We, members of the communities that surround Fort McPherson, oppose the sale of Fort McPherson to Tyler Perry Studios because we believe the current deal will not meet community needs and is not the highest and best use of the property. We are signing this petition and voicing our strong concern and opposition to this plan. This is not about Mr. Perry but more importantly about our neighborhoods getting the chance to attract a catalytic project that has the potential to transform the southwest communities of Atlanta. Our communities have been desperately in need for a project that can attract more development that directly impacts some of our most critical concerns. We have watched development ignite all over the city while our beloved southwest Atlanta has been neglected. Our concerns include:

Lack of transparency with no clarity on the plans for the entire site. The Board refuses to share Tyler Perry's plans for Fort. McPherson.

Lack of stakeholder input from the community nor that the ideas and plans that were created at the hands of residents and stakeholders for the 2010 Master Plan have been given earnest consideration.

The size of the development of Tyler Perry Studios at Fort McPherson is too large. He will control most of the assets of the property inclusive of the best parcels. This reduces the benefit to the community since his property will be privately owned and sectioned off from the community just as Ft. McPherson currently appears.

Lack of benefits to the community based on the nature of the business and the lack of development in other Tyler Perry projects. (Screen Gems was opened 5 years ago in a similar community and has not had a positive impact or employed local residents). Additionally, Mr. Perry’s studios in two others neighborhoods in the city, have also proven themselves NOT to yield significant development and opportunities for the community.

The narrative from the Mayor has been that no one is interested in the property; yet, at a City Council meeting in January 2014 the MILRA Board stated that numerous people were interested in the property; at last month's MILRA meeting, the Executive Director, Brian Hooker, said they have many people interested in the 144 acres that the city will still own after the sale goes through; the state offered $10 million for a portion of the property but the Mayor convinced the governor not to go through with the sale; and lastly there is a pending lawsuit from another business that claims that they were told they couldn't buy the property until after the property was transferred.

Requirements that were not met include those listed below. We are requesting this information and action steps prior to a final and formal decision on the Ft. McPherson property:

An updated legally binding Master Plan which outlines the public good and economic impact of the entire redevelopment

A written commitment of the number and types of jobs and how these will benefit local residents on the Perry and MILRA properties

A list of all parties that have expressed an interest (formal and informal) in the Ft. McPherson property

A meeting to host an open discussion about other development options inclusive of specific details on the Tyler Perry Studio plan

Full documentation and disclosure of the efforts, strategies, tools and mechanisms that the Board has used to market the property over the last four years

That another representative for the surrounding neighborhoods be given a seat on the Board

That the covenant between the Army and the State Historic Preservation Office be posted on the MILRA website

Attached to this petition are two of articles from Maria Saporta that give greater context around the valid concerns that community stakeholders have around the sale of this property under the plans that have been divulged to the public. Even if you are not in a neighborhood that borders Ft. McPherson, please join us in this fight to ensure that true community engagement is not lost at the hands of those in positions of influence and power. We as residents and stakeholders of Southwest Atlanta must use our collective voices to ensure that our neighborhoods take full advantage of the surge in development that is literally sprouting up throughout the north, northwest, northeast and east side of the city.

‪http://saportareport.com/fort-mcpherson-tyler-perry-deal.../‪

http://saportareport.com/fort-mcpherson-atlantas.../