City of Atlanta, Atlanta Public Schools reach agreement about school deeds
A fight over deeds to vacant Atlanta Public Schools properties appears to be coming to an end.
The city announced Tuesday, Jan. 16, that new Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has agreed to turn over 50 deeds to APS. The previous mayor, Kasim Reed, would not transfer the deeds unless the School Board promised any redeveloped property would have affordable housing, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. APS has wanted to sell these properties, but the city’s position has prevented that from happening.
In a press release, Bottoms said the city plans to transfer the deeds without any restrictions.
“During my inaugural address I announced my Administration’s commitment to partner with Atlanta Public Schools on our shared priorities of high-quality public education for all our children and creating access to affordable housing for all our city’s families,” Bottoms said in the press release. “Today is an important step forward in fulfilling our promise to transfer 50 deeds to APS, and I look forward to working with Superintendent [Meria] Carstarphen and our School Board on strengthening public education for all of our children, for every family and every community.”
Bottoms will introduce legislation to the City Council asking council members to authorize the transfer.
The superintendent said this could be the start of a better relationship between the city and the school system.
“Mayor Bottoms’ action today introducing legislation to quit claim the remaining deeds to Atlanta Public Schools’ properties signals the beginning of a new and positive partnership with the City,” Carstarphen said in the press release. “I thank Mayor Bottoms and her Administration for honoring the commitment to Atlanta Public Schools to relinquish the deeds.”
Here is a map of the properties APS would like to sell. It first appeared on AJC.com: