Neighborhood-Scale Transformation in Atlanta Creates Lasting Change and Impacts Health

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In the 1990’s, with initial funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) committed to transforming the East Lake Meadows neighborhood. Atlanta (10.2% Latino) real estate mogul and philanthropist Tom Cousins then founded the East Lake Foundation (ELF) to support more broad goals of the neighborhood transformation, such as incarceration and the notion of place to improve life outcomes.

The planning process took two years and the bulk of the project took ten, which included: replacing the substandard public units with high-quality mixed-income housing; creating an education hub with an early childhood education center, a charter school, and robust after school programming; revitalize a nearby private golf course to provide a revenue stream to support neighborhood revitalization; creating a public golf course and recreational amenities for residents; and bringing in a grocery store.

Multi-faceted community development projects, like this one, literally build a Culture of Health by improving social and environmental factors that influence health, known as social determinants of health (see image). When Latino kids have access to healthy food and safe places to play in their neighborhood they are at a reduced risk for obesity and chronic disease.

“Though health was not an explicit focus early on, by creating high-quality housing, a strong “cradle-to-college” educational system, economic development, and a safe, stable and appealing neighborhood, the project addressed fundamental factors that contribute to good health and well-being,” according to once source.

Read more about the East Lake transportation here.

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