Sandy Springs Approves City Center Site Plan, Performing Arts Center

The Sandy Springs City Council on Tuesday took another step in turning its dream of developing its City Center into a reality.

The Council unanimously approved a resolution specifying its site plan for Phase 1 of its City Center.

The plan includes one building to house government services, meeting space and a performing arts center with up to 1,000 seats, green space, parking deck and a separate mixed-used development for residential and retail areas.

The total projected cost of the project is expected to be around $196 million.

“This is the most important project the community has undertaken since we began as a city,” said Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul in a press release. “We have spent more than two years working on this project, beginning with the Goody Clancy study under the previous Council. At each step, we carefully considered every avenue possible to incorporate a wide range of public input – the bulk of which favored the plan Council approved. This is an exciting project we believe will be a catalyst for creating a more walkable, more functional, more vibrant city center.”

The original resolution presented to the council included support for a black-box designed, 1,000-seat performing arts center. However, an alternate resolution introduced by Councilman John Paulson provides the city some wiggle room in determining the specifications of the arts center.

Paulson noted Tuesday’s action was a “culmination” of several years worth of work and “sustained efforts” to ensure the project would meet the needs of the public and would have the backing of the city’s residents.

Since its incorporation, the city has taken steps to shore up the city’s infrastructure and develop its public safety agencies, Paulson added.

“We’re doing a lot of things that are, I guess, are fundamental to running a city and running a city efficiently,” he said. “This development, in my opinion, is truly a project that will enhance the quality of life for Sandy Springers.”

Bauman echoed Paulson’s sentiments.

He added this is the city’s first opportunity to “opine publicly on this project,” which has been a long time in the making.

“It’s been very open and it’s been very public and I’m grateful for that,” he stated.

City Manager John McDonough was asked how much feedback the city has received so far on the performing arts center. As of Tuesday, the city received 181 comments that were in favor of the plan, 38 who were “strongly” opposed and 64 who were neither in favor or against the project, according to McDonough.

(Photo credit: city of Sandy Springs)