The legacy of Atlanta’s first Black mayor continues to make history in creative and meaningful ways. This week, the childhood home of former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson Jr. was unveiled following a deep restoration — transformed into affordable housing designated for Spelman College faculty and staff, according to Atlanta News First. (source: Atlanta News First)

The house, originally constructed in 1949 by his father, Rev. Maynard Jackson Sr., now stands on Sunset Avenue in Vine City, just across the street from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s former family home. (source: Spelman College news)

A ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorated the reopening. Local officials, including Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, City Council member Byron Amos, members of the Westside Future Fund, and members of the Jackson family addressed the gathering. (source: Atlanta News First)

Valerie Jackson, widow of the late mayor, spoke of the emotional resonance of the project:

“I know that Maynard would be so proud of this house being renovated and standing again to serve the community,” she said, remembering how the home once served as more than a family dwelling — a place of refuge and service. “The man was ahead of his time. Rev. Jackson was ahead of his time — just like Maynard was ahead of his time.” (source: Atlanta News First)

---

A Legacy Renewed Through Partnership

This project intertwines historic preservation with community revitalization. The Westside Future Fund (WFF) purchased the property from the King Center in 2020 and led the restoration effort in partnership with Spelman College (source: Spelman College news, Atlanta Journal-Constitution). The goal: transform the vintage structure into a pathway toward homeownership for faculty and staff. (source: Spelman College news)

As part of the Home on the Westside initiative, the renovated home — formally known as 220 Sunset Avenue — will provide deeply affordable rental housing and opportunities to transition into homeownership. (source: Spelman College news) Some units will be leased at 60% of area median income (AMI) to qualifying Spelman employees, with priority given to those already connected to the community. (source: Spelman College news)

The Jackson family legacy closely aligns with this vision. Rev. Maynard Jackson Sr. and his wife, Dr. Irene Dobbs Jackson — a civil-rights pioneer and prominent Spelman faculty member — originally built housing above and alongside their residence for Spelman educators and staff in the late 1940s and 1950s, aiming to support an intellectual and thriving Black community in the heart of Atlanta’s collegiate district. (source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

As The Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes, the restored building now spans 6,000 square feet and contains five modern two-bedroom units, each offered at affordable rents (around $1,450/month in some reports) (source: WSB Radio) while preserving many of its historic architectural elements — original staircases, wood floors, and classic brick façade (source: WSB Radio).

John Ahmann, WFF’s president & CEO, commented:

“It brings together our mission of honoring the history and heritage of the Westside while helping those who have a historic connection to the neighborhood.” (source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

T. Dallas Smith, Chair of WFF’s Board, echoed the sentiment at the ceremony:

“Preserve the legacy, return it to service, and make it a place that is fit for the next generations of leaders.” (source: Atlanta News First)

---

Voices of Hope & Community Impact

One of the first tenants, Michele Ogden, a staff member at Spelman, spoke about the life-changing impact:

“In my previous home, the rent jumped to $2,250 a month, which was completely unaffordable for me in my current field … I really have been dreaming of owning a home for forever.” (source: Atlanta News First)

For Ogden and others, this is more than housing — it’s a chance to build equity, stay grounded in their community, and contribute to the very neighborhood that nurtured generations of thinkers and activists.

The revived property is expected to house six to eight Spelman faculty or staff members, offering them stable, favorable conditions to live close to their workplace and remain invested in the Westside’s future (source: Atlanta News First, Black Enterprise).

What was once a sanctuary during the tumultuous years of the Civil Rights era is now reborn as a living monument — sheltering a new wave of Black scholars, educators, and community champions. It is a testament to a family that always believed in service, progress, and the collective power of place.