Land For Windsor Parkway Realignment May Have Human Remains

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The Sandy Springs City Council on Tuesday approved an agreement to acquire land needed for the Windsor Parkway-Roswell Road improvements, but the deal may require the city to perform the unusual task of relocating human remains.

Council members unanimously approved an agreement with PDB Family Limited Partnership, LLLP to purchase property at 4577 Roswell Road for $1.95 million.

The land currently has a structure that’s been approved to serve as a funeral home and also has a structure that’s used as an auction gallery.

The relocation project will realign Windsor Parkway to the north and require the demolition of the funeral home on the property. After the acquisition, the property will continue to be a conforming lot and the auction gallery structure will remain on the property.

However, preliminary analysis indicates certain locations may contain human remains from an old cemetery.

Possible remains appear to be located under the funeral home structure and the parking lot immediately adjacent to the building. As part of the transaction, the city would seek authorization to relocate any remains pursuant to Georgia law, which includes notice to descendants as well as public advertising.

Any remains will be relocated to Arlington Cemetery under the supervision of a qualified archeologist. The approval of the relocation of any remains is a condition precedent to the city having an obligation to purchase the property, the city’s legal staff noted.