Sandy Springs To Use Hotel/Motel Taxes To Fast-Track City Center Projects

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A change in how hotel/motel tax dollars are allocated and used in Sandy Springs will allow city leaders to accelerate projects around its City Center.

The Georgia General Assembly this year passed legislation, which allows Sandy Springs to use a portion of the hotel/motel taxes collected for tourism product development purposes, including performing arts facilities and meeting, convention, exhibit and public assembly facilities, once the Georgia Dome’s outstanding bond issue is retired.

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to approve using hotel/motel tax funds for the projects.

“The change in the hotel/motel allocation allows the city to utilize tax dollars once sent to downtown Atlanta to now aid the city of Sandy Springs as we build our own downtown,” said Mayor Rusty Paul. “By applying these tourism funds towards the construction of the performing arts center, we free up resources to make possible other highly-sought projects at a much faster pace.”

The projects are a part of the long-term master plan, but were not budgeted when the phase one budget was set last year.

Among those items:

• Constructing the triangle park area across Roswell Road from City Center.
• Adding street level parking along Mount Vernon Highway and the new Bluestone Extension to accommodate events both at City Center and Heritage Sandy Springs.
• Landscaping the south side of Mount Vernon Highway across from the master block to reflect the landscaping that will be installed on the north side.
• Screening for the Georgia Power substation across from City Center.
• Additional street lighting along Mount Vernon Highway and additional park furniture for the city park.

“We are committed to creating a first-class facility for the community, without additional tax weight on our residents,” Paul added. “We have the opportunity to accelerate elements the community has said it wants as part of redevelopment, and we can do so without impacting the general fund.”

The change in allocation and uses for hotel/motel tax dollars came through the passage of House Bill 571 by the Georgia General Assembly during its 2015 session. The bill was sponsored by State Rep. Wendell Willard (R-Sandy Springs) and signed by Gov. Nathan Deal last month.

The City Center project includes the development of the civic offices, performing arts center, family theater and meeting space, park area within the Master Block, on-site parking and street network improvements.

On Tuesday, the city hosted the first of two meetings designed to unveil design aspects of the city center. That presentation, which can be viewed here and here, was the result of a “tremendous” amount of public input over the last 14 to 15 months, Paul added.

“I think we are excited about the prospects of getting this thing underway,” he added.

Tuesday’s presentation followed a public open house the city held in March and an online survey that received more than 750 participants.

Residents will have another chance to view the results of public input on the City Center design at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18 at Heritage Sandy Springs, which is at 6110 Bluestone Road.

Goals for the City Center project include the creation of a unique, vibrant, walkable City Center, which incorporates mixed-use development introducing new dining, high-end residential living, and amenity retail and entertainment options.

The project also will create an appropriate setting for a new civic/cultural center that will contain multiple uses such as city offices, meeting space and a performing arts facility. In addition, the project will encompass a green space network to accommodate a variety of activities.

For more information about the City Center project, visit www.sandyspringscitycenter.com.

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Image via Shutterstock