Recent movements advocating for the cityhood of Buckhead are raising questions about what this means for the rest of Metro Atlanta’s suburban landscape.
The Buckhead City Committee, run by CEO Bill White, has been fighting fiercely for the cityhood of Buckhead in recent months, but granting Buckhead cityhood should not be a worthy goal as it would divide Atlanta to its detriment.
In what is said to be an attempt to improve safety, prioritize tax dollars and maintain the “parklike setting” of the area, there is backlash from both Georgia citizens and legislators.
In opposition to the cityhood of Buckhead is the Committee for a United Atlanta. The goal is said to advocate for a better Atlanta overall, putting a stop to crime throughout the city and “educating residents on the realities of tearing our city apart.”
The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s 2021 report of the statistical implications of a City of Buckhead also raised some concerns, especially regarding the financial stability of Atlanta and the racial makeup of the new city.
Financially, the passing of Buckhead’s cityhood would be detrimental to the Metro Atlanta economy. According to Fulton County tax records reviewed by The AJC, Atlanta would lose the whopping $14 billion of real estate that Buckhead would claim. Most notably, Atlanta would also lose the Lenox Square Mall when the new maps are drawn.
The city of Buckhead would also cause a major drop in Atlanta’s median salary, according to The AJC. Currently, at $60,000, the succession would bring it down to roughly $52,000. Considering the median income of Buckhead would be $140,500, the drop would be a significant pointer to the wealth disparity between the zones and the impact it would have on poorer communities.
However, these economic losses may be balanced in the expenses that Atlanta would no longer have to pour into Buckhead’s maintenance, according to former BCC president Sam Lenaeus. Fewer liabilities for Atlanta may lessen the dent in its economy, but it is not something that would fill that gap.
The cityhood does not only bring attention to the politics and economic dealings of Atlanta, but also the racial implications of this movement. Currently, according to the July 2021 census, Atlanta’s racial composition is 40.9% white and 51% Black. With the succession of Buckhead, this would change to roughly 31% white and 59% Black, according to The AJC’s report. This is a notable shift considering the racial histories of both Atlanta and Buckhead.
Considering the population of the Buckhead area, Atlanta would lose nearly 20% of its total population if the de-annexation passes. It would become the 10th largest city of Georgia, according to AJC.
Legislators have denied the committee the opportunity to act on a referendum that would allow the people of Buckhead to vote on the possible future of the city this November.
Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and House Speaker David Ralston officially put a halt to the political advances of the movement last week, according to The AJC.
Despite the delay in the movement, BCC supporters carry on pushing the effort. Earlier this January, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced the new police precinct for the community of Buckhead to address rising crime concerns, according to The Atlanta Voice.
Dickens continues to advocate for a united Atlanta as well, saying that Atlanta “will remain one city with one bright future,” in a recent press release.