You have to understand the layout of the city of Athens. You have the Univ. of Georgia, Downtown Athens, and then the peripherals.
Surrounding Downtown are a lot of older homes, most of them occupied by black elderly people who worked at the local poultry and manufactering plants for years.
Now, Athens is trying to expand. Two years ago a civic center was built that backs up against a lot of that older residential property. The city needs that residential property for parking garages, restaurants, etc.
They are slowly condeming or confiscating those pieces of property to expand the downtown and Univ. of GA property.
It is in the "best interest" of the community ya' know.