About

We are a division of the City of Atlanta’s Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) system: citizen advisory councils that make recommendations on zoning, land use, and other planning issues.

ADNA focuses on improving the quality of life in Downtown Atlanta for residents.

Learn more about Atlanta's NPU System

Read ADNA ByLaws - Revised 2021

Mission and Pillars

To amplify Downtown voices and connect neighbors to resources and to each other

01.
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Informed and involved neighbors with a sense of belonging)

02.
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Accessible, safe and inviting streets and community spaces

03.
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Distinct, historical and inclusive neighborhood identity

04.
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Abundance of connected and sustainable transportation options

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Vibrant, diverse business ecosystem

2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

John Fischer | President

John has seen Atlanta transform into a true International city in his forty years Downtown, first as a student at Georgia Tech and then working in the city. Like the rest of the ADNA Board, he is working to enrich Downtown living.

DeJon Tebought | Vice President

Georgia Native having lived around the Atlanta Metro area and passionate about making Downtown and the city as a whole a better place for people through walkable spaces and comprehensive transit and urban design.

Robyn Jackson | Treasurer

I can honestly say I've been living Downtown all my life! My first condo (Peachtree Towers) is 2 blocks away from the hospital where I was born (Crawford-Long). Yes, I'm one of those rare Atlanta natives. Ask me anything about Oakland Cemetery! I've been a tour guide there going on 8 years. I will yell (often with obscenities) at anyone that tries to run me over in a crosswalk - I have also been known to throw my coffee on a windshield (or two) and an umbrella makes a very loud noise against a MARTA bus when you hit it hard enough. Don't try me...

Kelly Parry | HOA Coalition

Kelly loves living Downtown and serving as the HOA Coalition Chair

Jim Hackler | Garden Liaison

Jim is a multi-platform journalist and new media content manager focused on sustainability, transit and urban planning. He's freelanced at CNN and been an adjunct professor at Georgia State. Living downtown for 17 years, he's been car free for much of that - preferring to get around on a bicycle. He's also an active member and volunteer with the Five Points Community Garden above MARTA.

Carolyn Howard | Business Liaison

Carolyn Howard aka Cici loves Atlanta and looking forward to getting involved in the community. She also traveling, fostering pets, and walking in the neighborhood.

David Kirlew

David Kirlew has been involved in various aspects of political and community outreach for over 10 years. Born in south Florida and lived in Hartford, Connecticut for six months has provided David different contrasting viewpoints to society, political, and community assistance. When he moved to downtown Atlanta in 2018 he started getting involved in different aspects affecting downtown Atlanta. Under normal conditions, David enjoys traveling to unique destinations, all sorts of entertainment, and running.

John Von Hollen

John works in real estate & development and takes on projects such as the storefront at 101 Peachtree Street SW in South Downtown which he lives above. He has a passion for seeing Downtown thrive and you can often find him out exploring on foot or by bike.

Rashawn Carson-Wysong

Bronx born, Atlanta transplant for 15 years and running. Excited and love being a part of all that is Downtown. When I'm not traveling for work, my husband and I love to walk around the neighborhood and enjoy the sights and converse with friends we've made over the years. Looking forward to all that is to come

Haydée Santana | Secretary

Lauren Von Hollen | Historical Committee

Lauren Von Hollen lives in an older, renovated storefront in South Downtown and will be working on our People on Streets initiatives and some of our historical projects this year, along with heading up the historical committee!

Eric Harris | Education Liaison

Membership

FAQs

What do I have to do to be a member of ADNA?

What does ADNA vote on?

What occurs at ADNA meetings?

What do I gain from my ADNA membership?

Membership is simple, all you have to do is attend our general meetings. They are always held on the second Tuesday of the month at a convenient downtown location. After your third meeting, you are eligible to vote on the issues that come before the general body of the ADNA. There are no membership dues or fees to join.

We vote on primarily neighborhood use issues – from groups wanting to use our streets and parks for events and businesses who want beer, wine and liquor licenses granted.

We typically have guests that can inform us about important community issues. For example, there is often an officer from Atlanta Police Department to give us updates on police activity in the neighborhood. We have several legislative updates from our state representatives and city council members. Additionally, we host several events during the year that enlist member participation and support our goal of improving the quality of life.

Membership gives you a unique voice in what happens to our neighborhood. It also gives you unique access to the resources that serve our community. This includes access to city council, state legislators, police, non-profits, organizations like Central Atlanta Progress. In addition to the monthly general body meeting, we host a monthly happy hour. Check out the website for details at www.atlantdna.org. This gives our members the opportunity to socialize and connect with one another.

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History

The Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association started up around the time of the 1996 Olympics, when a critical mass of people first began to live into the area, settling into buildings like the William-Oliver, Muse’s, and Metropolitan. At first meetings were just informal gatherings on Saturday mornings over coffee. After a couple of years, the neighborhood’s “Fairlie Godmother” Cooper Holland stepped up and became ADNA’s first president.Monthly meetings started up and as a new organization, we were lucky to find a lot of support coming in from Atlanta City Hall as well as location businesses and organizations willing to host our meetings or help up put on events like a Town Hall Meeting

Beginning in 2000, new president Erich Starrett and Vice President Wendy Darling started to push ADNA to greater and greater prominence, coordinating bigger and better monthly meetings, sending out news to the neighborhood, acting on local issues, and putting the group on track to become a real 501c3 non-profit.

The great turning point for ADNA came in spring 2002, when ADNA members stepped up to organize the first-ever Downtown Neighborhood Festival, which drew on the enthusiasm and skill of Downtowners and also contributed to ADNA’s first ever fundraiser. As a 501c3, we were able to set up bank accounts and thus have our own funds.

In 2009, we sponsored our first scavenger hunt challenging people around the city to learn more about our neighborhood.

In 2018, ADNA revived the loft tour portion of the neighborhood festival.

Downtown Resources

This section is a work in progress! New to Downtown? Have questions about life Downtown? Find your answers below or reach out to communications@atlantadna.org.

General contacts, services, & resources:
- 911: Atlanta Police Department partners have encouraged residents to call 911 with any issues. If something needs to be urgently reported outside 311 business hours (M - F, 7am - 7pm), residents are encouraged to call 911.
- Shelter/Food Services: Atlanta Downtown Improvement District’s Community Resource Card includes many helpful phone numbers // View/Download here
- Public Safety Contacts: The ADID Community Resource Card (linked above) also includes many public safety contacts // View/Download here
- 311 / City of Atlanta “Customer Service”: Learn more about how to contact City of Atlanta’s 311 here (City of Atlanta website) or here (311 website). 311 can be contacted by phone and/or social media!
- MARTA: If you need to report something to MARTA, you can find contact info on their helpful numbers page or you can upload information in the See & Say 2.0 app.
Events in Downtown:
- Event calendars: We have links to various calendars with Downtown/nearby events here!
Helpful for life Downtown:
- New to Atlanta?: See City of Atlanta’s resources for new residents here.
- Transit planning with MARTA: On MARTA’s website you can learn about a particular station or plan a trip or see service updates (top bar of website).
- Voting: check your voter registration and polling place here.
Tips and tricks!
- Put essential phone numbers into your phone as contacts for easy access! Many residents input the ADID Ambassador phone number (404-215-9600), ADID Ambassador text number (404-732-4200), and the MARTA police emergency number (404-848-4911).

Frequently Occurring Issues:

I’m out for a walk and see something broken, dangerous, or in need of repair.
- Contact 311 to report the issue via phone or social media.
- If this observation is dangerous and/or occurs outside 311 business hours (M-F, 7am - 7pm), call 911 to report the issue.
- Be prepared to follow up to ensure the issue is addressed!
I’m riding MARTA and see something I want to report.
- The MARTA See & Say App can receive reports about all issues (including needed repairs or trash as well as public safety threats).
- If you’re observing an emergency, call the MARTA Police’s emergency number (404-848-4911).

When to call Downtown resources:

Atlanta Downtown Improvement District Ambassadors // Operating hours are M - Sat, 7am - 12pm. Contact an ADID Ambassador if you need:
- An escort
311 // Operating hours are M - F, 7am - 7pm. ATL311.com is meant to be the City of Atlanta’s one-stop-shop for all “customer service” offerings. The website includes information about events/permitting, garbage/recycling, utilities, and reporting issues. Downtown residents are often contacting 311 to report:
- Broken sidewalks or obstructions to sidewalks
- Street lights that are out
- Graffiti / code enforcement issues
Atlanta Police Department + 911 // Operating 24/7.