White Street affordable homes could get a fresh three-year clock

Two White Street lots previously transferred for permanently affordable housing are back before Atlanta lawmakers—not for a different use, but for more time. A proposal would authorize another $1 conveyance to Metro Atlanta Land Bank and start a new three-year deadline for an occupancy certificate.⁠[1][2]

Councilmember Michael Julian Bond’s ordinance, 26-O-1601, covers 879 and 881 White Street SW. The city conveyed the properties to the land bank under a 2021 ordinance, according to the new bill. That earlier deed included a condition automatically returning title to the city if no certificate of occupancy was issued within three years.⁠[1][2]

The bill says affordable housing is actively being developed through the land bank’s selected partner, Atlanta Land Trust, and that new deeds are needed to extend the deadline. That is the legislation’s description of the project, not confirmation that homes are ready for occupancy.⁠[2]

The proposed extension would not eliminate the city’s take-back protection. The new deed would retain a reversionary interest if the land is not developed with at least one residential dwelling receiving a city certificate of occupancy within three years of the new conveyance.⁠[2]

The bill describes an extension but does not establish when the original deed was executed or whether title has already reverted to the city. Its account of the 2021 authorization alone does not establish the original deadline’s exact expiration date.⁠[2]

City Council referred the proposal to the Community Development/Human Services Committee without objection on Oct. 19; that was a referral, not approval of the transfer. The committee is scheduled to consider it Oct. 27 at 1:30 p.m.⁠[1][2]