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Historical Overview

During the mid-20th century, the growth of interstate highways and suburban expansion transformed American cities, significantly reshaping neighborhoods across the country. In Atlanta, the proposed Stone Mountain Tollway intended to run through marginal neighborhoods surrounding Bass High School, placing local businesses and residents at risk of displacement.

In response, Little Five Points residents and local business owners organized a concerted grassroots resistance effort during the 1970s that contributed to the tollway's eventual reconsideration in 1972.

Oregon Department of Transportation, CC BY 2.0, via OpenVerse

1960s Urbanization

The postwar era of urbanization in the United States reshaped cities through suburban expansion, large-scale infrastructure projects, and urban renewal programs. One of the most significant initiatives was the construction of the interstate highway system in the country’s cities. By the 1960s, federal highway construction was displacing approximately 37,000 urban housing units per year (Mohl 3).

The White Flight

The extent of this mass exodus was notable—while the population at the core city of Atlanta remained stable, the population at inner suburbs would double from 326,000 to 648,000 in the following years ("Atlanta Metropolitan Growth from 1960"). It was this migration that placed new pressures on Atlanta’s transportation infrastructure, increasing demand for new highways to accommodate the growing number of families traveling between the suburbs and downtown.

Seattle Municipal Archives, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

blizzy63, Public Domain Mark 1.0, via OpenVerse

”It was a philosophical point of view that we should not be dependent on outside investors”

- Midge Sweet

Activism

The neighborhood historically attracted artists, entrepreneurs, and middle-class homeowners—many of whom had ties to city leadership or experienced political organizing. This demographic makeup gave Little Five Points access to decision-makers to counter large-scale development projects proactively.

Don Bender and his wife worked alongside other business owners in the L5P Businessmen’s Association. Bender, serving as the Chair of Membership, targeted the younger demographic who would vote against the freeway, ensuring that votes within the association would favor opposition to the freeway expansion.

John Sweet played a central role in coordinating legal support for Little Five Points residents arrested during protests against highway construction. Upon learning about the arrests, Sweet immediately closed his office to focus on facilitating assistance for the detained protestors. He swiftly organized a volunteer legal team, ultimately bringing together 33 attorneys to represent the arrested community members in court (Hartle 33).

Mike, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, via Flickr

The Atlanta Intown Development Corporation was an effort by residents pooling their money to buy, renovate, and sell dilapidated homes to residents committed to the neighborhood. This became particularly effective in ensuring that properties remained in the hands of community members rather than outside developers (Kueppers).