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.”
Trent Floyd owns and operates several units in the J.R. Crickets Brand restaurant group and has lived in Cascade Heights for over 40 years. He opened a new J.R. Crickets location on Cascade Road in January 2023, which he said opened to rave reviews and enthusiasm from the community and strengthened his belief that J.R. Crickets would become a staple for another Atlanta neighborhood. However, when the construction project started, that belief was affected.
Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
“I’ve invested over a million dollars into that vision, creating new jobs, creating a quality dining experience, and offering a space for our community to gather. Unfortunately, that momentum came to a screeching halt when the City of Atlanta blocked both sides of Cascade Road. It became nearly impossible for our customers to access the restaurant, especially during the lunch hour,” Floyd said. “Now, two years later, the city still has one of those access points blocked on the 285 side. The road closures have cut us off from vital lunch traffic coming from 285, which is critical for all the businesses in this corridor and the churches.”
Many of the businesses along the corridor are small Black-owned businesses. Owners said they have lost thousands of dollars with little support from Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development authority. They shared that they were offered loans with qualifications and partial forgiveness. They used the cities of Buckhead and Midtown as stark contrasts, citing situations such as the water main break in 2024, when businesses were offered $7.5 million in relief money to offset disruptions.
Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
Rodney Mullins, a local grassroots organizer and former congressional appointee in the Obama administration, said Cascade Heights deserves the same respect. Many businesses are struggling to survive, and Cascade Heights business owners are asking the City of Atlanta for assistance.
“These businesses have struggled for over 300 days. They’re struggling with an infrastructure issue. Water main break, street closures — that’s infrastructure,” Mullins said. “They’re not asking for anything complicated. They’re asking for equity. They’re asking for respect. They’re requesting recognition, and they want results.”
Mullins listed out demands which included:
- A clearly defined and delineated financial investment in the community and businesses
- A time frame for when the construction will end.
- Technical support
- A comprehensive economic plan that includes Cascade in the tourism and economic development of Atlanta
