The seeds (literally) of a unique affordable housing and agriculture mix in Southeast Atlanta are scheduled to be planted soon. 

Atlanta Housing and Food Well Alliance have scheduled the first ceremonial plantings Friday morning for a project on currently empty land called Leila Valley Community Farm. 

Described as an “innovative food-housing development model,” the farm and its future residential components mark the first collaboration of its kind between Atlanta Housing and a food-production nonprofit. 

The community farm site spans 7.4 acres at 2370 Locust Lane SE, which has been vacant since apartments were closed and then cleared away in 2008. It’s tucked just west of Moreland Avenue in the Leila Valley neighborhood, northeast of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. 

General scope of the Leila Valley Community Farm project, with a UPS shipping facility and Moreland Avenue (U.S. Route 23) shown at right. Google Maps

Courtesy of Atlanta Housing

No details for affordable-housing development on site have been formulated, but the project’s broader goal—alongside eventually building attainable places to live—will be to enhance community health with local food access and mitigate flooding in the area. 

Initial steps will include planting seedlings, installing a shade tunnel for year-round growing, and building raised construction beds. 

Dignitaries scheduled to lead Friday's ceremonies include Terri M. Lee, Atlanta Housing president and CEO, Kate Conner, Food Well Alliance’s executive director, and Gary Cooper, pastor of Valley View Church of God in Christ, which overlooks the future farm site from across the street.  

Atlanta Housing—considered one of the nation’s largest housing authorities—currently provides and facilitates affordable housing resources for nearly 27,000 low-income households, or roughly 45,000 people, according to agency leaders. 

View of the 7.4-acre property in question from Locust Street in March this year. Google Maps

Context of the 2370 Locust Lane SE farm site in Southeast Atlanta. Google Maps

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