Dwayne C. Vaughn. Photo provided to Atlanta Loop

Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. has appointed Dwayne C. Vaughn to its newest position, vice president of Housing Policy and Development, ABI announced last week.

Vaughn will work closely with ABI’s Chief Operating Officer Clyde Higgs, as well as the rest of the executive team, to help achieve ABl’s affordable workforce housing goals and initiatives.

The BeltLine has previously tried to improve affordable housing options in the area but has failed to meet all of its goals. Still, the push for more affordable housing has continued. Last fall, the Atlanta City Council enacted “inclusionary zoning” to require developers to build lower cost units.

According to the ABI’s press release, Vaughn will collaborate with city leaders, developers, housing providers and numerous other stakeholders to help ensure that ABl’s housing efforts provide workforce families the opportunity to live and thrive within the Atlanta Beltline’s impact areas.

A long-time housing and real estate professional, Vaughn strongly advocates for affordable and workforce housing as an essential element to stimulate healthy and diverse mixed-income communities, the release said.

ABI is tasked with overseeing the creation of 5,600 affordable homes. To date, 2,565 affordable units have been created.

“[Vaughn] is an exceptional addition to ABI,” Brian McGowan, president and CEO of ABI, said. “He brings creativity and collaboration to the job as ABI continues to support Atlanta’s affordable housing leaders and prioritize Atlanta residents, equity, and inclusion in our housing efforts.”

Prior to his appointment at ABl, Vaughn served as Executive Director of the Mobile Housing Board, the second largest affordable housing agency in Alabama, according to the release.

Vaughn also worked as an attorney in the Atlanta metro area, primarily for small and medium-sized businesses, individuals and affordable housing providers, and he has served as director of Special Initiatives, assistant director for Housing Operations, and deputy general counsel with the Atlanta Housing Authority.