Dunwoody now has an official agreement with a private developer to move forward with a revitalization project that could help one of the city’s struggling commercial districts.
At its June 11 meeting, the City Council unanimously approved an agreement with John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods for “Project Renaissance.”
The development is planned on the 16-acre city-owned PVC farm and the 19-acre North Shallowford Road hospital site the city is purchasing.
“Project Renaissance” will blend parks, residences, shops and a possible municipal complex in order to re-energize the city’s struggling Georgetown commercial area.
The plan calls for Wieland to purchase about half of the property and the city will use the remaining land for parks and a commercial parcel.
The agreement will cost the city $6.1 million and the developer will pay $6.37 million for city property, City Manager Warren Hutmacher said.
The city also previously purchased the PVC farm for $5 million, Mayor Mike Davis said.
Davis said the redevelopment project will be a win-win for the business community and residents.
“We think this is transformational, and will be catalytic for the entire city,” Davis said.
The council also approved the purchase of the first three parcels of the Shallowford site, with City Councilman John Heneghan casting the only “no” vote.
Henegan said he was “disappointed” that information about a pre-existing lease on the property was not in the documents given to the council before the vote. The lease will not expire until 2022.
The cost of the first three parcels, totaling 8.1 acres, will be $3.7 million.