Residents, property owners urge action on crime at 3600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive

Residents and property owners from the 3600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive told the Atlanta City Council Public Safety Committee on May 27 that ongoing drug activity, loitering and violent incidents tied to two businesses — the Citgo at 3657 MLK Jr. Drive and the MLK Mini Mart at 3665 MLK Jr. Drive — are harming housing investment and threatening tenant safety.

The appeals came during the committee's public-comment period from Sonia, a property owner, and others who said apartment occupancy at a recently renovated 28-unit complex fell from about 86% to roughly 60% over the previous three months amid repeated break-ins and disorder at the nearby businesses. "We have over $200,000 worth of damage because of the users around there getting into our property," Sonia said.

Committee members treated the comments as a public-safety and code-enforcement issue. The chair asked Atlanta Police Department staff to meet the property owner and consider a community meeting for the 3600 block. Deputy Chief Collier (APD) told the committee that arrests alone would not solve the problem and that a multi-agency response is needed: "It's gonna take more than us just arresting, those individuals out there. It's gonna take a group project," Collier said, and promised to convene a meeting with the district attorney's office and local nonprofits.

Why it matters: council members and speakers framed the issue as both an immediate safety threat for families and a barrier to local housing investment. Several speakers said children and single mothers live in the buildings and that criminal activity around the stores has made daily life unsafe. "My son was offered drugs," said resident Aaliyah Berry, who said it can take her 25 to 30 minutes to pump gas because of people congregating at the store.

Details and follow-up: property representatives and residents said fences and gates have been repeatedly cut or broken, and that tenants and owners have faced threats and assaults when trying to stop trespassing. Bensanta Gouda, who said she worked with the property owners, estimated repeated damage and said security companies had declined a full-time detail because of the area's crime. When asked about private security, Gouda said a quote of about "$65.75 an hour" was unaffordable; she said the owners were pursuing a temporary security presence while they sought to raise occupancy.

Council members asked APD to look into regulatory and permit options for the stores. Councilmember Michael Julian Bond noted the city's alcohol-license code requires licensees to control their premises and said the licensing unit could inspect the stores quickly. Deputy Chief Collier responded, "We can as early as tomorrow. I I'll ensure that that occurs tomorrow," describing a plan to involve the licensing/permitting unit.

Council direction vs. formal action: the committee's response so far consists of staff commitments and requests for enforcement and community engagement rather than an ordinance or vote. Committee members directed APD and city licensing staff to inspect the properties, to consider enhanced patrols and visible enforcement, and to convene a meeting with the DA's office and nonprofit partners. No formal policy or regulatory change was passed at the meeting.

Community impact and next steps: speakers described lost rental income and ongoing damage that owners said threatens the viability of keeping affordable units. Committee members asked for status updates on enforcement and licensing inspections; APD and licensing staff committed to follow up publicly with the committee. The chair asked police leadership to meet the owners on-site and to report back to the committee on any permit or enforcement actions.

Ending: The committee did not adopt new regulations at the meeting but directed APD and city licensing staff to inspect the stores and to coordinate a community meeting, steps residents said they hoped would reduce the loitering, drug activity and property damage near the 3600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.