GH History
Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the city of Gainesville found prosperity by the turn of the 20th century with the establishment of the railroad in the region. However, the Great Depression, the devastation of the 1936 tornado, and World War II altered the area’s trajectory and led to a housing crisis. The availability and affordability of housing became a pressing issue.
Establishing Gainesville Housing
In 1937, the U.S. government established the U.S. Housing Authority, authorizing it to make loans to local housing authorities for affordable housing projects to replace substandard housing with decent, affordable housing. On August 15, 1949, the Housing Authority of the City of Gainesville, Georgia (GHA) was created by then-Mayor Bill Rodger and the Gainesville City Council, making it the fifty-ninth housing authority developed in Georgia. The first appointed Board of Commissioners included John W. Jacobs, Charles Hardy, Dr. Clarence Butler, Carl Romberg Sr., and Henry Washington.
First Housing Developments
The first apartment development by Gainesville Housing was Melrose Homes, which opened in 1952 and still exists today. While preserving the historical elements of the original structure, Melrose was renovated to include necessary updates, such as air conditioning, and is now considered part of the Midtown Villages.
Shortly after Melrose Homes, the Green Hunter Homes opened in 1952 on a block of Atlanta Highway. In 2018, the Green Hunter Homes underwent a complete redevelopment and became Walton Summit.
Historic Photos
