City in talks to buy controversial Peachtree homeless shelter

By Collin Kelley

The city is in talks to purchase the building that houses the controversial PeachtreePine homeless shelter. If an agreement isn’t reached, the city may consider condemning the building or using its power of eminent domain.

Mayor Kasim Reed has vowed to close the shelter at the intersection of Peachtree and Pine streets, which is operated by the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless. Crime, drugs and an outbreak of tuberculosis has plagued the facility, which offers beds to 700 or more homeless people each night.

Reed wants to open a public safety complex on the site, with a counter-terrorism command center, police precinct and fire station.

The Atlanta City Council voted 13-1 (Councilmember Felicia Moore was the lone dissenting vote) during its Oct. 3 meeting to allow Reed’s administration to begin negotiations with the owners to acquire the Peachtree-Pine site and surrounding property. The properties are owned by Premium Funding Solutions and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

Councilmember Andre Dickens also crafted a resolution asking for a transition plan for the homeless people that would be affected by the closure of Peachtree-Pine.

Before the city agrees to purchase the Peachtree-Pine site or acquire by condemnation or eminent domain, it would have to come before the city council for approval.

Advocates for the homeless, transgender activists and members of Black Lives Matter disrupted the October council meeting, shouting “shame, shame, shame” before being removed from the chamber by police.