A neighborhood’s vision: How Thomasville residents take charge of development

By Quameiha Raymond-Ducheine, storytelling associate

Nestled in the southeast side of Atlanta, Thomasville Heights is a vibrant community defined by its legacy residents, multigenerational homes and a deep sense of pride. While the city around them changes, the people of Thomasville Heights are actively working to preserve their neighborhood’s unique culture and shape its future, ensuring it remains a place where legacies thrive.

The Thomasville redevelopment project is a two-year, collaborative effort involving the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, APD Urban Planning Management, the City of Atlanta, Focused Community Strategies, Atlanta Housing Authority, Atlanta Public Schools, Purpose Built Schools and Thomasville residents. This process culminated in the creation of a neighborhood plan that ensures residents have a voice in the development of their community. Historically, developments around Thomasville have proceeded without meaningful input from those who live there leading to gentrification and the displacement of legacy residents. This time, however, residents are participating in the important decisions that will shape their neighborhood.

The City of Atlanta adopted the Thomasville Neighborhood Plan in 2023. The plan ensures that Thomasville Heights is a safe, thriving, mixed-income neighborhood that protects its historic residential character, prioritizes quality education, supports local churches, and has easy access to goods and services.These priorities reflect the community’s vision for a neighborhood that preserves its history while embracing sustainable growth.

The plan’s creation involved a series of Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) meetings, with APD Urban and the City of Atlanta’s NPUs playing key roles in educating residents. Last week, the planning team launched the first session of a yearlong educational series, during which APD Urban hosted learning sessions to help residents understand the plan. These meetings ensure legacy residents are prepared to participate in decision-making processes as development continues. The goal is to equip residents with the knowledge and tools they need to advocate for their neighborhood’s future.

For residents like Maria White Dumas, a lifelong Thomasville resident, the plan represents hope and an opportunity to preserve the legacy of homeownership in the community. “I want legacy ownership to be the theme of our neighborhood-—my grandfather owned our house, and I want my children to live in it one day. It’s about passing that legacy down.”

The Community Foundation’s partnership with APD Urban ensures that residents are equipped to advocate for their neighborhood, helping preserve the generational ties that define Thomasville Heights while embracing thoughtful development.

Are you interested in supporting the residents of Thomasville Heights? Contact our philanthropy team.