This video was developed to share the vision and story of a transformative neighborhood-drive redevelopment plan for a former public housing site, Bowen Homes, which was demolished in 2008 after its residents were relocated. The video, complete with a flyover of the 77-acre site and historic photographs of the community that once resided at Bowen Homes, is meant to show the historical and neighborhood context of the site that would ultimately support the plan of redevelopment.

The planning effort is funded with a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”), and as part of the final award, the HUD team required a virtual site visit rather than a physical tour and meeting (given the restrictive COVID environment). The virtual site visit conveyed AH’s plan to develop a Neighborhood Transformation Plan that would focus on the housing that is to be redeveloped on the site.

HUD, the former residents, partners and stakeholders said the video provided a clear and tangible picture of the site, the potential for redevelopment and the catalytic impact of the redevelopment vision. Without this video, it would have been impossible to convey in words and narratives the true scope and scale of the undertaking and to garner the support from HUD to move forward on the planning effort.

Because of the video, Atlanta Housing received the final approvals from HUD to move forward with the development of the Neighborhood Transformation Plan and secured the necessary funds. The video is now used to tell the story of the plan to redevelop Bowen Homes. Past residents are excited by the idea of returning to their former homes.