2025 Year-End Roundtable: What Moved the Needle on Attainable and Missing Middle Housing in North Fulton (North Fulton Voices, Episode 16)
In this 2025 year-end edition of North Fulton Voices, Nancy Diamond, Jack Murphy, Kathy Swahn and John Ray look back at a momentous year for the North Fulton Improvement Network (NFIN) and the region’s attainable housing conversation. They ground the recap in two sobering realities: metro Atlanta lost 230,000 low- and mid-income homes from 2018 to 2023, and in many municipalities it can take seven years to go from concept to occupancy for new housing.
The panel explains how the conversation moved from awareness to influence, with NFIN’s framing and data showing up more consistently in planning discussions and public meetings. They point to a broader shift in how leaders and residents are talking about housing, including its connection to quality of life, workforce stability, and long-term economic health.
They also point out key factors from 2025 that helped build momentum, such as the need for people to get involved in comprehensive planning, a clear change in local election discussions, and a North Fulton Forum that gathered banks, employers, schools, nonprofits, and federal partners to discuss funding and practical ways to implement solutions.
In 2026, the group identifies three key areas of focus: enhancing public understanding of zoning, normalizing solutions that people can visualize, and maintaining high participation in comprehensive plan processes. The message is unambiguous; this work moves when everyday residents and employers show up, learn the language, and keep asking better questions.
North Fulton Voices is presented by the North Fulton Improvement Network. The show series is proudly sponsored by John Ray Co. and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
- Metro Atlanta lost 230,000 low- and mid-income homes (2018–2023), and the timeline for new housing can stretch to seven years from concept to occupancy.
- NFIN frames the issue as financial vulnerability, not a narrow poverty category. Many households are one expense away from needing help.
- The conversation is shifting from awareness to influence, with more traction in planning and leadership dialogue.
- Comprehensive plans are a major leverage point because they shape housing and infrastructure decisions upstream.
- We now clearly link attainable and unaffordable middle-class housing to workforce stability and local competitiveness.
- Capital matters if solutions are going to scale. Partnerships with banks, employers, nonprofits, and government are part of the path forward.
- A practical next step for listeners is to engage locally, understand zoning basics, and participate in comprehensive plan processes.
Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:00 Introduction to North Fulton Voices
00:52 Reflecting on a Momentous Year
01:32 Data Insights on Housing Crisis
02:45 Mission and Goals of the Network
04:56 Connecting Stakeholders and Community
06:36 Influence and Public Awareness
08:10 Comprehensive Planning in Alpharetta
12:21 Challenges in Workforce and Attainable Housing
23:05 Impact on Schools and Enrollment
27:05 Bankers and Housing Solutions
27:22 North Fulton Forum Highlights
27:59 Community Redevelopment Act and Challenges
28:48 Workforce Housing and Bankers’ Role
29:11 United Way’s ALICE Model
30:45 Impact of Workforce Housing on Businesses
31:20 Shoutout to April Atkins
31:54 Public-Private Partnerships in Attainable Housing
33:40 Innovative Housing Solutions in Metro Atlanta
35:46 Mark Murphy’s Housing Efforts
36:55 Brian Goldstone’s Book and Community Impact
38:41 Sponsorship and Community Support
40:01 Looking Forward: Zoning and Community Engagement
46:57 Call to Action: Get Involved
49:38 Conclusion and Acknowledgements
Jack Murphy
Jack Murphy is a volunteer with The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and is Chair of the North Fulton Improvement Network. He is also in his 21st year of working for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.
He has served on both the National and Georgia Boards of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, responsible for Diversity, Advocacy, & Systemic Change. Jack is currently the national SVDP chair of Systemic Change and Advocacy.
Jack received a BA in psychology from Belmont Abbey College and a M.Ed. from UNC-Greensboro. Jack and his wife, Nancy, a retired elementary school principal, have two grown daughters and two grandchildren. They live in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Nancy Diamond
Nancy Diamond is a Project Manager with Schmit & Associates, a real estate development firm, creating town center revitalization in communities all around the metro area.
Nancy served 8 years as a Roswell City Council Member, including a term as Mayor Pro Tem, with liaison positions with Community Development, Transportation, Recreation & Parks, and Public Safety.
In addition to her work with the North Fulton Improvement Network, Nancy has been active in area non-profit organizations, including board leadership positions in the STAR House Foundation, WellStar North Fulton Hospital, and the Roswell Rotary Club.
A native of Atlanta and a 42-year North Fulton resident, Nancy worked at Turner Broadcasting in the early years of CNN, then became a freelancer in sports television graphics. While raising her two daughters, she worked from home, first developing a corporate gift service and later as a mortgage loan originator.
Nancy and her husband, Glenn, now relish the role of grandparents to Owen.
Kathy Swahn
Kathy has resided in the North Fulton area for almost 45 years. She has watched the community evolve from what was “unincorporated Fulton County” to a six-city bustling suburban community. Her history has been marked by a strong emphasis on children: she raised two daughters as a stay-at-home mother, held leadership positions in school PTAs and Girl Scouts, participated in the National Charity League and the North Fulton Council of PTAs, and held the position of chair of the Superintendent’s Advisory Council.
Kathy resumed her career by entering the nonprofit sector. She joined the team at North Fulton Community Charities, running their holiday program, becoming Development Director and successfully managing the $3 million capital campaign for their Elkins Road location. Along the way, she also served on the DFACS Board and chaired the board of the Fulton County Continuum of Care for four years.
After having the opportunity to join in the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program, Kathy was surrounded with a dynamic group of folks who worked to create The Drake House. Since 2004, she served as board chair for the first four years, executive director for nine years, and is now retired. Over those years, The Drake House served over 500 single mothers with over 1,000 children and grew the assets of the organization to over $4 million.
Kathy continues to serve The Drake House on the Advocacy Committee, along with her work for NFIN.
She spends much of her time traveling to the DC area, where her children and grandchildren reside.
Sponsor for North Fulton Voices: John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC
The North Fulton Voices show series is proudly sponsored by John Ray Co. and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.
John Ray is a podcast show host and producer and owns North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, the North Fulton (Georgia) affiliate of Business RadioX®.
John also operates his own business advisory practice, Ray Business Advisors. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.
John is the author of the #1 nationally best-selling book, The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.
John is the host of North Fulton Business Radio and The Price and Value Journey. North Fulton Business Radio, the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton region of Georgia, features a wide range of business and community leaders. The Price and Value Journey is devoted to solo and small-firm professional services providers and covers issues such as pricing, value, and business development.
“Beginnings are usually scary, and endings are usually sad but it’s the middle that counts the most.”- Hope Floats
Jen is the Founder of Mother & Founder Co. and Co-Founder of Jens LIGHT Events.
