Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul said a date might be set soon for a lawsuit against the city of Atlanta over a water agreement and a location for the state’s Holocaust Museum might be under contract soon.
The mayor made these announcements during his State of the City address at the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber of Commerce Signature Luncheon on Tuesday.
“[City Attorney] Dan Lee told me yesterday he thought they would come out of there today with a hearing in November, which will begin finally getting us to the point where we can get some decisions from the judiciary,” Paul said.
The city has not had an intergovernmental agreement with Atlanta over water service for years, which is required by state law. The city also disputes water rates that Atlanta charges.
Paul said the Georgia Holocaust Museum proposed in Sandy Springs is close to a contract for a former bank property at 325 Mount Vernon Hwy. near City Springs. The State Properties Commission has a contract in hand for the property between City Hall and the Sandy Springs Library branch.
He said the Sandy Springs Hospitality Board has provided bridge financing to get the project moving.
“I fully expect that within 18 months or so, this project, that bank building that’s sitting there idle today will be a jewel in our crown for activities and events,” Paul said.
The city had considered space near its City Green for the museum before approving a location at the Heritage building on Bluestone Road in 2022.
He said following the city’s North End revitalization and redevelopment project that offered rezoning possibilities, the city has been in discussion on three or four projects to redevelop three underutilized shopping centers. The developers are waiting for money to get a bit cheaper and banks to resume lending money for real estate projects.
Monday, Sept. 16
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul spoke about using artificial intelligence and developing the city’s trail system into a series of destinations in his State of the City address on Tuesday.
As the mayor told Rough Draft Atlanta in advance of his address, he said that Sandy Springs has faced challenges with software that couldn’t keep up with the city’s permitting needs dating back to COVID-19. He said the city needs to make the permitting process more customer friendly.
“If you’re doing a kitchen remodel or a bathroom remodel or building a deck, people don’t understand why it takes so long and it’s so difficult to get it,” Paul said.
He’s directed City Manager Eden Freeman to move the city toward using AI to aid with administrative tasks. He wants to use AI to save staff time and get answers quickly for residents.
Paul said he’s excited about the trail system the city and doesn’t want the city to miss the opportunity to make the trails destinations. He envisions “micro-businesses” poppping along the trails to serve coffee or ice cream.
He will ask the city council for support, and for staff to find places to put those “little bitty jewels” along the trail. The trailside attractions will add a bit of cachet to the trail network and give small businesses more opportunities, the mayor said.
Another idea is to utilize food trucks in the trail area, creating places where a food truck can pull off where people who drive, walk, bike, or skate can stop for a bite to eat.
“I want to do more than just build trails. I want to use them as an opportunity, first of all, to create business access,” Paul said.
The mayor said many restaurants and other businesses are interested in coming to Sandy Springs, but the city’s retail space is 95 percent leased. That makes using the trial network and the second phase of City Springs important, he said.
Paul’s Tuesday address will include the city’s developing reputation with rankings in the top 10 for millennials and retirement. The Sandy Springs Fire Department earned the ISO One rating and the city retained its AAA bond rating.
He will also recap the openings of the city’s new fleet center and Fire Station No. 5, as well as the forthcoming police headquarters and courthouse building.
