ATLANTA — The City of Atlanta announced its plans this week for the old Atlanta Medical Center property in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood.
The hospital closed in Oct. 2022, citing financial difficulties. The new development includes affordable housing, residential properties, a green space, neighborhood retail, new street access, and health resources.
However, some residents are wondering about the health resources, as the current plans don't make it clear.
About 20 residents and supporters walked from the property to a new mural near the Old Fourth Ward skate park by the BeltLine on Sunday -- memorializing the hospital. They're hoping to get Mayor Andre Dickens and Wellstar executives' attention and are demanding to reopen the hospital, end hospital closures and increase rural access to care.
Jonluke Young is the associate organizer with the New Georgia Project and said that Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward is going through a "healthcare redlining" when it comes to closing hospitals in minority areas.
Young now worries that the community could eventually become a healthcare desert.
"If you look at East Point, South Fulton area, and you look at their hospital[s] and their healthcare resources out there, there's nothing out there," Young said.
An empty building remains where the AMC once was.
Jasmine Okokhere said she was born at the hospital and raised in the community.
"It was just convenient for people with and without transportation -- more so people without transportation because this is the nearest hospital that people can get to. Many other doctors' offices were in this building," Okokhere said.
Since the closure, nothing like it has replaced it two years later.
Klaire Gumbs is also an Old Fourth Ward resident. She said she's noticed gentrification in the area and hopes the hospital will reopen.
"So that patients here, especially in like a predominately Black and brown neighborhood — they feel cared for, but also so that Grady isn't overwhelmed," Gumbs said.
Grady Hospital is six minutes away.
When 11Alive asked a Wellstar representative for a response, they sent this statement:
"Wellstar has selected The Integral Group to lead redevelopment of the former Atlanta Medical Center site in downtown Atlanta. They’ll be guided by the land-use plan that was unanimously approved by the Atlanta City County last month with support from Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.
The nature of the health and well-being component will be determined in collaboration with community stakeholders as part of Integral’s comprehensive planning process and will include an in-depth analysis of the area’s healthcare needs."
11Alive reached out to the City of Atlanta for comment as well but has not received a response as of Sunday night.
Okokhere said the new development sounds good, but there is still time for more community input.
"They haven't started building yet. And there's plenty of space to implement that. So, I definitely feel like an urgent care or something like that—a clinic, even," Okokhere said.
A Wellstar spokesperson said those behind the project will meet with neighbors for feedback.
Demolition is set for early 2025.