Where the Project Stands

The Virginia-Highland Pool Association (VHPA) and Atlanta Public Schools (APS) have drafted a pre-development agreement — the first formal step in exploring the feasibility of a community pool.

• This agreement is not a lease or final commitment.

• It simply allows the VHPA and APS to collaborate on early planning activities, including: site design and feasibility, parking study, financial modeling, and community engagement

Why do you need a pre-development agreement before preparing a site design or parking study?

• Access to the property & authority to coordinate planning work: Without this agreement, VHPA has no legal right to access the APS-owned property. The pre-development agreement includes a “Right of Entry,” which allows engineers, architects, and consultants to visit the site to conduct surveys, measurements, and studies. These expert assessments are essential for developing an accurate site plan or parking study.

• Compliance with APS Requirements: APS requires all third-party projects on school-owned land to go through a formal approval process. The terms in the pre-development agreement allow them to monitor progress and compliance, ensure transparency and accountability, and prevent unauthorized activity on school grounds.

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Upcoming APS Vote: What It Does — and Doesn’t — Mean

The upcoming APS Board of Education vote will determine whether to approve the pre-development agreement only.

❌ It does not authorize construction
❌ It does not finalize a lease
✅ It does allow planning and feasibility work to begin

A second APS vote — expected 12–30 months from now — would be required for any long-term agreement. That vote would only occur after:

• The design and financial plan are complete

• Community engagement sessions have taken place

• A formal lease has been drafted

• The VHCA and NPU-F have voted in support of the project