City to demolish Buckhead homes flooded in 2009

The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM) is expected to begin the final phase of demolishing 12 homes along Peachtree Creek and the South River that experienced significant flood damage September 2009 and lost more than 50 percent of their fair market value because of the flood.  

The acquisition and demolition of these homes—many of which are in Buckhead—will end future flood insurance claims under the National Flood Insurance Program and will restore a total of 5.6 acres of greenspace to the City’s floodplain area. Several of the properties will be adopted by neighborhood associations as public greenspace.

DWM has accomplished this project without expending any city funds. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided 75 percent of the funding to purchase the homes through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) added 10 percent, and property owners were responsible for the final 15 percent of costs.

“We are thrilled to be able to take something negative, flooded homes, and create something positive, new greenspace,” said DWM Commissioner Jo Ann Macrina. “We are very grateful to FEMA and GEMA for their efforts in this project.”