Bishop T.D. Jakes of Oak Cliff-based megachurch The Potter’s House plans to buy part of a former U.S. Army base in Atlanta.
Jakes is buying 94.5 acres of the former Fort McPherson with plans to develop affordable housing. The purchase price wasn’t released. The deal was approved Thursday, June 17, the same day that movie producer Tyler Perry bought an adjacent 40 acres at the former base, which he plans to develop into an entertainment district with theaters, shopping and restaurants.
The base closed in 2011, and now a local redevelopment authority is working to reuse its 488 acres, all of which have been sold or are under contract.
In a statement to the media, Perry said: “I’m grateful for the opportunity this gives Tyler Perry Studios to extend our footprint in Atlanta and create more opportunities for the people of Southwest Atlanta with restaurants, entertainment venues and other business opportunities. I’m looking forward to collaborating with my friend T.D. Jakes on his separate, but adjacent project, and I also want to thank Governor Kemp and Mayor Bottoms for their continued efforts to make Atlanta a better place.”
