City Council Retreat Focuses on Housing 2025
Our Sandy Springs City Council held a two-day retreat on February 5-6 to review the past year’s accomplishments and to discuss the city’s priorities for the coming 2025-2026 year. Housing was the dominant topic throughout the retreat. The agenda for Day 1 is linked at the bottom of this page. You can watch the retreat recording here: Day One Live Stream
Day 1 Highlights
Presentation on Demographic and Housing Trends
(Timestamp: 01:43:36)
Day 1 featured a presentation by Mike Alexander, COO for the Atlanta Regional Commission, reviewing key data trends in demographics, growth and traffic. His presentation compared Sandy Springs to other metro cities, revealing that while the region’s population is increasing, our own has decreased. The data highlighted several important points:
- Sandy Springs has more housing units than neighboring cities.
- We need to preserve our existing apartments, as they are more affordable for our workforce than purchasing a home in a market where the median price has reached $550,000.
- There is a clear need for more homes for sale, especially for residents earning between $65,000 and $120,000.
Panel Discussion on Future Growth
(Timestamp: 03:24:08)
An informative panel discussion, moderated by Sandy Springs Economic Development Director Chris Burnett, followed the presentation. Panelists Eric Hines (Jamestown Properties), Lance Patterson (Patterson Real Estate) and John Kelly (Toro) discussed:
- How Sandy Springs can encourage redevelopment.
- The potential for underutilized shopping centers and office buildings to be transformed into vibrant spaces.
- The impact of the recent change in our Development Code allowing “stick-built” buildings over 3 floors, which has made redevelopment more feasible and appealing to developers.
- How banks are more willing to lend for rental properties than for home ownership, a factor compounded by the increased cost of land and construction.
Overview of Current Redevelopment Projects
(Timestamp: 05:05:01)
Following the panel discussion, Economic Development Director Chris Burnett presented an overview of current projects, including:
- 43 single-family homes
- 1,874 multi-family units
- 131 condo units
- 100 age-restricted units
- 63,500 sq.ft of office space
- 50,500 sq.ft of retail space
Day 1 left a clear message: sustainable growth and affordable housing are essential to the future of Sandy Springs. The discussions have underscored the need for thoughtful redevelopment that not only preserves our existing affordable housing but also supports our evolving community.
At Sandy Springs Together, we remain committed to fostering initiatives that drive vibrant, inclusive growth and ensure our city continues to thrive. Join us in supporting a future where every resident has the opportunity to live, work and succeed.
