Key points:
• The city has approved a deal that will bring $150 million to an area that contains aging office buildings and hotel properties.
• A BMW dealership, a future hotel, and a park will be built along the corridor.
• The council at its meeting also discussed the allocation of community block grants.
The City of Brookhaven at its April 14 meeting approved a redevelopment initiative along North Druid Hills Road that it says will bring more than $150 million in private investment, critical transportation infrastructure, and long-term economic opportunity to the community.
According to an announcement on the city’s website, a partnership with the Brookhaven Development Authority and Nalley Automotive, a part of Asbury Automotive Group, will allow the transformation of a collection of aging office and hotel properties into a master-planned campus anchored by a Nalley BMW dealership, with 3.8 acres reserved for a future upscale hotel, and other public improvements.
“The project reflects smart growth planning and a deliberate strategy to align private investment with Brookhaven’s long-term vision for connectivity, walkability, and sustainable economic development within the Buford Highway and North Druid Hills corridors,” Brookhaven Economic Development Director Aaron Szarowicz said in the announcement of the project.
The dealership property, which will include pedestrian-friendly design elements and open green space, will provide direct connections to the Peachtree Creek Greenway (PCG).
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“This is exactly the kind of thoughtful redevelopment our community has envisioned for this corridor,” said Brookhaven Mayor John Park in the announcement. “We are taking properties that have outlived their usefulness and replacing them with a high-quality development that will generate jobs, enhance the tax base, and create a stronger sense of place.”
$150 million investment
According to the agreement, the developer will invest $150 million into the acquisition and redevelopment of the site, including an $8 million commitment to the Brookhaven Development Authority that will be dedicated to improvements within the PCG corridor.
“These funds will support trail expansion, connectivity improvements, and related infrastructure that advance Brookhaven’s long-standing goal of creating a more connected and accessible city,” the announcement said.
The developer will also provide easements to enable construction of a future PCG Connector Bridge over I-85, which will connect the Buford Highway Corridor to employment centers and regional destinations.
At the council meeting, John Funny, who represents District 4, said the deal “presents a compelling vision for creating a vibrant, economically resilient and aesthetically appealing destination, by thoughtfully integrating a high-end automobile dealership that will front Interstate 85, a quality hotel, and a meaningful green space.”
Community Block Grant discussion
In other action, the council discussed its priorities for its 2026-2030 Community Development Block Grant plan, as well as its 2026 action plan.
Strategic Partnerships Director Patty Hansen and Program Administrator Tarolyn Moore discussed the concerns the city has heard throughout a feedback period.
They include the lack of affordable housing, the need for senior housing, anti-crime programs, affordable child care, and the cost of rental properties in the city.
“The five-year priority needs and goals that we are recommending, based on input, stakeholder input, one-on-one, staff input, and input we received from council members, and feedback we received on activities that we have done,” Hansen said.
The $375,000 available for projects will be broken down into the following segments:
- Public facilities and infrastructure – $231,000
- Public services – $55,631
- Home repair program – $10,000
- Program administration – $69,000
The public service fund could be designated for child care, but Hansen said it wouldn’t be solely limited to that in case another need arises. Also, the home repair program has additional funds left over from previous years.
Data has revealed that Brookhaven’s population has grown more than 15% over the past decade, with the number of total households up about 14%, Hansen said during the presentation.
After a public hearing wherein there were no speakers either for or against, the council unanimously passed the plan.
In other action
- The council voted to take the $375,000 settlement in connection with a defective park pavilion at Brookhaven Park and begin soliciting bids for its reconstruction.
- The council passed an ordinance that requires each owner of a female dog, cat, or pet rabbit that has a litter to notify the director of community development within 21 days after birth.
- The council approved $446,000 in confiscated funds to replace active shooter riot response kits.
- The council retired to executive session to discuss personnel, real estate, and legal matters. No action was taken after the session.
