Cascade Road Becomes A Major Border Under Maps

Cascade Road—a major southwest Atlanta roadway and home to numerous religious, business, retail and grocery enterprises such as —would become a major border under two proposed maps that would redraw Atlanta city council districts based on 2010 Census numbers.

The maps were presented to the public for the first time last week during an Atlanta City Council public hearing.

In order to account for 2010 census data, each of the city’s 12 districts must have a population of 35,000.

City planners have developed a total of four maps for consideration. Maps 1A and 1B would extend the line for districts 10 and 11 down to Cascade Road.

Population in District 10 – represented by Councilman C.T. Martin - fell by 1,749 people over the last 10 years. Councilwoman Keisha Bottoms’ district 11’s increased by 6,813 people over the same period.

Under two additional maps – 2A and 2B – District 11 would keep its neighborhoods north of Cascade Road.

City planners said during the public hearing that maps 1A and 1B maintain as many of the city’s current racial and community balances as possible, given the new population numbers.

Councilwoman Felicia Moore, who chaired the public hearing, said that more changes to the maps are on the horizon.

“I’m sure there’s going to be some more tweaking to all of these proposed maps,” said Moore. “And there will probably be some more scenarios coming out of the council.”

The second redistricting public hearing will be held Thursday, Nov. 17, at 6 p.m., in the Atlanta City Council chambers. The maps are scheduled for final approval by the city council on Monday, Dec. 5. If approved, the maps will then be reviewed by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who will decide whether to forward them onto the U.S. Department of Justice for final review.