DECATUR, Ga. — Dozens of residents attended a community meeting hosted by the City Schools of Decatur and voiced strong opposition to the proposed location for an early childhood learning center.

Around 80 people attended the March 25 community meeting at Oakhurst Elementary School. 

Speakers repeatedly requested that the school board conduct an archaeological study of the proposed site of the early childhood learning center at 346 W. Trinity Pl. The area was historically home to the Black community of Beacon Hill before it was displaced throughout the 1930s-1960s by Decatur’s urban renewal process.

“I would like to see an archaeological survey conducted on the land at 336 West Trinity,” David Small said. “As an archaeologist, I believe this work should be done carefully and in partnership with the community.” 

On March 11, Decatur Day organizer Doris Sims Johnson presented a letter to the Decatur Historic Preservation Commission outlining “clear and strong evidence for historic African American remains” at 346 W. Trinity Pl. There is also “potential for earlier, Indigenous archaeological remains in this area as well.”

“For you to put a building on what we fought to preserve … it’s a slap in the face to what the effort has been to preserve the history of Black folks in this city,” Johnson said during the March 25 community meeting.

In February, Decatur’s HPC accepted an application from Decatur Day and the Beacon Hill Grassroots Coalition to create the Beacon Hill Historic District.

The city will hold its first of two public hearings on April 6. The HPC has until April 17 to share its recommendation with city commissioners.

Residents will have another chance to speak before a decision on the historic designation is made April 20.  

Speakers at the March 25 community meeting suggested that the land be preserved as green space or as a place for students and residents to learn about Beacon Hill’s history.

Will Summerlin, a sixth grader at Beacon Hill Middle School, asked school board members to refrain from repeating history by building on the land.  

“History isn’t just something you read in books,” Summerlin said. “It’s something you should learn from and hopefully use to help us not make the same mistakes.”

School board members said the site’s deed requires it to be used for educational purposes.

Speakers argued that all historic sites are educational and the property slated for the ECLC could serve as the center of the Beacon Hill Historical District.

“This could be an educational opportunity for community engagement, where folks in the community and students in schools can participate in this, learn about this history,” Johnson said.

Residents aren’t the only ones pushing CSD to allow more community engagement.

State Sen. Elena Parent, along with Reps. Omari Crawford and Mary Margaret Oliver, all of whom represent Decatur, introduced legislation that would require voter referendums on bonds through the Decatur Public Facilities Authority totaling more than $20 million.

The bill has passed the Georgia Senate, and the House is expected to cast its vote by the end of the week.

The school district is seeking a $52 million bond through Decatur’s PFA, which includes $22 million to cover the ECLC’s construction costs.

If the bill is approved, Decatur voters can decide on the bond.

City Schools of Decatur scheduled a special-called meeting March 27 at noon to respond to the legislative request.

Reporter Jim Bass and deputy editor Zoe Seiler contributed reporting to this story.