ATLANTA — A ceremonial ribbon cutting took place in southwest Atlanta on Tuesday for the Hamilton Hills apartment complex. With 52 units, it is one of the city's newest affordable housing developments.
Renters were able to begin leasing units at Hamilton Hills in mid-August, and 100% of the units are already occupied.
However, Gorman & Company, the developer behind the apartments, plans to expand the development in 2025. Construction will begin on 35 more units on the property then.
"This is the scale that I like too," Mayor Andre Dickens said Tuesday. "This will be just shy of 100 units with these 52 and the other almost 40 that are going on the back half of this. This is the appropriate style, size and it is serving our working individuals."
In March 2023, 11Alive was there as Dickens and other officials broke ground for Hamilton Hills. At the groundbreaking last year, Dickens mentioned that each affordable housing development helps the city - no matter the size.
"We don't just take large-scale developments," he said. "Even these small ones -- 52, 60 units, 100 units -- they add up because each one represents a family that's going to be able to afford to live in the city of Atlanta,"
After the ribbon cutting Tuesday, Dickens told 11Alive the city is on track to meet a goal he set in 2022: 20,000 affordable housing units to be built or preserved across the city by 2030.
Since setting the goal, Dickens said 6,000 affordable housing units have been delivered, and more than 4,000 additional units have been funded or are currently being constructed.
"So we are moving fast all across the city, everywhere," Dickens said. "Whether on the Westside, Eastside, Northside, Southside. We want housing to be affordable in all of the districts."
Renters at Hamilton Hills can only earn up to 60 percent of the area's median income. 2023 data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development shows that for a single renter in Atlanta, the median income was $42,900.
Rent at the complex is listed as $904 for one-bedroom units, $1,085 for two-bedroom units, and $1,253 for three-bedroom units.
City of Atlanta officials and developers Tuesday said not only is the housing considered affordable but the location of Hamilton Hills should allow residents to be connected to the rest of the city through public transportation.
The complex sits on MLK Jr. Drive, directly across from the Hamilton E. Holmes MARTA Station and near interstates 285 and 20.
"The individuals that will live in this community can get to where they're going each day. Whether that is work, school, play, medical facilities," Dickens said.
With a community garden, playground, gathering spots, and access to public transportation, Atlanta City Councilmember Andrea Boone says Hamilton Hills is a welcome addition to her district.
"Hamilton Hills is addressing the ever-increasing need for affordable housing, and we welcome this beautiful development," Boone said.