Sandy Springs City Councilman Chip Collins said in an email sent to his constituents that the city will likely demolish the old Target building on Johnson Ferry Road this December.
The demolition is part of the city’s downtown revitalization project. City council approved purchasing the property in 2008 for $8 million.
Reporter Newspapers review of public records related to the purchase cast doubt on the price the city paid for the building, which at the time was described as a bargain. Since 2008 the building has been a symbol of the city’s stalled downtown redevelopment plans, but city council has made leaps of progress within the last two years. In 2012, city council approved its downtown plan and is currently implementing the first phase. It’s a decade-long effort that will cost upwards of $100 million to complete.
When finished, the revitalization project will transform Roswell Road north of the intersection of Interstate 285 and Roswell.
During its June 18 meeting, City Council approved the purchase of property at 7475 Trowbridge Road for $930,000. That property will be used to store items currently stored in the old Target building.