The Norcross City Council discussed four contracts on Oct. 19 totaling $3.08 million to expand the parking lot around city hall by about 55 spaces with landscaping, including a new brick plaza at the main entrance.
The downtown parking expansion plan, which the council has been tweaking throughout the year, sacrifices some of the tree canopy between city hall and Wingo Street for more “much-needed” spaces.
The design has been reconfigured several times, and city officials have said up to 68 new spaces could be added.
During public comment at the Oct. 19 policy work session, Wingo Street resident Lynn Ward said she has concerns about replacing the buffer between her home and the future parking lot. Ward said she wants the city to address how nearby construction will affect her home before approving the contract.
“I’m hoping that y’all can address my concerns,” she said. “Realize that if you were a resident whose property has been turned into something short of a commercial piece property, and what you’re allowed to have done to it, that is so different than being a residence.”
Construction timeline
Public Works Director Len Housley said the three-phase project involves major coordination with abutting businesses and homeowners, including Ward. Savage Pizza’s dumpsters will need to be relocated, and residents will need temporary parking spots.
“There are a lot of little details that need to happen in coordination as we do the construction,” Housley said.
If things go according to schedule, Housley said city staff will work on permitting the project after awarding the contract, with the expected groundbreaking shortly after New Year’s. The construction timeline is nine to 12 months, with completion expected before the end of 2027.
“Phase one is demoing and installing a lot of the stormwater pipe, clearing the properties behind, and grading,” Housley said. “Some underground stormwater work has to be done, so we will tear up the parking lot in that area, which is going to make it off-limits.”
During phase one, a section of the city hall/downtown public parking lot will remain open, Housley said. The asphalt paving and brick paver installation will overlap, and construction speed depends on several factors.
In April, elected officials approved a $2.8 million construction budget. The project’s main contract with Ohmshiv Construction is about $2.9 million, including contingencies. The city is also preparing to approve contracts for construction management, materials testing, and geotechnical consulting.
“They reviewed all the plans and the engineering,” Housley said. “We did several meetings; we had seven companies bid on this project, and Ohmshiv Construction was the lowest, responsive, and responsible bidder.”
Tree preservation update
Ward and another Wingo Street cottage owner said they had concerns about the loss of crape myrtles and other canopy trees between Jones Street businesses and homes abutting the expanded surface parking.
Elected officials said they would discuss whether to use the city’s reserve funds in its operational budget or its share of Gwinnett County SPLOST funding at an upcoming meeting.
Earlier in the public work session, the Norcross Tree Preservation Board gave its annual update, showing a 12% citywide drop in tree canopy from 2018 to 2024. The citizen-led board’s priorities include updating the city’s tree preservation ordinances and collecting new data on canopy loss.
Board Chair Charlotte Osborn said she has been pushing to ensure all funds paid by developers to remove specimen trees go directly to the city’s tree bank fund for replanting.
“Our urban forest is one of our city’s most valuable long-term assets,” Osborn said.
Council Member Bruce Gaynor said he was surprised to hear the funds were not going toward their “intended purpose” and asked City Manager Cheri Hobson-Matthews to find a solution.
“If that’s accurate, I don’t think that represents what the council expected,” Gaynor said. “If it’s not happening, I’d like to investigate that.”
