Every day, Atlantans are making their own versions of Black history in ways both big and small. They are all a part of our Black History Month series on regular people doing extraordinary things throughout metro Atlanta communities, “Black History is NOW.
Capitol View Manor, Atlanta’s ever-changing neighborhood, hums with the sounds of financial progress. According to Louisiana native and real estate enthusiast John Queen, he hears dreams being constructed in the community he now calls home.
Queen has watched his neighborhood’s real estate prices soar, but his commitment runs deeper than potential profits. Despite lucrative offers tempting others to sell, Queen decided his home was more than a financial investment – it was an investment in the fabric of the community.
He wants his neighbors and others who witness his efforts to restore his 1920s home to feel inspired. They too can invest in a neighborhood without sacrificing the soul of their community.
“When I purchased in this area in 2019, the highest-sold house in the area was $375,000,” Queen said. “Now the house across the street from me just sold for $617,000, and it’s all from investors coming in and looking to make huge profit margins.”
According to Zillow, Atlanta ranked ninth on its list of the hottest housing markets in 2023. The report also states that property prices in Atlanta may have reached their peak.
Queen’s business education from Morehouse College became the cornerstone of his community-focused investments. His real estate ventures range from affordable housing to Airbnb rentals, all held together by family and friendship.
“I love Atlanta, and I feel like I have been able to create a village here. It really has inspired me and helped me build and grow,” Queen said.
As the treasurer for Neighborhood Planning Unit X and former vice president of the Capitol View Manor Neighborhood Association, Queen emphasizes the distinct difference between gentrification and revitalization. For him, it’s not only about new investments and an influx of money, but also about how to preserve the history and identity of the community while improving everyone’s quality of life.
His viewpoint focuses on assisting longtime residents rather than forcing them out to accommodate new investors.
“I feel like what we miss in Atlanta is revitalization. And that means keeping people in their homes. A lot of people in my neighborhood, the elderly residents, have lived here for 20-30 years,” Queen said. “Why aren’t we helping them fix up their homes instead of forcing them to sell and bring in an investor who changes the community?”
Queen’s mark on his neighborhood runs deeper than the renovations on his historic home. Mention his name to his neighbors and you’re likely to hear a tale of a man whose influence extends from his renovation efforts and the intricacies of neighborhood planning to providing water to voters waiting in long lines at the library next door.
“Well, he isn’t just about the house,” said Zachary Adriaenssens, chair of NPU-X and neighbor. “He really has tried to connect with as many neighbors as possible. He has a direct, hands-on impact on the lives of our legacy neighbors.”
What was once farmland and a predominantly white Capitol View neighborhood was segregated from the predominantly Black Pittsburgh neighborhood in the early 1900s. Historic symbols of ownership on the north and south ends of Metropolitan Parkway now represent equality. Men of color, including Queen, now own two prestigious homes at each end of Capitol View Manor.
“For the history of the neighborhood to come full circle, and for this true symbol of ownership in the community to be two Black men, I love that,” said Adriaenssens.
In both tangible and intangible ways, Queen has left and continues to leave his mark on Capitol View and Capitol View Manor. His sweat equity, embedded in the walls of his historic home and the hearts of the community members, adds a layer to Atlanta’s Black history. Queen embodies contemporary Black history – a man fully aware of his community’s past, actively participating in its present, and passionately invested in its future.
“I don’t believe that you can make private investments in a neighborhood without actively participating,” Queen said. “Whenever I go into any neighborhood, I’m a participant. I want to know what’s happening. I want to know how I can help, and I want to know how I can truly impact the community.”