Rapper/actor T.I., alongside his wife Tiny, celebrated the grand opening of an affordable housing complex in his hometown.
In a 2022 interview with hosts for “Earn Your Leisure” podcast, T.I. articulated his mission to counteract gentrification and create a real estate development in the Bankhead area, where he grew up. Expressing concerns about the impact of gentrification on the city’s residents, he explained that many natives of the city were being displaced by large-scale developments that have led to an affordability crisis for people of color.
The Bankhead native stressed the importance of preserving the cultural and historical fabric of the city by ensuring that those who contributed to its development could still afford to live there.
“Somebody has to be a part of that charge,” emphasizing the need for a collective effort to address these issues,” he said.
Giving Back
Last week, T.I. commemorated his charitable milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for his 140-unit building that was attended by local politicians and other community leaders, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. The complex, situated in the Intrada building on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway is a collaborative project involving the city of Atlanta, T.I.’s Briarhouse Holdings, and Missouri-based developer Vecino Group.
During the ceremony, T.I. shared a personal anecdote from his upbringing in the Atlanta neighborhood, revealing that his motivation for investing in the community stemmed from a past incident involving theft from a local Kmart.
The present project was constructed on the site formerly occupied by that same Kmart and grocery store. T.I. initially acquired the property for redevelopment and subsequently sold it in 2019 to Vecino Group, which then secured $11 million in finances for the development. Atlanta Black Star reported in 2021.
More Affordable Housing Investment
With plans to continue working in conjunction with city leaders, T.I., along with Mayor Dickens highlighted Atlanta’s broader commitment to affordable housing. In the past two years, the city has constructed 3,200 affordable homes, with plans for an additional 5,000 units. Mayor Dickens had stated previously that the overarching goal is to create a total of 20,000 affordable housing units which he said aligns with the city’s dedication to addressing equitable housing and affordability.
The development comprises 143 residential units, including 25 units specifically designated for permanent supportive housing (PSH) as part of Atlanta Housing’s HomeFlex-HAVEN program.
The opening of the new apartment complex isn’t the first time T.I. been proactive about revitalizing some of Atlanta’s poorest neighborhoods. In 2020 he was outspoken on social media about shifting investments from luxury items towards real estate as mortgage rates fell to near historical lows — below 3 percent. During this period, he underscored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer behavior and emphasized responsible spending practices.
