by Alyssa Johnson and Genia Billingsley, January 27, 2026
This story was produced in partnership with Canopy Atlanta.
Columbus Ward, a longtime resident of Peoplestown, has watched storms sweep through his neighborhood for decades, carrying sewage and stormwater into streets and homes.
He said he remembers when Atlanta rerouted major sewer lines ahead of the 1996 Olympics due to the construction of the Centennial Olympic Stadium, which today is now Center Parc Stadium, as promises were made to prevent flooding in the Black neighborhoods located nearby. Read more here