"Upscale" Senior Housing Could Replace Sandy Springs Church

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Sandy Springs, GA -- A developer wants to bring a posh senior living community to the Glenridge Drive area of Sandy Springs.

Parc Communities has submitted a petition to rezone 5.5 acres at 6025 and 6029 Glenridge Drive from R-2 (single family dwelling) to A-L (apartment limited dwelling district).

The site, which is currently home to the Apostles Church of Sandy Springs, would be developed into a “very upscale” mix of 1- and 2-bedroom units for senior citizens, said Chip Collins, the attorney for the applicant.

A meeting with the community about the project is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25 at the church, which is located at 6025 Glenridge Drive.

Collins, a former Sandy Springs City Council member, stated Parc Glenridge, which will be strictly independent living, will include a bistro, exercise and activities room, a resident lounge and game room, swimming pool and structured parking.

If approved by city leaders, Collins stated Parc Communities hopes to open the development between the fourth quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018.

This community, Collins continued, will provide an “upscale option” for older Sandy Springers who want to move out of their single-family homes, but remain in the city. Once completed, Collins stated the development ”should have minimal traffic impact by virtue of the fact that residents who do continue to drive will seldom, if ever, choose to drive during peak traffic hours.”

“As residents age in place, they will more frequently use transportation provided by the community rather than their own vehicles,” he added.

Elizabeth Dixon, church administrator at the facility, said the church continues to deal with the impact of a decision made by a former pastor to construct a new 450-seat facility, which opened in September 2010. They also chose to renovate a smaller chapel to match the aesthetics of the newer building.

Nearly six years later, Dixon said the cost of the overhead and other things associated with the project have become “more than we could manage with the kind of church and membership (we have).”

Dixon noted the former pastor’s heart was in the right place, and many members of the congregation stood behind his decision. While some of those members have since left the church, the congregation’s core membership continues to push through and support current pastor Joseph Hyde and his leadership.

She stated the lender has been “very generous” in working with the church and not calling in the note as the organization works towards a financially stable future.

Apostles is in the process of finding a new home. Over the last few years, which have included weighing the option of selling the property, Apostles has been in talks with at least one other church about possibly sharing space. That option, Dixon added, could also be considered in the future.

Additionally, the preschool that also operates on site is in the process of finding a new home, and its director as well as the parents have been kept in the loop about the church’s status. Dixon added the school’s desire is to remain within a 1.5 to 2-mile radius of the current facility.

Dixon stated that no matter what happens to the church, it will continue to serve the citizens of Sandy Springs, as a church is defined by its members -- not its physical presence. Those members will continue to provide aide and support to Sandy Spring residents in need.

She also encourages anyone in the community to stop by and fellowship with the congregation as well as Pastor Hyde.

“We love Sandy Springs and we still want to be part of the community,” she added.

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Image: site plan for Parc Glenridge. Credit: city of Sandy Springs/Corcoran