On a bright January morning in English Avenue, a once-vacant stretch of land marked a new chapter. Community leaders, partners, and residents gathered at 839 Joseph E. Boone Boulevard to celebrate the opening of new affordable housing—homes designed to help longtime neighbors stay and thrive as investment returns to Atlanta’s Westside.
The ribbon cutting brought together Mayor Andre Dickens, Westside Future Fund leadership, Invest Atlanta, and City Council to recognize the delivery of 57 affordable apartments across two new developments: 839 Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and 646 Echo Street. Both sites were previously blighted parcels and now stand as new-build, multi-family communities created with legacy residents in mind.
From vacant land to stable homes
The new apartments were delivered through Westside Future Fund’s Home on the Westside initiative and are available to households earning roughly 30 to 80 percent of the Area Median Income. The goal is straightforward but powerful: provide high-quality housing that supports long-term stability for families who have deep roots in the neighborhood.
Standing in English Avenue, Mayor Dickens reflected on earlier groundbreakings at the sites and the promises made to the community. Those commitments, he noted, are being kept—turning ideas into keys and empty lots into places families can call home.
Housing and opportunity, side by side
In addition to housing, 839 Boone Boulevard includes ground-floor commercial space intended for small, community-serving businesses. The mixed-use design reinforces the connection between housing stability and economic opportunity, helping keep jobs and investment circulating locally.
“This is the kind of development that puts people and place first,” Dickens shared, pointing to the importance of pairing affordable homes with neighborhood-scale retail that serves daily needs and supports entrepreneurship.
A shared effort on the Westside
The event also highlighted the collaboration behind the project. Leaders from Westside Future Fund, Invest Atlanta, and City Council underscored the role of partnership in advancing a community-led vision for restoration without displacement.
Dr. Eloisa Klementich, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta, joined Byron Amos in recognizing how coordinated investment can help neighborhoods grow while honoring the people who built them.
Part of a citywide commitment
Affordable housing remains a top priority for the City of Atlanta. The administration’s goal is to create or preserve 20,000 affordable housing units by 2030, with more than 13,000 already completed, funded, or under construction. Projects like 839 Boone and 646 Echo contribute directly to that progress while reflecting a broader strategy to strengthen neighborhoods as a whole.
Through initiatives such as the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative, the City continues to focus investment in communities like English Avenue—working to ensure families can stay, seniors can age in place, and residents benefit as growth comes in.
Looking ahead
As guests toured the new apartments and commercial spaces, the message was clear: this milestone is about more than buildings. It’s about follow-through, partnership, and creating opportunity without pushing people out.
For English Avenue residents and Westside partners, the opening of 839 Joseph E. Boone Boulevard represents steady, intentional progress—proof that restoration without displacement is not just a vision, but work that’s happening block by block.
