City of Atlanta officially turns over 31 property deeds to Atlanta Public Schools

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has signed an ordinance transferring 31 property deeds to Atlanta Public Schools.
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.
Last month, Bottoms announced that the city had reached an agreement with APS. Some deeds have not been transferred yet, the city said.
“Within the first 30 days of her Administration, Mayor Bottoms initiated the process to begin the transfer of more than half of the property deeds,” a press release from the city says. “Mayor Bottoms signed the ordinance into law the day after the Atlanta City Council overwhelmingly approved the transfer.
“The ordinance included a provision requesting that APS dismiss the 31 properties from the school system’s suit against the city. Removing the transferred properties from the ongoing litigation will save Atlanta taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars, if not more, that could be better spent on city services and improving public education.”
The city also transferred nine properties to APS control in 2017.
“The city and APS are in agreement that the remaining properties to be transferred require additional work by both APS and the city to be ready for a quitclaim transfer,” the press release says. “In the coming weeks, the city and APS will work together to resolve issues for the remaining properties.”