Peoples Town residents urge pause on Custer Avenue relief project citing lack of engagement

The Atlanta City Council's City Utilities Committee meeting on March 25, 2025, focused heavily on community concerns regarding the Custer Avenue capacity relief project in the People's Town neighborhood. Residents expressed their frustrations over a lack of transparency and meaningful engagement from city officials regarding the project's potential impacts on local flooding and sewer management.

Kim Scott, chair of the Entrenchment Creek Community Stewardship Council, was the first public commenter, urging the committee to slow the project's progression. She highlighted the community's ongoing requests for dialogue with city representatives that have gone unanswered. Scott emphasized the need for a genuine community-led meeting before any construction begins, advocating for a long-term solution that reflects the needs of People's Town residents.

Shareese Brown, another resident and community leader, echoed Scott's sentiments, calling for a pause on the project until a meaningful meeting could be held with the Department of Watershed Management. Brown criticized previous community engagement efforts as inadequate, stating that residents' questions and recommendations were not taken seriously. She raised concerns about the environmental and health impacts of the proposed construction, which includes a large combined sewer overflow (CSO) holding tank.

Additional speakers, including Tianna Johnson and Elizabeth Angel, reinforced the call for a pause in the project, citing similar concerns about the lack of authentic community engagement and the need for a collaborative approach to address flooding issues. They urged the committee to involve local voices in the planning process and to consider community benefits, such as naming rights for the new park associated with the project.

In a separate discussion, attorney Craig Pendergrass addressed the potential adoption of a stormwater utility fee, advocating for careful and equitable structuring to avoid past mistakes that led to legal challenges. He suggested forming a task force to ensure the fee is implemented correctly.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from council members to facilitate further discussions between residents and the Department of Watershed Management, highlighting the importance of community input in city planning efforts. The ongoing dialogue reflects a growing recognition of the need for sustainable solutions to infrastructure challenges in Atlanta's neighborhoods.