The Westside Future Fund (WFF) has initiated construction on a 24-unit affordable housing complex at 646 Echo Street, aiming to serve Atlanta's historic Westside neighborhoods. This equitable development is a manifestation of the partnership between WFF and the City of Atlanta to address the housing security of residents in areas endowed with deep cultural and historical significance. The groundbreaking was held on August 7, with an anticipated completion date of September 2025, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
A key feature of this new project is its commitment to affordable units, apportioned by income. According to the details released, 20 percent of its units will be available at 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), 30 percent at 60 percent AMI, and 50 percent at 80 percent AMI. Atlanta's Mayor Andre Dickens lauded the effort, stating to FOX 5 Atlanta that "quality housing for all is directly linked to healthy, thriving, and connected communities," Mayor Dickens contextualized the development within his administration's broader strategy, which includes a plan to build or preserve 20,000 affordable housing units by 2030.
Funding for this initiative springs from several philanthropic sources, like the James M. Cox Foundation and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, along with the WFF Impact Fund and Invest Atlanta. In addition to housing, the project touts accessibility just blocks from the Westside Beltline Connector Trail. This aligns with the Westside Land Use Framework Plan, adopted by the Atlanta City Council in 2017 to guide future developments, as per the Saportareport.
The WFF's focus on affordable housing extends beyond the Echo Street development. The nonprofit is at the halfway point of its Our Next Chapter campaign, which aims to raise $55 million for projects around Atlanta. Contributions have poured from entities like Chick-fil-A, Inc., The Coca-Cola Foundation, and The Home Depot, Inc. Moreover, the organization is involved in additional projects that will bring 104 more high-quality affordable housing units to the area. "Today marks a pivotal moment for the historic Westside. This project is a testament to our enduring commitment to preserving and revitalizing our legacy neighborhoods by providing high-quality, affordable housing options for our residents," WFF’s President and CEO John Ahmann told Saporta Report in a statement.
In addition to the news about affordable housing, Atlanta is also seeing the opening of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Arthur M. Blank Hospital, which is scheduled to open on September 29. Patients from Egleston Hospital will move to the new location at North Druid Hills Road as part of the transfer, as reported by Saportareport. With 446 beds, this new hospital represents a major boost compared to Egleston's current capacity of 116 beds.
