A deteriorated, vacant site in Vine City adjacent to the Atlanta University Center will soon be reimagined and revitalized.
In December of 2025, the Invest Atlanta Board announced its plan to redevelop the site located at the corner of Sunset Avenue and Griffin Street near the cluster of five Historically Black Colleges and Universities. On March 2, Invest Atlanta Board of Directors elected to advance a major mixed-use redevelopment plan slated for the area which includes the childhood homes of both legendary civil rights leader Martin Luther King and Atlanta’s first Black mayor, Maynard Jackson.
There are currently two buildings on the site, including the former Morris Brown Student Center – also known as the Hickman Center – and the Morris Brown U.S. Postal Service facility, which has fallen into disrepair due to long-term vacancy and previous fire damage
Initial plans envision a significant mixed-use development featuring a 100-room boutique hotel, structured parking, and a diverse range of retail offerings. These include a compact fresh grocery store, nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, neighborhood-focused services, and other retail spaces.
The proposal also includes a 30,000-square-foot learning and innovation center for nearby Morris Brown College. The facility is intended to host conferences, provide workforce development programs, and support business and technology incubation initiatives
Morris Brown College is experiencing a major financial resurgence, recently securing a $2.9 million federal grant—its largest in 20 years—for campus restoration and curriculum expansion. As of early 2026, the institution has also received over $810,000 in additional donations for safety improvements, following its 2022 accreditation.
Key recent and funding and financial developments include a $2.9 million federal grant directed toward refurbishing the historic Fountain Hall and expanding academic programs in business, music, and psychology.
Other significant donations include $700,000 in grant funding for safety and security, $50,000 from rapper T.I., and $60,000 from the A.M.E. Church, targeting emergency response and threat assessment.
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation previously committed $3 million to develop a hospitality certificate program in partnership with Hilton.
After losing accreditation in 2003, the college has rebounded, with enrollment increasing from nearly zero to over 400 students by early 2026. Morris Brown College +4
Despite recent internal leadership controversies involving the, then, temporary removal and quick reinstatement of President Kevin James in January 2026, the institution continues to secure funding to support its comeback
Dr. Kevin E. James is under contract with the college under 2029, but said Monday that the contract was terminated.
James had been the college’s president since 2019. During his tenure, the college regained its accreditation and saw a significant increase in enrollment from just 20 students in 2019 to more than 500.
Morris Brown College is a private Methodist historically black liberal arts college in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded January 5, 1881, Morris Brown is the first educational institution in Georgia to be owned and operated entirely by African Americans.
