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Highly Hazardous: Capital B’s Investigation into Atlanta’s Fairburn & Gordon Apartments
Capital B News PROJECT
About This Project
Summary
Through trusted relationships with Atlanta residents, Capital B Atlanta’s state & local politics reporter Chauncey Alcorn learned of the highly hazardous conditions at Fairburn & Gordon–a federally subsidized and notoriously blighted apartment complex in West Atlanta. Seeing the horrid conditions firsthand, his investigation revealed severe maintenance issues that had gone unaddressed for years, all while taxpayers are footing the bill for tenants to live in unhealthy, even dangerous, housing.
Goals & Objectives
Capital B prioritizes building trusting community relationships and its reporting works to be a catalyst for meaningful change. Chauncey’s investigation into Fairburn & Gordon amplified residents’ voices whose complaints and flags had long been ignored by local and federal bureaucracies.
Results & Impact
Days after Capital B's inquiries, HUD sent inspectors to the property, finding 81 code violations—including 13 classified as "highly dangerous". Residents credited Capital B for overdue repairs that came shortly after inspection. Months later, HUD pulled taxpayer funding & helped relocate residents.
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