By: Paul Bolster
At an evening of conversation, a variety of food, and community spirit, residents of the SAND neighborhoods gathered for a social get-together and town hall hosted by Halidom and SAND on July 17th. The two events provided a unique opportunity for neighbors to socialize and engage directly with their City Councilmembers, Jason Winston (D1) and Liliana Bakhtiari (D5).
Halidom, known for its ongoing commitment to the neighborhood, generously provided a $25 gift card to each attendee, redeemable at any of its ten Halidom Eatery restaurants. “It was great to see so many familiar faces and welcome new ones,” said Mike Snyder, SAND President. “Events like this truly build a stronger community.”
The evening kicked off with a forward-thinking discussion led by Hal Blackman, owner of Halidom Eatery and IST Management. He invited neighbors to brainstorm ideas for businesses that could enhance the undeveloped sites on their property. The suggestions poured in, reflecting diverse needs: affordable housing, quality early childhood education centers, medical practice (primary care, pediatric, and/or mental health services). Additionally, an office supply center, a gaming center, and a yoga studio were mentioned.
A clear consensus emerged around the need for quality day care. “My child will be in preschool, finally!” Councilmember Winston stated, highlighting a common struggle. Many parents echoed this sentiment, lamenting the long waiting lists at most local day care programs.
Councilmembers Highlight Progress and Future Plans
City Councilmembers Bakhtiari and Winston then took the floor, offering a review of City Council’s accomplishments during their first terms on the Council. They also fielded questions from the approximately 40 attendees, fostering open dialogue about local governance. “Usually, we only get to hear the negative stuff. It’s nice to be able to share some of the positives,” Councilmember Bakhtiari remarked, acknowledging the nature of the discussion.
Councilmember Winston began by painting a vivid picture of the challenges they faced when first elected. “Remember, City Hall was still closed because of the pandemic.” He recalled inconsistent trash/recycling/yard trimming pickups, pervasive low morale among city workers, police vacancies, unfunded pensions, and slow progress on affordable housing initiatives. He specifically highlighted the dire conditions at Forest Cove in the Thomasville neighborhood. “One of my proudest early achievements was getting the mayor’s attention to the problem and successfully relocating the 800 residents to safe and secure housing,” he stated. Most of the capital investment in affordable housing comes from the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.
“But what really is affordable housing?” one resident asked. Levels of affordability are set by HUD on a percentage of Area Medium Income (AMI). If 80% of AMI is considered “affordable,” residents asked both council members to increase the number of units at 60% AMI. Even at that rate, the rent for a one-bedroom unit is around $1,200 per month.
Councilmember Bakhtiari highlighted her success addressing the community’s unhoused challenge. She spearheaded Atlanta’s first neighborhood-based case management pilot program, placing social workers in high-need areas to connect unhoused individuals with essential resources like housing and healthcare. This program, initially launched in East Atlanta, proved successful and is being expanded in other areas of the city.
Looking ahead, Councilmember Winston indicated construction would soon begin on the redesign of Boulevard, which will include much-needed turn lanes and dedicated bike lanes. He also reassured residents that federal funds to complete the Beltline construction are secure. He voiced strong support for the neighborhood’s initiative to connect the Beltline to a trail along Intrenchment Creek, a project that would pass over Moreland Avenue linking to existing trails in DeKalb.
At the end of the conversation, Councilmember Bakhtiari presented an innovative idea for jump-starting light rail by utilizing the existing tracks in the Gulch. These tracks, originally built for Amtrak but currently unused, could easily connect the Atlanta University Center to the bustling downtown entertainment district.
“The evening underscored the power of community engagement and the shared vision for thriving SAND neighborhoods. Events like this foster essential dialogue between residents and their elected officials, paving the way for a brighter future,” Brent Huff, SAND Treasurer, stated.
Other projects of which they are proud: Winston — Red’s Farm; negotiating a grocery store for Chosewood; Bakhtiari— redesign of the I-20 ramp at Kennedy Way; restructuring the Municipal Market for lower food prices for seniors; Brownwood Park refurbishment (including the tennis courts, thanks to Coco Gauff); street repairs.
