City preserves wooded parcel in Buckhead amid development pressure
The City of Atlanta has acquired a 30-acre parcel of forest in Buckhead to keep the land wooded, open public trails and eventually house artists in residence in an existing home, officials announced this week.
The property, located along Randall Mill Road, includes a roughly 7,000-square-foot house that belonged to the late artist and photographer Lucinda Bunnen. The city purchased the land for $15 million, with funding split between the municipal Tree Trust Fund and private donations.
Stacy Funderburk of The Conservation Fund, the national nonprofit that previously held the property, said the group acquired the land two years ago and held it until Atlanta was prepared to complete the purchase at the same price. Officials described the deal as a response to intense development pressure in the area.
"I think that came together because of the importance of saving 30 acres in an area under tremendous development pressure,"
The purchase drew public comments from neighbors and city officials who framed the acquisition as a rare opportunity to protect a significant forested tract within city limits. Atlanta City Council member Mary Norwood, who represents the area, recalled Bunnen and supported keeping the property intact.
"She was delightful. Sharp as a tack. Lovely. Charming," Norwood said of Bunnen, whose home sits at the center of the land. Neighbors had expressed concern that, after Bunnen's death in 2022, the lot could be cleared and redeveloped with larger homes — a pattern residents described as common in that part of Buckhead.
What the acquisition means for residents and visitors
- Public access: City officials said trails on the property could open to the public as early as next year.
- Land use: The forest will remain a forest; the home is expected to host artists in residence and exhibitions.
- Funding: Half of the acquisition cost came from the Tree Trust Fund, with the remainder from private donors.
Neighborhood leaders said the outcome deviates from a common pattern in which lots are cleared and replaced with «McMansions.» Sally Riker, a neighborhood association president, said residents had been worried about that exact outcome and welcomed the city's move to preserve the trees and trails.
Representatives of The Conservation Fund characterized their role as an intermediary, having acquired the property two years ago and maintained it while the city organized financing. The group said it held the land "until Atlanta was ready to buy at the same price," according to city accounts.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total purchase price | $15,000,000 |
| City Tree Trust Fund | 50% |
| Private donations | 50% |
City officials and neighborhood representatives emphasized that the property will remain forested. Plans for the house include placing artists in residence who can use the space for exhibitions, according to Council member statements. Officials did not provide a timeline for the artist program beyond saying it was a future intention tied to making the property accessible to the public.
Local conservation advocates said the acquisition is notable for the scale of preserved green space inside Atlanta amid continuing development on many residential blocks. Advocates and residents framed the purchase as preserving ecological and neighborhood character, while creating recreational opportunities through trails.
Details remain to be finalized, including the exact schedule for trail construction and public access, the operational model for the artists-in-residence program and any long-term maintenance funding. City leaders said they hope to begin opening trails next year but did not issue a specific opening date.
The transaction illustrates a growing municipal focus on protecting urban tree canopy and open space through a combination of city funds and private philanthropy. Officials said leveraging the Tree Trust Fund alongside donor support made this particular preservation possible.
For now, the forest along Randall Mill Road will stand as a preserved tract in Buckhead, a decision residents and advocates say honors the legacy of a well-known local artist while protecting rare urban green space.
