Mayor Dickens Announces Settlement Agreements for Critical Sewer Infrastructure Project in Peoplestown Neighborhood

As part of a nearly decade-long effort to address sewer overflows and localized flooding in Southeast Atlanta, Mayor Andre Dickens has announced final agreements that will allow a critical sewer infrastructure capacity relief project in the Peoplestown neighborhood to be constructed. The Atlanta City Council has unanimously authorized the settlement agreements negotiated between Mayor Dickens and the three remaining families that owned homes in the area needed to build the project. This long-awaited development is a significant step forward in alleviating the challenges that have plagued Peoplestown for years.

Key Takeaways:

• The project will alleviate sewer overflows from the combined sewer system and stormwater flooding that have threatened public health and safety of residents in the Peoplestown neighborhood.
• The project is the linchpin of sewer infrastructure improvements for the broader Southeast Atlanta neighborhoods in the Custer Avenue sub-basin of the larger Intrenchment Creek Basin.
• The project is a critical component of the City's obligations under two federal consent decrees signed in 1998 and 1999 to upgrade sewer infrastructure and improve water quality.
• Mayor Dickens personally met with the impacted residents multiple times throughout the negotiations, demonstrating his commitment to fairness and respect for the affected families.
• The parties to this agreement acknowledge the key role that Deborah Scott, CEO of Georgia STAND-UP, has played in facilitating and mediating this agreement.
• All three families who owned homes in the area have accepted the settlement agreements, with one family stating that they are "at peace with this outcome and grateful to Mayor Dickens for his role in achieving a mutually respectful result."
• The project will be housed in the block bounded by Atlanta Ave. and Connally, Ormond and Greenfield streets, where the City has already acquired all the other properties on the block through an earlier agreement negotiated by Mayor Dickens in June.
• The Department of Watershed Management will soon initiate the procurement process, with the start of construction targeted for 2023.

Statistics:

• 1998: The City signed the first federal consent decree to upgrade sewer infrastructure and improve water quality.
• 1999: The City signed the second federal consent decree to further address sewer infrastructure and water quality issues.
• 2023: The start of construction for the sewer infrastructure capacity relief project is targeted.
• 10 years: The duration of the effort to address sewer overflows and localized flooding in Southeast Atlanta, a problem that has plagued the Peoplestown neighborhood.
• 3: The number of remaining families that owned homes in the area needed to build the project, who have accepted the settlement agreements negotiated by Mayor Dickens.

Sources:

• City of Atlanta: "Mayor Dickens Announces Settlement Agreements for Critical Sewer Infrastructure Project in Peoplestown Neighborhood"
• Mayor Andre Dickens: Quote from the announcement
• Tanya Washington: Quote from the statement
• The family of Mattie Jackson: Quote from the statement
• The Darden family: Quote from the statement
• Deborah Scott, CEO of Georgia STAND-UP: Mentioned as the facilitator and mediator of the agreement