Welcome home: owning the structure, leasing the land
- Iris Brooks, CoL fellow
- 1 minute ago
- 4 min read
Oak Cottage Court offers workforce housing to professionals priced out of Decatur’s market
This story is part of a series called “Rethinking the American Dream.” Through these vignettes, Cost of Living Fellow Iris Brooks is exploring how innovative housing solutions—like land trusts—can address Atlanta’s affordability crisis. Brooks lives in a multigenerational home, sharing space with several family members, a living arrangement that has become increasingly common as housing costs rise. She has lived in Decatur for 13 years.
As Decatur’s housing costs have soared, teachers, city employees, and other professionals have found themselves in an impossible position: earning too much to qualify for traditional affordable housing but not enough to afford market-rate homes in the community where they work. Oak Cottage Court represents an innovative solution to this housing gap, using a land trust model that makes homeownership accessible while preserving community character and preventing displacement.
This workforce housing community on Commerce Drive in downtown Decatur offers homes to residents earning between 80 percent and 120 percent of the area median income. The Decatur Land Trust owns the land while residents purchase the structures, making homeownership more accessible to teachers, city employees, and other professionals priced out of the market.
The community prioritizes walkability, allowing residents to walk to schools, work, and local amenities. While the application process involves extensive paperwork, homeownership classes, and specific income requirements, successful applicants receive 100-year renewable leases and can pass their homes to descendants. The model addresses concerns about gentrification and prioritizes equity, access, and quality of life, although residents acknowledge that even these “affordable” homes remain out of reach for many potential buyers.
Courtney Hartnett, a gifted program specialist at Oakhurst Elementary School, discovered Oak Cottage Court after two decades of hearing teachers discuss how they couldn’t afford to live where they worked. “I’ve worked in the school system for almost 20 years, so they have always had this conversation: Teachers work in the school system, but you can’t afford to live here,” she said.
“I’ve worked in the school system for almost 20 years, so they have always had this conversation: Teachers work in the school system, but you can’t afford to live here.” Courtney Hartnett, gifted program specialist at Oakhurst Elementary School
The application process was thorough. “I walked through all the steps. At first, there was a webinar, just to make sure you understand what owning a home on a land trust would entail with Decatur Land Trust and Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership,” Hartnett said.
Eventually, she sold her home in White Oak Hills and used the profits to purchase in Oak Cottage Court. The move transformed her family’s daily life. Her children can now walk to school with friends. Hartnett appreciates being close to “things that are important to us, like going to school, friends’ houses.”
For Hartnett, the land trust model represents more than affordable housing. “I appreciate Decatur’s emphasis on things like equity, access, diversity, and quality of life—like even just walkability. It increases everybody’s quality of life but also builds strong communities. I think affordable housing has to be a part of that conversation.”
“I appreciate Decatur’s emphasis on things like equity, access, diversity, and quality of life—like even just walkability. It increases everybody’s quality of life but also builds strong communities. I think affordable housing has to be a part of that conversation.” —Courtney Hartnett, Oakhurst Elementary School gifted program specialist
Linda Stapleton, a Georgia State University employee, spent years searching for the right home before moving to Oak Cottage Court. “Thankfully, I was in a position where I didn’t have to do anything quickly. I could take my time,” she said.
The application process proved challenging. “It was jumping through hoops a lot,” Stapleton described, noting more paperwork than a traditional home purchase due to land trust requirements. Applicants cannot rent out their homes, and there are specific stipulations about selling. Selection operates on a first-come, first-served basis among qualified candidates. “I don’t have debt, but someone who did, they wouldn’t have been able to get the loan,” she said.
“My car is paid for. I don’t have student loan debt. But a lot of people are in a different stage of life, and they do have those things. What if you have child support, alimony, or something? Even though this is affordable housing, you would not have been able to purchase. That’s something that is really above me, but I know it needs to be addressed,” Stapleton explained.
Despite the complexity, Stapleton is happy with her decision. She chose the area because “I have a grandbaby—my one and only grandbaby—and he’s just two miles away.” The location offers walkability to a nearby park and Publix.
Having moved from a condo in Sandy Springs, Stapleton embraces smaller spaces. “When you think about what you actually use in your home, you might realize that you have a favorite chair or someplace you like to eat or have a cup of coffee,” she said. “Sometimes you’re paying for something you’re really not using.”
Now settled, she’s considering retirement: “I could see myself living here for the rest of my life.” •
Do you live in a nontraditional housing setup? From shared spaces to ADUs, we want to hear how you make it work. Share your story with us for a chance to be featured in this series exploring how Atlantans are reshaping what home looks like.