Not long after BLT was formed, the City of Decatur, Georgia negotiated the purchase of a 77-acre tract of land that had been the United Methodist Children’s Home, which began as an orphanage after the Civil War.
BLT saw this as a unique opportunity to construct a prototype community and began educating our Decatur neighbors and elected officials about the housing needs of people with IDD. BLT participated in the city’s visioning and public input sessions for the property as well as the associated housing stakeholder’s meetings. As a result of our efforts and those of many others, the adopted plan for the property, now called Legacy Park, includes a “North Village” and a “South Village” set aside for affordable housing.
For the next two years, BLT focused on engaging stakeholders and building a development team in preparation for an anticipated call for development proposals for the North Village. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, development of the North Village stalled and proposals for development will not be considered until at least 2026. BLT will be prepared to respond to the request for proposals when it’s posted in the future.
What Are We Envisioning?
An inclusive community of approximately 60 residents, including 25 percent adults with developmental disabilities, another quarter seniors, and the remainder city workers, teachers, and other caring professionals. Neighbors are joined by their desire to build supportive relationships and share time and gifts.
A prototype community that will serve as a model for other similar developments. One, two, and three bedroom owner-occupied cottages, including some with attached studios or separate accessory dwelling units, offer optimal flexibility in living arrangements, as well as the opportunity to rent bedrooms or accessory units. Units would be built to allow people to age in place and accommodate those with physical limitations.
