Justin Bieber’s alleged plans to purchase a new home in Atlanta, Georgia , are under threat from an impending protest by the Buckhead Neighborhood Coalition on Monday, according to new local reports.
The 19-year-old has been in ATL since February 4, and is staying at record producer friend Dallas Austin’s “spaceship-like” home for three months, while he reportedly records part of a possibly hip-hop leaning album. It’s speculated some of the big name rappers he has been seen with recently — including T.I., T-Pain, Rick Ross, Kid Cudi, and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs — may collaborate.
It was previously reported Bieber has taken a shine to a seven-bedroom, 16,000 square-foot Tuxedo Park mansion on Blackland Road located in the city’s old money, Buckhead district.
The house is listed for $10.95 million and was built in 2010. It’s also near his mentor Usher’s home, who lives in the neighborhood with his sons Naviyd, 5, and Usher Raymond V, 6.
Up until now there has been no indication of local anxiety about Bieber’s presence in Atlanta.
Previously Sandy Springs Police Department spokesman Capt. Steve Rose, told E!News , “We have had no issues. He has been here for two weeks and we haven’t had any problems.”
He added police are maintaining patrols of the famed “spaceship” property up to a dozen times a day to ensure “traffic patterns remain normal” as its on a main street.
“I’m hoping this will be low key until he [Bieber] finds a permanent home. He is entitled to privacy and we don’t want a carnival,” Rose said.
However, local media outlet GA Followers reports the Buckhead Neighborhood Coalition plans to protest a permanent move by Bieber to Atlanta as they apparently believe it puts their children at risk.
The Buckhead Neighborhood Coalition plans on protesting @JustinBieber ‘s move to Atlanta, says his move will put their children at risk. #Shh
— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) February 22, 2014
Access Atlanta reports the coalition has launched a Facebook page “Protest Justin Bieber Moving to Buckhead .”
Protesters will picket outside 421 Blackland Road – the property the superstar is allegedly eyeing – on Monday at 6 am.
A mission statement at Facebook page reads :
“As a community here in Buckhead, we have worked hard to achieve our goals and get to where we are. Justin Bieber’s relocation to Atlanta can be nothing but bad for our children, as well as the community. Some can’t even let their children play in the driveway without fear; he has raced vehicles under the influence before. What’s to say he won’t do it again? As a homeowner down the street from this residence, one can assume many people will be contacting real estate agents soon enough. Please do not allow a child to ruin what we have worked so hard to obtain. Thanks for the support!”
This news may put Bieber off from buying the Buckhead property or any other in Atlanta, although it’s not yet known how much weight such a protest will have or whether there are approval structures for potential buyers in the area.
But, given that Bieber’s recent flight from his Calabasas, Los Angeles, gated neighborhood backdrops tensions with residents over his alleged reckless driving, allegedly noisy parties and friends, later allegedly escalated to his egging of his estranged neighbor’s house — it’s unlikely the singer will want to pay millions to live somewhere he is not wanted.
(Photo: The Buckland property Bieber is said to be eyeing as a potential purchase.)
Bieber does have some support among Atlanta residents though.
“This is ridiculous. Leave him alone, he’d be a fine neighbor,” wrote David M. Lilenfeld in response to the Facebook posting.
“I’m a resident of Buckhead, and he is welcome here. I know (unfortunately) plenty of neighbors w/DUIs, they just aren’t famous so it doesn’t make the news and so you don’t know about them.”
Atlanta resident Adam Gibson pointed out , “Rock Band the Black Crowes lived on Blackland, bothered no one and they were a pot heads. Bieber won’t bother anyone. [sic]”
While Parker Simpson wrote :
“This group is so stupid. As much as I dislike Justin Bieber… this is about as un-American as it gets. You want to protest [an] incredibly rich person moving to Atlanta and spending millions of dollars on real estate and property taxes, as well as bringing his rich friends into the city to spend even more money, yet I don’t see any protest movement for the thousands of hammered college kids who drive drunk around downtown after doing 8 lines of blow in the bathroom stall at Buckhead Saloon risking the lives of you and your children.”
He continued, “You could be out protesting for more police patrols in your neighborhood for all these hoodrats that are breaking into your houses even when you’re home. But instead you’re organizing a protest against some kid you heard about that threw some eggs at his neighbors mansion; as if a protest COULD even prevent someone from moving into a house. That’s the dumbest thing ever. Good luck with that Buckhead. Bieber is the last thing you need to be worried about.”
(Some of the protesters’ homemade placards via Facebook )
The Los Angeles District Attorney is currently mulling a recommendation of felony vandalism charges against Justin, although the D.A. has discretion to opt for a misdemeanor charge or drop the case. A decision is expected shortly.
It’s likely the Buckhead Coalition is aware of Bieber’s issues with his ex-neighbors certainly after the full-on police raid of his home five days after the egg-assault incident.
They may also be aware of the heartthrob’s Miami DUI charge and an assault charge against him in Toronto.
It remains to be seen if Buckhead Neighborhood Coalition’s Monday protest changes the singer’s plans to move to Atlanta.
Meanwhile, Justin’s stay at Austin’s spaceship sanctuary continues.
(Photo: Austin’s spaceship house where Bieber is staying.)
Friday saw the pop prince address an unnamed sum of critics and detractors by two means.
The first, the online release of a searing, hip-hop tinged track “ Broken. “
“I guess they want a reaction/ But I ain’t gonna give it to ’em / Yeah they’re trying to get at me yeah / But I ain’t gonna feed into it / Ooh baby they’re persistent / Tryna’ to break me down,” Bieber sings over a hip-hop beat before a looped chorus of “I cannot be broken.”
In a further statement — a direct nod to media censure, a mocking trending topic, and other criticisms after his charges — Bieber took to Twitter hours before the song debuted, writing,
I guess I’m an easy target for some. I’m still human. I will continue to meet hate with love. It’s all about the music. Much love
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) February 21, 2014
Bieber then thanked his over 49 million followers for their support: “Thanks to all those beliebers out there inspiring me everyday,” later adding, “Keeping it positive always.”