October 5, 2026   | Rosel Fann Recreation Center

Notes:

September 3 , 2026 | Rosel Fann Recreation Center

Notes:

Thank you for coming out to Rosel Fann Recreation Center last Wednesday to talk about the future of the former Old Dobbs Elementary School site on Lewis Road. You asked hard questions, shared decades of history, and told us plainly what would and would not work for this neighborhood. That is exactly what these meetings are for.

Below is a summary of what we heard at each station and what we will do with it.

1. Site and History

Several of you asked Atlanta Public Schools to share a copy of the title with the Knox family, and to confirm whether any use conditions came with the property. APS has agreed to share the title and said it is willing to meet with the family. We will help set up that meeting.

We also heard something bigger than the title. A member of the Community Advisory Team said this neighborhood has spent decades being ignored, with questions and concerns that never got answered, and that APS needs to address that directly.  Many of you shared the oral history that this site was always meant to be a school, and we heard how strongly that runs through the community. APS has heard you and remains available to answer any additional questions that you may have.

2. Traffic and Access

This was the loudest concern of the evening, and we heard it clearly. Lewis Road is the only way in and out of the site. You told us that school buses already have to be staggered and no longer come up the street, so children walk down to meet them. One resident said it is hard for him to turn onto the street if even one other car is there. Fire trucks normally need two ways in, and a single entrance is, in one resident's words, a nightmare for fire. The drawings we showed did not explain how we plan to handle traffic coming in and going out, and you asked about runoff and grading if anything is built on the slope.

On density, here is where things stand. Under the current zoning, the site could hold 23 single-family homes. The lower-density option our team described would be under 40 units. Some of you wanted to know how much of the site can be developed at all, and in what ways. Others pointed out that grouping homes closer together could save more of the tree canopy. Several of you asked to see the plans for the Lakewood and Peeples sites as points of comparison. Many of you also said this does not feel like the right site for commercial use given the traffic, and asked what a pedestrian-focused design might look like instead.

Here is what we will bring to the next meeting: drawings that clearly show entry, exit, and emergency vehicle access; a side-by-side look at the density options and what each means for the trees; information on drainage and grading; and the Lakewood and Peeples plans. You told us many of you learn best visually, so we will bring more pictures and fewer words.

3. Water and Infrastructure

You told us only one water main serves the area and that homes sit about 300 feet apart. When we said we had not yet talked to the Department of Watershed Management, one resident asked how we can talk about the number of people without knowing how much water can get to them. That is a fair question; we are requesting a meeting with Watershed Management and will report back on water capacity and pressure to update the density feasibility. We also heard that two or three streets in the neighborhood are still unpaved, and we will raise that with the City as we continue to evaluate and consider options that reflect your priorities.

4. What the Community Wants to See

Beyond the concerns, you shared ideas we want on the record. You asked for property tax protections for all residents, not just seniors. You want a community center and buildings the community could run itself. You asked whether the Mayor's housing programs could support smaller homes that leave more of the tree canopy standing. You suggested public art that honors the neighborhood's history, something like the arch at Atlantic Station, a statue, or a courtyard. And more than one of you said you would love to see a school here again, with housing teachers could afford so they can live where they work.  All of these ideas are going into the list of community benefits that will shape the plan.

5. The Process

You asked for a clearer picture of how decisions get made, including the role of the Atlanta Board of Education. We will update the timeline graphic to more clearly illustrate each step, who decides at each one, and where the community weighs in. 

Next Steps

Our next public meeting is Monday, October 5, 2026, 6:30 pm-8:00 pm, at Rosel Fann Recreation Center (365 Cleveland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30354. Between now and then, APS will work to schedule a meeting with the Knox family, provide additional information about the Lakewood and Peeples plans, and send an updated process timeline. If you have a question you didn't get to ask, reply to this email. If you have not had the chance to complete the survey, please complete it HERE.