ATLANTA — Some people in a local community are telling Habitat for Humanity it is not welcome in their neighborhood.
Channel 2's Matt Johnson spoke to a community leader who says he'd rather see the property turn into something that can pump new jobs back into his neighborhood. He says before any new houses come in, his neighbors want old abandoned homes fixed up.
"What you see might be bad to you, but I see potential every time I ride by and this is my home," Ralph Long said.
The 10.5 acres of land belongs to Habitat for Humanity after Kasco Manufacturing donated it three weeks ago.
The idea of the non-profit building a possible 27 homes on the open lot is facing opposition.
"Other communities north of I-20 need affordable housing. Sylvan Hills is saturated with affordable housing," Long said.
Long claims habitat homes will lower property values right when the area is starting to recover from the 2008 recession.
He says the focus shouldn't be on building new homes, but should be revitalizing abandoned ones. Habitat for Humanity does not repair homes that they didn't build themselves.
"A builder who's not willing to compromise on their mission statement would be very damaging to our neighborhood," Johnson said.
Atlanta Habitat for Humanity held a community meeting to take input and issued a statement that read:
"We look forward to being good neighbors and continuing to work with the community."
The non-profit says it's still in the early stages of planning what will happen to the open lot.