the vacant Bowen Homes site at its center. Key challenges include connectivity, disinvestment, and environmental stress.Part 2: Critical Community Improvements Overview
Describes community-driven strategies to achieve regeneration through connectivity, environmental stewardship, equitable development, and honoring the neighborhood's culture.Part 3: Critical Community Improvements Activities
Bowen Gateway: Focuses on realigning intersections, developing commercial spaces, and placemaking investments.
Environmental Stewardship Center: Establishes a CHaRM facility and Environmental Innovation Center to promote green infrastructure, workforce training, and community education.
Memorial Plaza: Creates a public gathering space that commemorates Bowen Homes’ history while integrating stormwater management and placemaking features.
The plan emphasizes community engagement, equity, and strategic investments to restore the area's social, economic, and environmental vitality.
West Hollowell Working Group Archives
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In our August Working Group meeting, the West Hollowell Foundation was officially introduced as the community quarterback organization for the West Hollowell corridor. During this session, the Foundation's purpose and role in the revitalization efforts were outlined, emphasizing its commitment to centering resident voices, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and ensuring equitable growth throughout the community.
The meeting also highlighted the next steps for the Foundation, including plans for engaging residents, establishing bylaws, and composing a Board.
Explore the recording to gain a deeper understanding of the West Hollowell Foundation's mission and its roadmap for making a meaningful impact in the community.
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In our September Working Group meeting, we provided an in-depth overview of the organizational chart of the West Hollowell Working Group, highlighting their roles and contributions to the revitalization efforts. This meeting also included a comprehensive review of the project list, offering updates on progress and alignment with community priorities.
Attendees discussed the next steps for both the Foundation and the Working Group, focusing on actionable strategies to advance key initiatives and maintain momentum.
Explore the recording to learn more about the Working Group’s composition, project updates, and the exciting next steps shaping the future of West Hollowell!
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The October meeting provided updates on neighborhood initiatives, shared progress on infrastructure and development projects like street improvements and housing redevelopment, and gathered input from stakeholders. The Foundation also conducted an initial value assessment survey, identifying fresh food retail, economic development, and housing as top community priorities, while formalizing its structure, seeking board members, and planning future community events.
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The November meeting focused on addressing food access challenges in the West Hollowell neighborhood, providing updates on key projects, and gathering feedback on the Foundation's branding and logo designs.
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Our March meeting provided a 6-month review of the West Hollowell Foundation’s progress and key initiatives. We revisited goals, tracked early milestones, and invited resident feedback on what success should look like moving forward as we build an inclusive, community-rooted vision.
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The August meeting focused on the phases of the Bowen Choice Neighborhood Redevelopment, critical community improvement, and the Flourishing Neighborhood Index.
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Urban Oasis is building 14 for-sale units (2-family townhomes) in Grove Park, starting at $219k. The project uses a land trust model to ensure permanent affordability and is the first phase of a larger plan to build units every 6 months for three years.
Urban Oasis launched the "Sustainable Communities Investment Accelerator," a national program to make 60% of Atlanta's new affordable housing high-performance. The goal is to reduce utility costs for low-income homeowners.
Bellwood Homes Summit, a 28-unit project from LA Williams & Valerie Fouché, is back on track for a Q2/Q3 2026 groundbreaking after resolving site debris issues.
The Flourishing Neighborhood Index (FNI) parcel map is complete, providing a real-time inventory of properties. The next phase is to conduct 100 neighbor-to-neighbor sentiment surveys.
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Scott Elementary Funding Need: Principal Ojezua shared that the school needs approximately $20,000 per year to fund attendance incentives for parents and students, as school funds cannot be used for gift cards.
Attendance Challenges: Chronic absenteeism (current non-chronic rate: 74.1%) is often tied to family crises such as homelessness, flooding, and mold, which the school’s social worker helps address.
Incentive Strategy: Proposed supports include parent gift cards ($20–$200), catered engagement events (e.g., “Dinner with Data”), student rewards, and VIP experiences to boost attendance and engagement.
School Merger Concern: The planned merger with Usher Collier at the new A.D. Williams site raises concerns about losing Scott Elementary’s walkability and trusted community presence.
Bowen Homes Phase 1 Update: 151 mixed-income units are under construction, with infrastructure work underway and resident move-in scheduled for January 2027.
Bowen Homes Phase 2 Update: 112 mixed-income units are finalizing financing, with construction expected to begin in April/May.
Right to Return: Atlanta Housing is managing former residents’ return process through case management and monthly meetings.
Bowen Homes Naming Process: Three options are under consideration—The Return at Bowen, Brookview Rise, and Ariel Place at Bowen—with strong early support for Ariel Place at Bowen. The public survey remains open for three weeks.
Security Cameras: 13 of 15 cameras are in process (7 operational, 6 awaiting power), with 3 more coming online by end of week. The community will help choose locations for the final 2 cameras.
Infrastructure Projects: 17 projects are being tracked, with several under evaluation and planning in coordination with ATL DOT and city partners.
A.D. Williams Demolition: Asbestos remediation is underway, with demolition targeted for late summer 2026. Public art and memorialization plans are in development.
Community Action Items: Complete the Bowen naming survey and West Hollowell survey (goal: 50 responses per neighborhood), and submit final security camera location suggestions.
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Bowen Homes is now "Ariel Place at Bowen." The new name, chosen via community survey, honors activist Ariel Bowen. The development team presented two brand concepts ("Music" vs. "Gateway") for feedback.
A community-led food access plan is forming. The upcoming Buy Low closure creates an urgent need. The plan will define short-, medium-, and long-term solutions, with a new "Food Access Committee" taking ownership.
Key projects are advancing. Bowen Homes Phase 1 is ~70% complete (Dec 2026 delivery). Phase 2 construction starts next week. The John Carey School is structurally sound for repurposing, and the CHaRM recycling facility is targeting a Q2 2027 opening at Ariel Place.
A $50k anti-absenteeism fund is launching. The fund will support Boyd & Scott Elementary schools, with a $20k West Hollowell Foundation pledge. The goal is to raise the remaining $30k from local landowners and businesses.
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The January working group meeting provided updates on the Bowen Homes Choice Neighborhood Grant, highlighting the launch of Phase 1 housing construction.
The People Plan is actively engaging 169 former Bowen Homes households with a 90% contact rate, offering comprehensive case management and partnerships for workforce development, education, and health services.
The West Hollowell Foundation shared updates on its website and social media launch, along with new community engagement initiatives such as smaller neighborhood dinners and a tiered approach to outreach.
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We reviewed progress on the Almond Park Infill Housing Project and heard updates from ATL DOT about upcoming transportation improvements impacting West Hollowell.
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The September 8 West Hollowell Working Group meeting focused on reviewing active neighborhood projects and planning community engagement for the year ahead. Updates included progress on the Brownfield cleanup (with an EPA grant secured), Gateway redevelopment, Bowen Homes phases, Almond Park construction, and food access initiatives. The group also discussed the upcoming community engagement plan, which features monthly meetings, parcel mapping and surveys, a fall Community BBQ, a food and clothing drive, a legacy resident event, and anti-displacement efforts such as support with homestead exemptions and wills. Ongoing challenges at Woodland Heights Apartments, including 131 code violations, remain a priority, with coordination among city, federal, and community partners. The security camera project is moving forward with 15 cameras committed and installation planning underway. Next steps include finalizing the BBQ date, recruiting more resident participation in surveys, scheduling a code enforcement presentation, and developing strategies to engage renters.
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The WHF Working Group met on December 8 to align on 2026 goals and refine the foundation’s role in community engagement. Key priorities include growing the neighborhood contact database to 150 residents and completing 100 Flourishing Neighborhood Index (FNI) surveys to ensure future projects reflect broad community sentiment. The group clarified roles between the Foundation and the Neighborhood Association, with WHF focusing on long-term systemic change such as economic development, while the Association addresses immediate service needs through 311 and NPU advocacy. Updates included progress on security camera installations, a successful neighborhood cleanup, ongoing support for families impacted by the Woodland Heights fire, and new strategies for addressing blighted properties and corridor revitalization. Next steps include expanded surveying, new partnerships with senior facilities, and continued coordination to strengthen community response and planning in 2026.
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Meeting Purpose
Review community projects, public safety, and education initiatives.
Key Takeaways
Project Deep Dives: The meeting introduced a new format for tracking progress on key 2026 projects, including speed hump installation, Brownfield cleanup, and gateway property acquisitions.
Speed Hump Funding Gap: The approved speed hump project is stalled by a funding gap. Community advocacy to the council member is the fastest path to securing funds, as waiting for the ATL-DOT budget could cause a 7–20 year delay.
Education Crisis: Principal Blair of Boyd Elementary detailed a crisis of absenteeism and family needs, with the school serving as a de facto emergency hub. A community-led pilot program was proposed to address these issues.
TAD Advocacy: The City of Atlanta is advocating for Tax Allocation Districts (TADs) to extend their lifespans, ensuring long-term funding for catalytic projects in underinvested communities.
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In February, we explored strategies for supporting economic development in the West Hollowell corridor. The discussion focused on how to foster equitable investment that benefits legacy residents, including resident-driven small business support, commercial corridor revitalization, and job access.
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Matthew Johnson from Atlanta Housing presented a Q2 update on the Bowen Choice Neighborhood Plan, highlighting progress and next steps for the redevelopment.
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Parcel Mapping: Completed for all properties in Almond Park and Carey Park.
Surveys: 10 of 100 targeted neighborhood surveys completed; incentives offered for surveyors and participants.
Code Enforcement: APD-led presentation clarified complaint and enforcement processes. Neighborhood-wide inspections and apartment complex reviews are available.
Community BBQ: Scheduled for Nov 1, 12–3 PM at A.D. Williams Park with food, games, a DJ, and fellowship. Donations of cornhole sets, tables, chairs, and basketballs are requested.
TAD Extension Support: Residents encouraged to attend Oct 17–18 City Hall meetings to support extending Tax Allocation Districts, securing up to $5B in reinvestment funds for local infrastructure, housing, and business initiatives.
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Infrastructure is blocking development: Difficult terrain, heavy tree coverage, missing sewer/roads, and slow permitting are delaying projects and increasing costs.
Two-track strategy moving forward:
Short-term: Unblock stalled infrastructure projects and develop easier parcels.
Long-term: Build out the remaining 40% of vacant land over the next 15–30 years by investing in infrastructure now.
Community engagement remains challenging: Residents are skeptical of surveys, and the time required (1 hour) remains a barrier despite the $25 incentive.
Project updates: Bowen Homes Phase 1 construction is underway; all 6 Phase 1 security cameras are operational, with 5 more coming by February; a blight remediation fund is in development; Rockets Park safety improvements are planned.
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Meeting Purpose
Review FNI survey progress and provide updates on key 2026 projects.
Key Takeaways
FNI Survey Stalled: The Flourishing Neighborhood Index (FNI) survey, critical for guiding a $1B+ investment, has only 16 of 100 target responses. The "neighbor-to-neighbor" methodology, designed to build trust, is a key bottleneck.
2026 Project Momentum: Several key projects are advancing, including speed hump installation (July start), Bowen Phase 1 housing (Dec 2026 completion), and Brownfield cleanup funding (applications open Aug 21).
Community Engagement Gap: A core challenge is overcoming decades of resident skepticism. The group will use a new flyer to highlight recent wins (e.g., security cameras) and build trust before canvassing.
Critical Staffing Need: The vacant Community Program Coordinator role is a major constraint on community outreach, including FNI survey efforts.
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