Madison Hills

Madison Hills Apartments is a 446-unit severely blighted class B apartment community in an affluent northern Atlanta neighborhood. When we purchased this apartment property, the community was in turmoil, with significant criminal activity and 180 units boarded-up due to black mold or fire damage. The turmoil spilled over to the community and directly impacted Brumby Elementary, one of only two elementary schools on the federal watch list of failing schools in the county. The local municipality took notice and stigmatized Madison Hills, with a robust campaign to condemn the property. Armed with a $7 million renovation budget, we developed a community based model engaging local businesses, churches, nonprofits and leadership at nearby Brumby Elementary. Programs including a free after-school and summer camp were launched to build community political capital and stabilize the families. The results created a triple bottom line for the ownership including high occupancy, reduced tenant turnover, increased security and a destination-based community of socially engaged tenants. The reduced transiency and educational opportunity offered by the after-school program and summer camps greatly impacted Brumby Elementary and within five years, it was recognized as a Title 1 School of Distinction by the National Title 1 Distinguished Schools Program.