South Fulton begins demolition of infamous Camelot Condos after years of troubles
South Fulton begins demolition of infamous Camelot Condos
After years of systemic crime and structural decay, the City of South Fulton has officially begun the demolition of the infamous Camelot Condominiums.
SOUTH FULTON, Ga. - Demolition at the long-troubled Camelot Condominiums has begun. South Fulton city leaders describe it as a long-awaited turning point for a property that transitioned from a "premier" address to a site of decay.
Heavy equipment began clawing away at the remains of Building 9 marking the start of a city-led effort to tear down blighted structures in the troubled complex.
Demolition begins
What we know:
Building 9 is the first of four structures the city plans to demolish at Camelot through the spring. The current demolition carries a price tag of approximately $283,000.
While many neighbors are happy to see the blight removed, some homeowners are concerned about what comes next.
The end of 'an eyesore'
What they're saying:
"We have been waiting eight years as a city for this day," South Fulton Mayor Carmalitha Gumbs said. "We are ready to move forward, and this demolition is just the start of more good things to come in this part of our city."
"It has gotten very dangerous," said Gumbs. "We had a lot of murders, we had a lot of safety concerns, squatters and just poor quality of life for the residents here."
District 5 Councilmember Keosha B. Bell, who was selected last month as mayor pro tem, called the start of the project "tangible progress."
"Our priority is the safety and well-being of our residents, and although the demolition of Building 9 is just the beginning, it reflects our continued commitment to remove blight as we build a safer, stronger community where every family has the opportunity to thrive," Bell said.
For residents like Epion Ezebuiro, seeing the building come down is a "great move." He noted that the structure was "an eyesore, second of all, it’ll deter people from sleeping in it or vandalizing."
Walter Bowers, who owns a unit in the complex, questioned if the demolition alone would be enough to change the area's trajectory.
"Just because that building is demolished, what does that mean?" Bowers asked. "It’s not going to stop the chaos that goes on around here. Maybe give some funds to help rebuild this place."
Camelot Condominiums' decline
The backstory:
The majestically named complex has struggled with issues for years.
The residences, which sit at 5655 Old National Highway, have had years of instability, including six homicides in 2023 alone and a string of recent shootings and fires. City officials have frequently characterized the complex as an eyesore and a persistent threat to public safety.
The decline of the complex, once considered a desirable residential community, has been marked by structural rot and legal scandals.
Numerous "life-safety" violations involving plumbing and electrical issues. In 2020, a massive fire displaced 24 families, revealing hazardous conditions where residents ran extension cords through hallways due to tampered meter rooms.
Beyond the six killings in 2023, the site saw two separate shootings in just a few days in October 2025. South Fulton Police have previously increased patrols to target gang and drug activity in the neighborhood.
In July 2025, the Homeowners Association director was arrested on charges of forgery, fraud, and theft by deception. Investigators also alleged that insurance funds intended for 2020 fire victims were misappropriated by HOA officials.
The City of South Fulton initially claimed it had limited power to intervene in the private property beyond code enforcement. However, by late 2025, officials determined the complex was beyond the point of standard repair and moved forward with a demolition plan.
When will the project be completed?
What's next:
The M Mitchell Group, a Carrollton-based contractor, is leading the project. The demolition is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete.
The city is currently exploring options for redevelopment. Because many individuals own their units, officials emphasized that they are working to assist those impacted by the removals.
Because many individuals own their units, officials emphasized that they are working to assist those impacted by the removals.
"If there are homeowners, we will be looking to relocate and take care of the residents here," Gumbs said.
Bell added that the city's goal is to ensure stability for those living in the complex. "We want to make sure we are not dislocating anyone and we can provide them as much relocation expenses or assistance as possible," Bell said.
The Source: The details in this article come from the city of South Fulton and previous FOX 5 Atlanta reporting. FOX 5's Christopher King contributed to this report.