Let's Go Beltline!

Wachovia gives $1 million to Beltline, civil rights center

By MARIA SAPORTA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/17/08

Two projects near and dear to Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin's heart are each receiving $1 million gifts from the Wachovia Foundation.

The gifts will be announced at a news conference this morning at Atlanta's City Hall.

The first $1 million grant is going toward the city's Beltline project, and the second grant is going to the proposed Center for Civil and Human Rights.

These gifts also are a way for Wachovia, which is based in Charlotte, to show that it remains committed to the Atlanta metro market despite recent executive changes.

Kendall Alley, Wachovia's president of the Atlanta region, said the bank is solidly behind both projects.

"It's very interesting to me how really dynamic and forward-thinking the city is," Alley said. "I give the mayor a lot of credit."

The Beltline Partnership, a private sector organization, is in the midst of a $60 million capital campaign to help launch the 22-mile Beltline project. As envisioned, the Beltline, which encompasses a ring of railroad tracks surrounding the central city, will have parks, trails, a transit corridor, and new residential and commercial development. One of the mayor's goals is to make sure a portion of the residential units will be affordable for lower-income workers — an area that interests Wachovia.

"We would like to go toward affordable work force housing," Alley said. "It's up to the leadership of the Beltline to determine how best to use that money."

As for the $1 million gift to the Center for Civil and Human Rights, Wachovia is one of the first corporations to contribute to its capital campaign.

The center project is expected to cost about $125 million, including construction and an endowment.

"The center is just an incredible opportunity for Atlanta," Alley said. "Our dollars are to move the project forward with bricks and mortar. Let's get it up and running."

Wachovia also contributed $500,000 to help the city acquire the collection of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s papers more than a year ago.

Alley said it's important that local leaders recognize that Wachovia will be dedicated to the Atlanta community.

Last fall, the bank went through a major reorganization, which eliminated the job of a Georgia president. That caused Bill Linginfelter, who was active in a host of civic roles, to leave the bank.

Now Alley has joined the executive committee of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. He's also interested in being involved with Leadership Atlanta and the Atlanta Rotary Club.