Community Design Center
The Community Design Center of Atlanta (CDCA) provides technical assistance to low income neighborhoods and nonprofit community development corporations in community organization and development, neighborhood planning, architectural design and cost estimation, grant writing, real estate finance, and development approvals. In addition, the CDCA conducts policy research on issues affecting low income communities.
Founded in 1977 by Graduate City Planning Program faculty and students, the CDCA was structured as a center external to Georgia Tech. The eleven person board of directors contains a six seat majority of representatives of low income community groups - primarily but not exclusively neighborhood organizations. The remaining five seats were allocated to the Georgia Institute of Technology (filled by Larry Keating, co-founder of the CDCA), the City of Atlanta (source of core financial support), the local chapters of planning and architecture professional organizations and the Regional Director of the Community Services Administration.
CDCA's arms-length relationship derives from a recognition that community controlled institutions have greater potential for building acceptance and trust in low income neighborhoods and are subject to less criticism as exogenous intruders. Over time, the CDCA's relative autonomy from both Georgia Tech and City of Atlanta administrative direction has enhanced the Center's capacity to develop mutually respectful relations with low income neighborhood and community groups.