Demolition is expected to begin this month on 23 or more homes along Forestwood Lane to make way for a two-story elementary school that tentatively is being called Lake Forrest Elementary.
For two years, Fulton County Schools searched for a site for the new elementary school in Sandy Springs, which is expected to handle about 850 students from surrounding schools.
One year ago, the school system finally found the site it wanted, negotiated with homeowners in the neighborhood between Cliftwood Drive, Lake Forrest Drive and Sandy Springs Circle. Now, the 1960s-era neighborhood, which seems totally abandoned, is ready for demolition.
However, the school system has not totally worked out negotiations with three property owners on the north side of Cliftwood Drive. If negotiations with those owners are unsuccessful, the school system will have to reconfigure the property. With those three properties, the school site would be 14.7 acres.
The school plans call for classroom wings that would be stacked atop each other and covered with a dormer roof to soften the architecture. The main entrance drive to the school would be off either Sandy Springs Circle or Cliftwood Drive.
If Fulton County Schools reaches agreement on all of the properties by Feb. 1 and is able to begin demolition on schedule, the school is expected to be ready to open in August 2008.