The residents of Cleghorn/Anderson are slowly finding out the extent of Villa Rica's plans for their community. Here's what they know at this point. 

The City of Villa Rica is proposing a development project, the "Mirror Lake Connector," which would cut through the historically Black Cleghorn-Anderson neighborhood where residents are overwhelmingly seniors of color. Residents are fighting the project, citing discriminatory tactics, financial burdens, and lack of transparency on the part of the City.

Although these plans have been in the works since 2013, the City has not officially informed residents of the project and has pressured them to meet without representation. Tactics like the ones being used by Villa Rica are similar to those used to take land from Black communities throughout American history. 

Twelve Main Points:

1. Villa Rica has pressured residents to consent to extensive easements, sending contractors to persuade them to sign without offering them information or compensation, refusing to speak with them when they come to meetings represented, and attempting to meet with them individually in private.  Sources: Video of community meeting with Former City Manager Tom Barber (part 1) and Villa Rica Community Protests Road Through Their Neighborhood (Youtube)
2. City officials have alternatively characterized this community as a “historically disadvantaged low-income minority neighborhood” in an application for US Department of Transportation funding and “a section of completely undeveloped property” when advocating to impose a tax to fund the development. The area is a woodsy community of pretty, single family homes on generous lots occupied by families, some of whom have been there for generations. Sources: September 13, 2024 Change.org Update and DOT Grant Application
3. Years after contracting with developers, voting on and approving new taxes and a 2023 -2043 plan and stating that it received community input, the City is just now starting to speak to Cleghorn-Anderson residents about a project that may negatively impact their community and take some of their property. Source: Video of community meeting with Former City Manager Tom Barber (part 1)
4. Residents were unaware of the plans because the neighborhood was called by a different name (“East Village”) in documents and meetings. Cleghorn-Anderson residents have never heard this name used for their community before. Also, unlike when Villa Rica plans development in other neighborhoods, Cleghorn-Anderson residents were never sent certified letters inviting them to give input. Source: September 13, 2024 Change.org Update
5. Cleghorn-Anderson residents are subject to egregiously high property taxes due to their inclusion in a Tax Allocation District (TAD) meant to fund the road/development project that they don’t want. Source: September 4 2024 Change.org Update
6. Villa Rica officials have been resistant to directly answering questions about plans for their Cleghorn-Anderson for years. Source: Villa Rica Community Protests Road Through Their Neighborhood (Youtube)
7. Livable Centers Initiative grant documents show that the area that Villa Rica is calling “East Village” would have moderate to high density and wide streets with on-street parking that would be a great departure from what the community currently looks like.
8. The project could force out residents, mostly seniors and low-income families, who have lived in the neighborhood for generations. Source: Video of community meeting with Former City Manager Tom Barber (part 2)
9. Residents of this community have long complained to the City about unsafe drinking water, sewage back ups and run-off from a nearby dump that they believe contribute to much higher rates of deaths due to cancer. They say that the City has failed to address these issues and that City workers and nearby development have worsened these environmental issues. Source: Heritage Preservation Coalition Continues to Protest
10. Although Cleghorn Anderson residents are just learning the extent of the plans and oppose the project, the Mayor says that the City plans to find a way to proceed since halting the project will jeopardize other plans they are in contract to complete. Source: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/villa-rica-halts-controversial-road-project-amid-eminent-domain-dispute
11. Many Cleghorn-Anderson residents feel that they have been treated differently than other Villa Rica residents because their homes generally are less expensive and the residents are predominantly Black. Source: Video of community meeting with Former City Manager Tom Barber (part 2)
12. Not only are they paying higher taxes and taking time from work to find answers and fight for their homes, some residents have already faced health problems due to the stress related to Villa Rica's actions regarding their land. Source:  Villa Rica Community Protests Road Through Their Neighborhood (Youtube)

The Cleghorn-Anderson community and the Heritage Preservation Coalition continue to fight for the community’s homes, land, and generational wealth. Residents are demanding fair treatment, transparency, and a halt to discriminatory land-use practices. Supporters are urged to sign petitions and join the fight against the City's actions, which echo historical patterns of racial injustice in land development.