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The legacy of Atlanta’s first African American Mayor, Maynard Jackson Jr., is one deeply rooted in community advocacy and bold leadership. Long before he made history by taking office in 1974, his family had already created a lasting legacy of dedication to social progress and equity.

The childhood home of Mayor Jackson is located in Vine City, a historic neighborhood located west of Downtown Atlanta that is connected deeply with Atlanta’s civil rights history. The house had fallen into disrepair and was at risk of being demolished. The next phase of the home’s legacy was assured when Westside Future Fund stepped in to purchase the property for restoration and historic designation. Trees Atlanta is a partner for the restoration project providing landscape design, plant materials, and installation for the property.

Photo: Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson. Credit Al Stephenson, AJC. 

A Historic Home on Sunset Avenue

The house at 220 Sunset Avenue was built by Jackson’s father in 1949 and served as more than just a family residence. It was part of a close-knit neighborhood that also included a house where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King resided, just down the road at 234 Sunset Avenue. The proximity of these two homes fostered a deep friendship between the Jackson and King families, including a period when both Bernice and Yolanda King lived at 220 Sunset during their early adulthood.

In 1968, after Dr. King’s assassination, Mrs. King used the Jackson family’s basement as an office to begin collecting and preserving Dr. King’s writings and sermons. This work formed the early foundation for The King Center, which today serves as a global resource dedicated to nonviolent social change. The King Center purchased the building in the early 70’s, and it was used to house visiting scholars and dignitaries.

Photo: Maynard Jackson’s family home ribbon cutting. Credit Westside Future Fund.

Living History in Bloom

By the early 2010s, the historic Jackson home had fallen into disrepair and narrowly escaped demolition following a fire. Today, the home has been renovated into apartments reserved as workforce housing that will be leased to Spelman College staff who are preparing to purchase their first homes.

Westside Future Fund led the complex effort for the building’s restoration. As part of the final stages of the restoration, Trees Atlanta managed the landscape design and planting. This opportunity to merge Trees Atlanta’s mission with the preservation and repair of a pivotal piece of Atlanta history is important and meaningful work.

Executive Director of Trees Atlanta, Greg Levine, recalled, “Lee Harrop from Westside Future Fund reached out to us about the project. As soon as I heard about the site and the legacy it represented, I knew we needed to help.”

The landscape design uses native plants that are not only beautiful, but also easy to maintain, sustainable, and carry connections to the South. The design and plant selection demonstrated that native landscapes can be formal and refined while still supporting pollinators and reflecting the cultural context of the home.

“We chose plants like oakleaf hydrangea and flowering dogwoods for their long bloom time and visual interest through the seasons. The hydrangeas, for example, hold their dried flower heads into winter, offering beauty even in the colder months,” Levine explained. “We also used river oats for their toughness, shade tolerance, and ability to help stabilize the steep slope around the property.”

Photos: Maynard Jackson family home landscaping by Trees Atlanta. Credit Westside Future Fund; Oakleaf hydrangeas planted at Maynard Jackson family home. Credit Lee Harrop

Landscape design sketches for Maynard Jackson family home restoration by Greg Levine, Trees Atlanta.

Over a hundred community members and staff volunteered during three work days on the site. In January, staff from Atlanta Botanical Garden helped to plant 16 trees and other perennial plants on the property as part of our 2025 MLK Day of Service volunteer projects. In April 2025, Trees Atlanta partnered with Westside Future Fund to organize two more days of work to complete the planting in advance of their official ribbon cutting. The involvement of neighbors and volunteers who shared their time and effort to revive and restore this property is now part of its long story of civic engagement.

This landscape is special because of its unique balance of ecological value and historical reverence.

“Using Georgia native plants at a historic site like this is rare,” said Levine. “But this landscape deserves it. The home’s story elevates the planting. It becomes more than just a garden, it becomes a continuation of the legacy.”

Through this work, the restored home at 220 Sunset Avenue become more than a preserved structure. It’s a living, growing tribute to the values Maynard Jackson Jr. Stood for: equity, leadership, and a deep commitment to community.

Photos: Volunteers plant trees at Maynard Jackson’s family home, January 20, 2025. Credit Trees Atlanta; Atlanta Botanical Garden volunteers help plant trees and shrubs at Maynard Jackson family home, Credit Atlanta Botanical Garden. 

(Photo Row L-R: Landscaped hill at Maynard Jackson family home. Credit Westside Future Fund; Ribbon cutting at the newly restored Maynard Jackson family home. Credit Westside Future Fund; Front view of restored Maynard Jackson family home. Credit Westside Future Fund.)

Published: October 22, 2025