City Of Smyrna: City Of Smyrna Approves The Sale Of .94 Acres Of Property To StillFire Brewing

Press release from the City of Smyrna:

01/20/2022 1:31 PM

City of Smyrna approves the sale of .94 acres of property to StillFire Brewing

On January 18, City Council approved the sale of .94 acres of downtown property to StillFire Brewing (https://stillfirebrewing.com/) for a new two story, 15,000 sq ft craft brewery along Atlanta Road. The brewery will include a rooftop space that will overlook a new public park and Smyrna's renovated Village Green, all open to both pets and families. This unique, activity-oriented business already has a successful track record of bringing additional visitors to downtown Suwanee, benefiting nearby businesses and restaurants. The investment into our downtown is significant and is the most recent piece of the City's strategic plan for reinvestment in downtown. It is anticipated that this new addition to downtown amenities will be open late Spring to early Summer 2023. 

StillFire's $7 million investment is the largest private investment in downtown since the creation of the public-private partnership development of the Market Village more than 20 years ago.  Provisions of the sales contract include stipulations to ensure that Smyrna will have a say in the future of the property.  As the property will now be owned by a private enterprise, rather than a tax-exempt government, it will be contributing more than $150,000 annually in new tax revenue for the City, County and Cobb County Schools.   

Over eight months in 2021 , the City held multiple public input meetings about the project along with a Town Hall in December of 2021 (view the Town Hall recording at http://smyrnacity.granicus.com/player/clip/1074?view_id=4... / and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I6kFqcb_78). StillFire worked closely with City staff and officials to incorporate suggested changes from Smyrna residents, resulting in a project that has been right-sized for the Smyrna market and that will incorporate a permanent kitchen and food offering in addition to on-site food trucks. StillFire is currently working on the final building design for review by the Urban Design Commission, and plans to work with the Smyrna community to incorporate public art into the project.

As mentioned, the addition of this craft brewery and planed public park space is the most recent piece of the City's strategic plan for reinvestment in our downtown. Other recently approved projects include a new interactive green space replacing the roundabout, a public parking facility and new pedestrian improvements. Together, these public and private investments will ensure the long-term economic viability of downtown Smyrna, and will offer fantastic new amenities for all ages to enjoy. 

The Council will next discuss details of the new public park that will be built on the southern portion of the parcel with plans to seek Smyrna citizen input on features.

This press release was produced by the City of Smyrna. The views expressed here are the author’s own.