Techwood Homes

Techwood Homes was the first public housing project in the United States. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, it was completed on August 15, 1936,cite web|url=http://www.atlantahousingauth.org/pressroom/index.cfm?Fuseaction=quickfacts|title=Techwood Homes|publisher=The Atlanta Housing Authority|accessdate=2007-08-06] but was dedicated on November 29th of the previous year by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was intended to eliminate the slums that the poor had been living in, but eventually became one itself.

It was designed by Georgia Tech alum and architect Flippen David Burge.cite book|first=Robert C.|last=McMath|coauthors=Ronald H. Bayor, James E. Brittain, Lawrence Foster, August W. Giebelhaus, and Germaine M. Reed|title=Engineering the New South: Georgia Tech 1885-1985|publisher=University of Georgia Press|location=Athens, GA] The name came from Techwood Drive, in turn named for nearby Georgia Tech. It was run by the Atlanta Housing Authority. Throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s the area was synonymous with urban blight in Atlanta.

Except for a few historic buildings, Techwood Homes was demolished in 1996 before the 1996 Summer Olympics. It and neighboring Clark Howell Homes are now a mixed-use area called Centennial Place. The first phase opened in 1996 just before the Centennial Olympics, hence the new name. Former residents were relocated to other areas, and given Section 8 vouchers to pay part of the rent. Many moved back in to Centennial Place, though it had far fewer subsidized units than Techwood Homes. [cite news | last = Portwood | first = Jerry | title = Techwood turnaround | work = Creative Loafing Atlanta | publisher = Creative Loafing Media | date = 2002-02-06 | url = http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/2002-02-06/hothoods.html | accessdate = 2007-12-01 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.artery.org/Techwood.htm Techwood history at artery.org]