Claratel cancels DeKalb housing project after community concerns

A behavioral health organization has canceled plans for a housing development in a DeKalb County neighborhood. Now, community members wonder what will happen to the construction site.

Residents had questions about what was planned for the site on Wesley Chapel Road near Southwest DeKalb High School, but they say Claratel Behavioral Health never communicated with them about the project.

James Freeman said he learned that the organization planned to build housing for vulnerable people three weeks ago.

“There was no clarity in what they wanted to do here. No one told us what was going on,” Freeman said. “So at that time, we inquired more and more about what was happening in the neighborhood.”

As the news spread, residents started raising concerns with county leaders. 

DeKalb County Commissioner Nicole Massiah, who represents District 3, said that residents have invested their time and resources into their neighborhood.

“Their children are impacted because this is right next to a school. But they need and deserve answers — not just about this development, but what was the process in the making of the decision and then why was the community not engaged?” she said.

Last week, Claratel announced that it was canceling the project, which was intended to be two single-family homes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The agency said that reports that the project was going to be a crisis center were inaccurate.

DeKalb County housing expert Mijha Godfrey said her daughter has a severe disability, and she worries about the community’s response to the project.

“One of the things that you worry about so much as a parent with a child with developmental disabilities is how will the world embrace her, or will they not?” Godfrey said. “Will they turn their back on her? Will she have a place to live after we’re gone? Will anyone be willing to take care of her after we’re gone?”

Claratel said that contractors will install additional erosion control and secure the site.