Atlanta Community Research

Community Survey on Development of Police/Fire Training Facility in South Atlanta 

Report of Findings September 2021

Background

On August 16, 2021 Atlanta City Council voted to postpone leasing hundreds of acres of forested land to the Atlanta Police Foundation for the construction of a $90 million police and fire training facility. 
 
Residents, community advocates, and environmental leaders argued that community voice has been largely absent in the decision-making process.
 
Effective community-based research can provide data on community awareness of policy, potential community impact, and the type of development residents want in their neighborhoods. 
 
This project was designed to meet the need for research that could inform this important public policy decision.

Survey Participation

The survey asked Atlanta residents to share their knowledge and views on the proposal to lease the Old Prison Farm area in South Atlanta to the Police Foundation to develop a mock city & training facilities.

Residents Completed the Survey in August 2021. 

Summary of Findings

52% of survey respondents are residents within the closest zip codes (30312, 30315, 30316, 30354). 91% of respondents were aware that Atlanta City Council plans to vote to lease 300+ acres of land to The Police Foundation to develop a 90 million dollar mock city & training facilities in South Atlanta. 

View Survey Results by Zip Code

Do you support the Police/Fire facilities being built in South Atlanta/Old Prison Farm area (shown in the map)?

 98% DO NOT support police/fire facilities being built in the area. 2% DO support police/fire facilities being built in the area.  

Do you support the building of more advanced police training facilities in Atlanta?

90% DO NOT support more advanced police training facilities being built in Atlanta. 10% DO support more advanced police training facilities being built in Atlanta. 

Do you support the building of more green space in Atlanta?

1% DO NOT support the building of more green space in Atlanta 99% DO support the building of more green space in Atlanta.

How should the South River Park area/ the Old Prison Farm area be developed?

Out of 334 respondents to this question, most (83.53%) thought that the area should be developed for parks and recreation purposes. The second-largest group (32.34%) thought the area should be developed for housing; and the third-largest group (19.16%) believed the area should be developed into something other than parks & recreation, housing, and police & fire training facilities.

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Social Insights Research designed the survey and lead data collection for the project. The firm is headquartered in Atlanta and is comprised of a diverse and experienced team of community psychologists, sociologists, and evaluators. Social Insights has conducted community-based research in partnership with foundations, non-profits, and universities across the country and is skilled at utilizing quantitative and qualitative methodologies to answer complex questions.

The Ubuntu Research and Evaluation team conducted the data analysis
and reported on research findings.
 

 
The Organization for Human Rights and Democracy supported the coordination and
marketing of the survey.

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