Land Acquisition Project Brief

THC, Inc. provided turn key services as the prime consultant to manage and implement the DeKalb Peachtree Airport’s land acquisition and relocation program in Atlanta, Georgia. DeKalb Peachtree Airport is a reliever airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and is listed in the top ten busiest general aviation airports in the nation each year. The program included two different projects: acquisition of parcels in the Runway Protection Zone and acquisition of properties residing in the 65DNL or higher noise contours. THC began working with the airport in October 1996 and both projects were completed at the end of 2002.

The Runway Protection Zone Project was divided into four phases and involved the acquisition of 59 single-family homes and 3 commercial parcels. This project was necessary for the clearance of improvements located in the Runway Protection Zone for the northeast end of Runway 2R/20L as determined through the airport’s 1991 Airport Master Plan.

THC was also responsible for the management and coordination of land acquisition and relocation services for DeKalb-Peachtree Airport’s Part 150 Program. Residents living within the noise impacted areas outlined in the FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program were offered the opportunity to sell their property to the airport. Many of the affected homes under the RPZ Program were also included in the Part 150 Program. A total of 159 homes were acquired and 164 families relocated. The properties acquired were comprised of residential neighborhoods with both tenant and owner-occupied dwellings.

Homes were purchased according to an approved phasing plan. Each program had its own phasing plan. The funding source determined which phasing plan was to be followed. Acquisition activities for both programs were concurrent. Therefore, THC separately tracked all expenditures based on each grant for each program.

Services provided by THC included planning tasks (budget, schedule, eligibility), management of sub-consultants, grant applications and closeouts, appraisals, review appraisals, title examinations, surveys, environmental assessments, negotiations, offer presentations, public information, closings, relocation determinations, relocation advisory services, asbestos abatement, demolition, overseeing land clearance activities and project closeout.