Sandy Springs To Buy Property For Public Safety Facilities

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — The Sandy Springs Public Facilities Authority and Sandy Springs City Council approved Tuesday moving forward with the purchase of two parcels of property to house the city's public safety facilities. By unanimous vote, the authority and city council each passed a resolution authorizing negotiation of a contract with Land Investment Partners, L.L.C., 29 to purchase the property located at 620 Morgan Falls Road. The total acreage of the property is approximately 12.52 acres and includes an existing office building. The purchase price is $11,025,000.

"One of our highest priorities is the public safety of our citizens," Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul said. "To ensure that our public safety personnel can do their best in meeting that objective, we need to provide them with the tools, training, and facilities they need. This has been a multi-year search to find an appropriate property, which meets the spatial needs requirements for our police department, municipal court and other public safety operations as part of a single property."

The Sandy Springs Police Department, formed in July 2006, was initially located in offices on Barfield Road, moving to leased space in the Morgan Falls Office Park in June 2011. The department is dispersed over multiples buildings. Until 2018, the Sandy Springs Municipal Courtroom also served as city council chambers and a facility for city-led public meetings. Due to the non-public safety businesses within the office park, separate, secured parking is not available for employees, vehicles, or equipment for municipal court or the police department.

The city plans to repurpose the building that currently exists on the property at 620 Morgan Falls Road. A needs assessment was presented during the city council's January retreat. Among the critical components highlighted were secured parking; sally port areas (secured entrance areas for prisoners); secured holding and interview spaces; and larger and secured lobby areas. The city's 2021 budget includes a strong fund balance, preserving funds for the possibility of finding an appropriate site for a public safety facility if it could be purchased at an advantageous price.

The authority serves as a partner with the city, holding title to the city's public buildings and facilities. It is anticipated the city will lease the property from the Authority for use as a public safety facility. Following the adoption of the authority resolution, the city council adopted a resolution approving the purchase of the property; agreeing to cooperate with the authority to negotiate the terms of a purchase contract; and agreeing to provide for public comment on the development of a public safety facility, such as a public comment opportunity to be held during the inspection period under the purchase contract.

For more information about the City of Sandy Springs, visit online, or call the Citizen Response Center at 770-730-5600.