The city of Sandy Springs will purchase two Mount Vernon Highway properties as teardowns to create a surface parking lot next to its City Springs project.
The long-planned purchases of 185 Mount Vernon for $540,000 and 175 Mount Vernon (as well as its parking lot at 176 Hildebrand Drive) for $1.95 million were approved by the City Council on April 5.
The 185 Mount Vernon property is a former massage parlor that is already vacant, according to city attorney Wendell Willard.
But 175 Mount Vernon is a small shopping center, Mount Vernon Walk, whose remaining commercial tenants will be required to move by July, Willard said. “We’re buying this under threat of condemnation” so the tenants can be forced out if they fight the move, he said.
Council member Gabriel Sterling noted the move-out is required in a “very short period of time.” The tenants “will be getting assistance from the city on relocation,” said Mayor Rusty Paul, and Willard said city staff members would meet with them soon.
Wendell Willard said what? “We’re buying this under threat of condemnation” so the tenants can be forced out if they fight the move, he said. This is alarming! Forcing people to leave under threat of eminent domain, I thought Sandy Springs had more class. This really dampens my view of Mayor Rusty Paul.