Several business owners and community members in the Cascade Heights neighborhood held a meeting on Tuesday afternoon to air their grievances and demand accountability from the City of Atlanta regarding prolonged construction along Cascade Road. Sheltered under tents outside of MoreLyfe Juice Co., the business owners shared the negative impact the construction has had on their businesses, citing loss of customers, money, and trust in the city.
Cascade Road Complete Street project, which began Phase I construction in 2023 after a two-year delay, aims to improve safety and walkability. Construction starts at the intersection of Cascade and I-20, with its impact reaching the West End near Ralph David Abernathy. However, it has been plagued by delays, causing disappointment and anger from community members who have lived, shopped, and created opportunities and businesses in the area. A project that the community said they were told would take one year has stretched into two years. From detours and narrowed lanes along the busy southwest Atlanta corridor, community members lamented the unfulfilled promises and lack of communication and transparency from the city and demanded an economic recovery plan.
Trinket Lewis, owner of MoreLyfe Juice, and Courtney Rucker, co-owner of Southern comfort restaurant Natalia Bianca, were among the speakers at the meeting. They shared how their sales have decreased exponentially and how many customers are unaware that they’re open during construction. Ambassador Andrew Young, civil rights leader and former Mayor of Atlanta, also attended the meeting to address the issues impacting the historic neighborhood.
“I’ve lived in this neighborhood since 1966, and we’ve had struggles, but we’ve always kind of bounced back and kept on rolling,” Young said. “I am afraid that we have not done what needs to be done for our community, and I don’t know whose fault it is, but I’m glad to see us together, and let me know what you need me to do.”…