Building Better.

Many of the warehouses and bably built subdivisions challenging the City of South Fulton's economic development can be traced to County Commissioner-turned-Mayor William "Bill" Edwards. But Councilman khalid, candidate for South Fulton Mayor in the November 30 Runoff, has a plan to "build better."

Warehouses Everywhere

Click the pictures below to enlarge and see the history of these votes. 

Nearly every warehouse surrounding the City of South Fulton sits in Union City. But a lesser known fact is that as Fulton County Commissioner, it was Bill Edwards who motioned for the annexation of South Fulton Parkway into Union City. ​It was Edwards who approved — and often motioned for approval — zoning maps and plans for warehouses along South Fulton Parkway, Buffington Road and other areas throughout South Fulton.

Edwards continued this practice throughout his time as County Commissioner, even up to the last days of his term in 2014. Following his contributions to the warehousing of South Fulton County, Union City Mayor Vince Williams awarded Edwards a Key to the City.  ​

EDWARDS AWARDED THE KEY TO UNION CITY

Edwards approved annexations along Royal South Parkway, off Buffington Road, in addition to the annexations along South Fulton Parkway.

Warehouses surrounding Seaborn Lee Elementary School

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SOUTH FULTON 101

City of South Fulton, GA (Zoomable PDF)

Established in 2017, Atlanta’s new twin city — South Fulton, GA — is 100 square miles with 100,000 residents and a $100 million budget. South Fulton’s African-American population is 89.7 percent, making it Blackest Big City in America. This new, international Black mecca boasts an average median income higher than Atlanta or Chicago. 

Learn more about the new City of South Fulton at our 101 page.

SOUTH FULTON 101

Help Councilman khalid make America's Blackest City Black On Purpose.

Caught on Camera

November 18, 2021 — Channel 2 News' Tyisha Fernandes questioned Mayor Edwards about these votes, and receiving a "Key to the City" from Union City Mayor Vince Williams. Edwards denied any knowledge or recollection of the event. 

Subdivisions with Narrow Streets & No Ameneties

As is the case with South Fulton County's warehouses, Edwards is also behind many of the area's subdivisions built without playgrounds, clubhouses or other amenities. In 2020, the City of South Fulton allowed builders to begin new phases in these neighborhoods under Fulton County standards approved 10-15 years earlier. Water Detention Ponds in many of these communities were once maintained by Fulton County; but since Cityhood Mayor Edwards has failed to come to an agreement about maintenance for these ponds. 

FALLS at CASCADE PALMS

CENTENNIAL WALK

WOODWARD HILLS

CREEL WALK​

FOREST CREEK

OAKS at FLAT SHOALS

Madison Place:
​A Perfect Storm of Bad Planning

The community of Madison Place, in which Bill Edwards approved 4 bedroom townhomes with one-car garages and no additional parking, began to run out of spaces when developers begin building Phase 2 of the neighborhood. When new homeowners and their guests began parking on the street, USPS mail carriers stopped delivering mail for four months.  

The management company for Madison Place Homeowners Association (HOA) attempted to make a deal with the United States Postal Service (USPS) to remove all resident mailboxes and replace them with a community mailbox -- until Councilman khalid intervened, noting that no meeting of homeowners had been held to obtain their consent to give up their mailboxes.

After touring the community with Planning, Public Safety and Public Works staff, Councilman khalid developed a parking solution which identified dozens of parking spaces and quote from the Public Works Department for $1600. However, the management company or HOA board has yet to sign off on the deal. 

Madison Place's HOA charges its 141 residents $160 per month in HOA fees. Over 100 residents are current on their dues, paying over $17,000 per month. The only services they receive are lawn care and the subdivision's only amenity is a single gazebo.

Coucnilman khalid has spoken to residents about using the hundreds of thousands they have in reserves to the subdivision's five remaining lots and partner with the city to create a dog park and/or clubhouse.  However, the actual amount of money held in reserves by the management company is not public knowledge. South Fulton has no laws on the books which mandate HOA management companies make the financials public. Often, cities are not made aware that an HOA community is in financial distress until public utilities begin cutting of services.

Follow the Money

​Why would Edwards annexations for warehouses in residential neighborhoods and school zones? Why would he approve subdivisions with one-car garages and no amenities? The answer may be found in his Campaign Finance Reports which are littered with big contributions from developers, as this page from Edwards July 2021 Campaign Contributions Disclosure Report (CCDR) shows.

Mayor khalid's Plan to Build Better.

Councilman khalid's plans as Mayor to Build Better in South Fulton are already underway.

• In 2018 khalidcreated the Blighted Property Fund, now funded at $350,000 per year, to seize blighted, burned out and abandoned homes from absentee landlords and demolish them.
• In 2021, khalid created a Pedestrian Safety Fund, which takes $1 million in funds from South Fulton School Zone Speed Cameras to install speed bumps in every neighborhood that requests them.
• khalid has repeatedly said No to more discount stores, liquor stores, storage facilities and townhome communities with plans similar to Madison Place
• As Mayor, khalid pledges to spend his first 100 days increasing building standards in the city's Zoning Code, Subdivision Regulations and Comprehensive Master Plan.

Councilman khalid's Blighted Property Fund

Comprehensive Medical Center Old National - Grand Opening​

Councilman khalid's Pedestrian Safety Fund