The Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development (CQGRD), a research center of the Georgia Institute of Technology’s College of Architecture, is conducting a comprehensive HIA on the brownfield remediation and redevelopment procedures at the site of a former Ford assembly plant.

This 122-acre site is located in Hapeville, Georgia, adjacent to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest airport. It contained several brownfields, contaminated industrial sites that had to be cleaned of before the land could be repurposed. The "Aerotropolis Atlanta" project is slated to have over 6.5 million square feet of office, hotel, shopping, and airport parking facilities, as well as a solar energy component.

CQGRD will use HIA to consider the range of potential benefits and impacts on surrounding communities, and to offer a series of practical measures to maximize the health benefits and make the Aerotropolis a catalyst for healthy, sustainable living. A stakeholder engagement strategy will ensure that input from the affected community, the developers and local agencies is incorporated into HIA findings. A final report is expected to be ready in June, 2011.