In October 1964, the Georgia Highway Department announced plans to build I-485 through Morningside, Virginia Highland, and Poncey Highland. The plans offered 4 routes A, B, C, and D and were promptly endorsed by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Central Atlanta Progress, and the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. In addition, the plans showed numerous changes to the neighborhood infrastructure, including:

– tear down and relocate Morningside Elementary School near to Morningside Nature Preserve

– tear down Inman School

– widen Lenox, LaVista, E Rock Spring, and N Morningside to 4 lanes, etc.

See the map for the detailed descriptions of these changes.

Map shows the extensive changes to infrastructure proposed by the Georgia Highway Department.

1965: Neighborhood Associations Are Formed

In May 1965, a group of neighbors organized the Morningside Lenox Park Association (MLPA) to fight the construction of I-485. They did not support route B (see map), which cut directly through the center of the neighborhood. However, route B was preferred by the Georgia Highway Department because it was the least expensive. And so, the MLPA hired traffic planning consultants to propose an alternative route, route E, which was located west of route B and closer to Monroe and Piedmont. The Atlanta Metropolitan Region Planning Commission endorsed route E. A second group of neighbors broke away from the MLPA to form a second association, the Morningside Monroe Civic Association to oppose route E. Serious objections to the plans followed with almost daily coverage in the media.

Map shows route B proposed for I-485. Route E was located west of route B closer to Monroe and Piedmont. The MLPA lobbied for Route E.

Clippings from the Atlanta newspapers during July 1965

1966: State and Local Approvals for Route B

In February 1966, the Georgia Highway Department selected route B as the final location for I-485. Within hours of the announcement, Governor Carl Sanders ordered a restudy of the plans. Ultimately, the Governor and the State Highway Department confirmed that route B was the preferred option.

In June, the MLPA presented extensive testimony about the problems with route B to the Aldermanic Public Works Committee. However, on June 20, the Atlanta Board of Aldermen voted 10 to 5 in favor of route B. Just 4 days later, MLPA representatives attended a hearing with the Federal Highway Commission in Washington DC to try to prevent federal approval of the plans to adopt route B.

In July, the US Bureau of Roads approved Georgia’s request to build route B. The Georgia Highway Department immediately began to condemn and tear down residential neighborhood properties. Before this was over, the state would condemn more than 1000 properties and raze about 300 houses in Morningside, Virginia Highland, and Poncey Highland.

Abandoned house circa 1971

Bulldozed property circa 1971

October 1966: MLPA Files Suit to Stop I485 Along Route B

In October 1966, the MLPA filed suit against the State Highway Department of Georgia to prevent the acquisition of any right of way and to stave off the expenditure of monies on the construction of I-485 along route B. The suit purported that the construction along route B:

– Was not consistent with the plans developed for the City of Atlanta by the Atlanta Region Metropolitan Planning Commission

– Failed to preserve good residential communities and to prevent slum development

– Was not consistent with the Federal Highway Act of 1962; there were other available routes that would not destroy communities.

Moreover, the MLPA alleged that the State Highway Department of Georgia had:

– “Coerced the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Atlanta into approving route B”

– “Deliberatively manipulated the costs of other available routes to make it falsely appear that route B would cost less”

– Catered to the private business interests of certain private persons.

In June 1967, the MLPA lawsuit was denied in Superior Court. The MLPA appealed the decision to the Georgia Supreme Court, where the appeal was also denied.

MLPA Lawsuit Denied

1967-1969: MLPA Meets with City and State Government Entities

On multiple occasions during the late 1960s, the MLPA met with the:

– State Highway Department

– City of Atlanta Departments: Parks, Public Works, Planning

– Atlanta Civic Design Commission

– Federal Bureau of Roads

The purpose of these meetings was to influence the use of green space and affect design changes that would be beneficial to the neighborhood along route B if I-485 was constructed. The assurances from the State Highway Department included: 1) all existing streets would remain open; 2) no interchange would be located on Morningside Drive; 3) at least 2 mini-parks would be developed and by design, would be low maintenance. In 1969, the Georgia Department of Transportation established an office in Morningside to facilitate the condemnation and razing of houses in the path of I485.

Georgia DOT set up an office in Morningside to facilitate condemnation and leveling of residential properties. The young boy leaning on the sign is Randy Ray.

Key Federal Legislation

Key federal legislation would become part of the strategy to stop I-485.

Federal Highway Act: In 1962, the Federal Highway Act mandated that federal funding for state and metropolitan transportation projects use a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (“3-C”) planning process.

National Environmental Policy Act: Beginning in May 1969, the National Environmental Policy Act required that federally funded projects that potentially might have an adverse effect on the environment, including highways, conduct an impact study before the project begins.

US Supreme Court Decision: In December 1969, the Supreme Court instructed the Tennessee Department of Transportation to halt the construction of I-40, which would have cut through the middle of the 342-acre Overton Park in Memphis. The DOT Act of 1966 and the Federal Highway Act prohibited actions that adversely impacted parks, recreation areas, wildlife or historic sites unless there were no “prudent and feasible alternatives.” This too would become central to the fight to stop I-485 from coming through Morningside.

Morningside Fights I-485 Construction - 1960s

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References:

1964: Georgia Highway Department Announces Plans to Build I-485