Westside Village, a failed pet project of former Atlanta mayor Bill Campbell, has been given a new lease on life through public incentives and private investment. Officials hope the revitalization of its downtrodden neighborhood will follow.
Despite being named "Mixed Use Deal of 1999" by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Westside Village eventually "fell victim to the usual combination of Campbell-related woes -- cronyism, bureaucratic incompetence and a flagrant disregard for federal lending guidelines."
However, a new Mayor (Shirley Franklin) and a reprioritized Atlanta Development Authority have successfully jump-started the $130 million project with nearly $4 million in public financing and the rest in private money. The first 17 acres of land between an already constructed supermarket and a MARTA transit station are being cleared for the development of 60 new townhouses, to be completed before the end of the year.
City officials are betting that a completed Westside Village, coupled with $14 million in revitalization grants for private projects in and around its Vine City neighborhood, will finally bring a turn-around to one of Atlanta's most disinvested communities.
FULL STORY: Westside do-over
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Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.
California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.
HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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