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The incoming mayor of Atlanta suburb South Fulton will pay $800 a month to live in a one-bedroom condo the city may later demolish.
Khalid Kamau, who is being sworn in Tuesday, told news outlets Monday he will move into the Camelot condominium complex on Old National Highway to fulfill a campaign promise.
"We believe you must live amongst people to understand them, so it is not a stunt but a principle," he said.
The complex has had many crimes, fires and squatters. Some of these fires, plus years of neglect, have caused some units to become unsuitable for occupancy, WGCL-TV reported. The complex is commonly referred to as "the Trenches," and many units have renters.
Kamau admitted that he first thought of demolishing the building, as city leaders have proposed, but changed his mind during his campaign last year, WAGA-TV said.
Several longtime homeowners at the complex urged Kamau to reconsider, resulting in his pledge to live in the community for six months to a year before any decisions are made, according to WGCL.
"There was an outcry from the legacy homeowners. A couple of residents said, 'I love my house, I do not want to lose it.' So I decided to move in before I make a final decision," Kamau said, according to WAGA.
Kamau also said he wants the community to become involved in improving the complex, WAGA reported. Asked if he had any concerns regarding safety, he referred to his belief in God and has prayed for his safety.
"I hope it brings attention to Camelot and it brings development dollars to our city," Kamau said. He will live in the one-bedroom condo for a year.
During his swearing-in ceremony, Kamau will present policy plans for his first 100 days in office.
Resident Condia Perry applauded the move.
"Now we have a mayor who says, 'I am with you, I support you. I want to see firsthand, I am willing to live here,'" Perry said.
Kamau has won attention because of his identification as a democratic socialist and his involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement. He has promised to make the 108,000-resident city a laboratory for economic, housing and justice policies that improve the lives of African Americans.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
