By Ethan Wilcox
Mayor Kelly Girtz speaks to students at the University of Georgia in a news conference on April 19, 2024. He discusses Athens’ future land use plan, which intends to accommodate an expected population growth of 30,000 additional residents over the next 20 years. (Photo/Ethan Wilcox)
Athens’ future land use plan that will invest in housing and infrastructure over the next 20 years will also attempt to accommodate up to 10,000 additional students at the University of Georgia, Mayor Kelly Girtz said at a news conference at UGA on April 19, 2024.
The county, which anticipates an increase of 30,000 residents in Athens by 2045, plans to expand housing in high-density areas such as Downtown Athens and Georgia Square Mall to best utilize current infrastructure.
“I’m the first to say that students are residents, students are human beings too,” Girtz said.
Last year, 65% of students lived off-campus. With 6,000 first-year students expected to arrive next fall, and only 10,000 on-campus housing spots available, many students are forced to look for off-campus housing.
“I just think people want options,” said Tim Welicky, a third-year finance major from Alpharetta. “If you want a house, you need to lock that down pretty fast. I’ve had friends who are transferring here who have signed their leases before they even got admitted to the school.”
Girtz said off-campus students are generally concentrated in places where there were not already residents, like asphalt parking lots and hardware stores. There is less pressure for existing neighborhoods to expand as a result. He said areas along South Milledge Avenue and gravel parking lots by The Mark could be used for housing development since they are near campus.
“We’ve got a lot of opportunity where people would be able to walk to class, or worst case scenario, take a shuttle,” Girtz said. “I think at least for the next couple of decades, we’re in a good position.”
Walkability is an important factor for some students.
“I’ll pay more in rent if it’s walkable, that’s for sure,” Welicky said.
Girtz also highlighted that high-density expansion can prevent gentrification, as he plans to propose a $1 million fund for affordable housing that will purchase dormant lots in underutilized neighborhoods.
“It’s almost like a game of musical chairs,” Girtz said. “If there aren’t enough chairs, and there are too many people, every one of those persons is going to be swirling around looking to buy a home, potentially in a historically African-American neighborhood.”
Girtz said that he is open to modifying ordinance 9-15-18 that prevents two unrelated individuals from living together in single dwellings located in single-family residential zoning districts, to allow three individuals instead. Some students have experienced problems regarding this ordinance, and would like to see more opportunities for student housing, but altering the code could face pushback from commissioners.
“The reality is that many commissioners get pressure from homeowners in single family neighborhoods across Athens to a greater degree and a more specific degree than I do,” Girtz said.
Girtz wants to hear student feedback through the county’s public engagement website, which includes a survey. There are also in-person information sessions residents can attend.
Why I Wrote the Story:
The University of Georgia has had some of its largest freshman classes these past couple of years. When the Athens future land use plan was announced, and I learned that up to 30,000 new residents are expected to arrive by 2045, I immediately thought of the pressures that could have on student housing. Students already struggle to find housing as it is, so I paid special attention to what Mayor Kelly Girtz had to say about the matter at the news conference at UGA. Girtz discussed some of the development plans for potential student housing, so I knew that I could angle my news conference story toward UGA students.