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City Council Retreat Focuses on Housing 2025

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.

Sandy Springs City Retreat Agenda

Stable Housing, Successful Students: How a Stable Home Supports Educational Achievement

Imagine a classroom full of excited young learners, energized, engaged and happy. Imagine a teacher who is also energized and engaged and able to complete their semester’s lesson plans on time with all students showing an improvement from the beginning of the school year.

This is the goal of every educator; it contributes to the success of the school to the stability of the family and to the vitality of the community.

Every child deserves the chance to learn and grow in a steady environment, yet housing insecurity often stands in the way. In Sandy Springs public schools 30% of our students don’t finish the school year in the same public school they started the school year. When families face uncertain living situations—like frequent moves or the threat of eviction—young learners can struggle to keep up with schoolwork. Children who don’t know where they will be sleeping each night are far more likely to miss classes, lose focus on their studies and feel isolated and insecure. By recognizing the close connection between safe, affordable housing and academic success, we can ensure that students have the foundations they need to thrive in the classroom; and that environment contributes to the vitality of our community.

Unfortunately, high rents, minor family budget shortfalls, sudden unexpected expenses, and limited affordable units, can keep families in a cycle of upheaval. When cities don’t invest in long-term affordable housing solutions, many parents have to move repeatedly, making it harder for young people to stay engaged or develop strong relationships with teachers and classmates. This cycle not only burdens students but also places extra strain on schools trying to support ever-shifting enrollments.

To change these patterns, Sandy Springs’ nonprofits like Community Assistance Center offer assistance with their Eviction Prevention Programs, their emergency financial aid or mediation, help families remain in their homes. This stability keeps students in the same classrooms, allowing them to maintain friendships and avoid learning gaps.

But this is just a temporary fix. Our city needs to increase access to a variety of housing options, fostering long-term housing stability that is attainable for all income levels.

In the long run, incentives for affordable developments and flexible zoning can make rent costs more manageable, starter homes a reality and missing middle homes more available. When schools, housing advocates, and elected officials work together, children can focus on learning rather than worrying about where they will sleep.

In the end, stable housing is the key to successful students, high public school enrollment rates and long-term employment for our teachers and a vital community,

By providing stable housing options, encouraging attendance and easing stress, affordable homes help children reach their full potential. Each member of the Sandy Springs Community has a role to play, from leaders who shape housing laws to neighbors who offer support. If we commit to solutions that put families first, we not only uplift students but also strengthen our schools and our community. The future of education depends on the security of the places children call home.

Keep Sandy Springs Vibrant: How Housing Supports Our Schools and Economy

Our October Sandy Springs Community Spaces Survey  highlighted  a shared vision for a more dynamic and inviting city. In our previous discussion, we highlighted the pivotal role that affordable and workforce housing plays in nurturing Sandy Springs’ vibrant retail and dining sectors. Now, we will touch on some of the successful models and strategies that can help Sandy Springs create a balanced approach to growth. By exploring both local and regional success stories, we can better understand how to preserve the city’s unique character while ensuring that everyone—business owners, essential workers, and lifelong residents—has the opportunity to flourish.

Learning from Successful Models

Sandy Springs can look to other metro Atlanta communities for inspiration. Developments like Atlanta’s West Side or Brookhaven’s town centers have successfully integrated mixed-use spaces that combine commercial, retail, dining, and affordable housing. These areas have become regional destinations, proving that thoughtful urban planning can create a balanced environment where businesses and residents thrive together.

 

Mixed-income developments can also play a pivotal role in Sandy Springs’ future. By blending affordable units with market-rate housing, such as is proposed with the MARTA Transit Oriented Development at the North Springs Station on Peachtree Dunwoody Rd. the city can ensure that its workforce has a place to live while maintaining the aesthetic appeal and character that residents value.

The Positive Domino Effect of Balanced Growth

The benefits of affordable housing extend far beyond the businesses it directly supports:

 

  • Improved Public Safety: Housing that our police officers, firefighters, and teachers can afford ensures these essential workers can live in the communities they serve, fostering safety and cohesion.
  • Enhanced Customer Experiences: Workers living nearby mean better-trained staff, faster service, and higher customer satisfaction.
  • Stronger Local Economy: Workforce housing reduces employee turnover, boosts business stability, and attracts new employers to the area.
  • Supporting our Schools: Access to affordable housing supports our public schools. The children of our workers will increase enrollment at local public schools, contributing to the vitality and sustainability of their school communities.
  • Environmental Impact: By reducing the need for long commutes, housing attainable for our workforce  lowers traffic congestion and carbon emissions, contributing to a healthier environment.

Finding Sustainable Solutions

Sandy Springs has an opportunity to lead by example in creating an inclusive, balanced community that values both prosperity and a vision for a strong economic future. Here are some actionable steps:

 

  • Mixed-Use Zoning: Encourage developments that integrate retail, dining, and housing while preserving green spaces and walkable designs.
  • Housing options that are affordable for our essential workers.
  • Community Collaboration: Involve residents in shaping new developments to ensure they reflect shared values and priorities.

These solutions address housing affordability while creating a stronger, more resilient Sandy Springs for everyone.

A Call to Action: Supporting Balanced Growth

The vibrant, thriving community envisioned in the October Community Spaces survey is within reach, but it starts with ensuring that Sandy Springs remains accessible to all. By supporting balanced growth policies that include workforce housing, residents can help create the retail and dining experiences they demand while supporting the essential workers that make it possible.

 

Let’s work together to build a Sandy Springs that truly lives up to its potential—a place where everyone, from shop owners to servers to lifelong residents, can live, work, and thrive.

Balanced Growth is Our Path Forward

Bridging the Gap: Growing Sandy Springs’ Retail & Dining Scene Starts with Equitable Housing

Picture this: a lively Sandy Springs street brimming with shops, cafes, and restaurants filled with happy customers. Many residents want this kind of atmosphere for our city—a walkable, boutique-style environment teeming with life. But behind every bustling restaurant or thriving boutique are workers—servers, baristas, chefs, and sales associates—who make it all happen. The critical question we face is: Where do these workers live?

Recent feedback from our October Sandy Springs Community Spaces Survey highlights a shared vision for a more dynamic and inviting city. Residents called for more shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Yet, there’s a disconnect in the conversation. Many of the same respondents who dream of a vibrant retail and dining scene also push back against the housing developments needed to support it. Thriving businesses rely on accessible, affordable housing for the workforce that powers them, and finding a balanced approach is crucial for the long-term success of our community.

 

Building a Thriving Commercial Scene: What the Community Wants

In the survey, shopping, dining, and entertainment dominated the wish lists of Sandy Springs residents:

  • “Bring more high-end boutiques.”
  • “Fun areas to hang out like Barn.”
  • “Outdoor dining.”
  • “European-type environment.”

Residents want walkable spaces where they can shop, dine, and relax, all while fostering a sense of community and belonging.

A thriving retail and dining sector won’t just offer great cuisine—it will build local pride and the city’s tax base,  , and define its identity as a destination for dining and shopping. The right mix of businesses can increase property values, attract visitors, and drive investment into the community.

But here’s the challenge: none of this can exist without those who work in those stores and restaurants. To build this dream for Sandy Springs, we need to first create the housing necessary to support the workforce, which will make it a reality.

 

The Workforce Housing Dilemma

Many survey respondents expressed a strong desire to limit new apartment construction:

  • “No more apartments, please!”
  • “Stop building everywhere.”
  • “Less high-density housing.”

At first glance, this perspective makes sense for residents concerned about maintaining Sandy Springs’ suburban character. But it stands in direct contrast to another reality: the people staffing our desired shops, cafes, and restaurants often cannot afford to live nearby.

 
Most restaurant and retail workers earn modest wages, often making long commutes from surrounding areas. This creates a cycle of instability for local businesses, which struggle to attract and retain employees due to housing inaccessibility. The lack of affordable options means high turnover, inconsistent service, and reduced hours of operation—ultimately impacting the experience for Sandy Springs residents who crave vibrant retail and dining options.

 

A Balanced Approach to Growth: Housing and Community Prosperity

Some survey respondents offered a different perspective, advocating for housing solutions that reflect the diverse needs of Sandy Springs’ workforce:

 

  • “Affordable housing for police and firemen.”
  • “Affordable housing for purchase and rent.”
  • “Condos like Bluestone with walkability to CityGreen.”

To attract the types of retail and restaurant activity our residents are asking for, we need to provide housing that is attainable for all of these workers.   Affordable housing is not just a social good—it’s a practical necessity for economic sustainability. When workers live close to their jobs, businesses thrive. Employees can arrive on time, develop loyalty to their employers, and deliver better customer service. Employers are able to recruit quality talent and retain staff.  This results in lower employee turnover negating expensive on-boarding and training. Stable housing also means more consistent business hours, better training for staff, and a stronger sense of community in local establishments.

 

Beyond benefiting individual businesses, workforce housing strengthens the overall community. It ensures that residents have convenient access to shopping and dining options, promotes a more vibrant economy, and reduces traffic congestion by cutting down on long commutes.

By embracing housing solutions that meet the needs of our diverse workforce, we set the stage for stronger local businesses and a more connected community. The choices we make today will determine whether Sandy Springs becomes a thriving destination or remains constrained by outdated perceptions of growth. Let’s work together to nurture a balanced approach—one that preserves our suburban feel while investing in the people and places that will bring our city’s fullest potential to life.

Sandy Springs Decides: Participate in Democracy

Are you planning to vote?  Every vote is crucial in the upcoming election.  

 

Sandy Springs is a well educated and active community when it comes to voting habits.  We have close to 75,000 registered voters in our city of 110,000.  In the last General Election, called the “midterm election”,  40,000 of us voted for your candidate.  In the last General Presidential election 48,000 of us voted. 

 

 Almost half of the registered voters in Sandy Springs did NOT vote. IMAGINE the impact if an additional 30,000 registered voters in Sandy Springs had participated.  Voting impacts healthcare, gun safety, renters’ rights, funding for our public schools, what our municipal governments can and can’t do, how our tax dollars are used and much more.   

 

Voting is a habit that many of us learn as children when we accompany our parents to the polls. Studies have shown that potential voters who did not have that example as children are less likely to vote as adults.  With a little support, habitual non-voters can be motivated to change their voting patterns.

 

In this election we will have two ballot questions to decide, both of them concern our taxes.   “Voters will decide two tax-related constitutional amendments the General Assembly passed this year as well as vote in a statewide referendum on tax legislation.” (Another resource can be found here.)

 

This election cycle, when you learn of a friend or family member who is not planning on voting,  encourage them to go with you to the polls, or to talk with them about your commitment to be a part of the voting public.  Voting amplifies your values and voice, giving you equal participation with others who share common interests.

A sample ballot can be found here. 

 

Every vote is extremely important. Let’s reach out to those 30,000 registered voters in Sandy Springs whose voices are not yet heard.

Spalding Drive Elementary At-Risk: How Affordable Housing is Linked

If you haven’t heard, the Fulton County School Board is considering closing Spalding Drive Elementary School due to declining enrollment and the deteriorating condition of the building. The schedule for the Fulton County School Board’s process and upcoming community meetings can be found here.  

Fulton School Board sets timeline on Spalding Drive closure, redistricting  

Let’s take a closer look at why a high-performing school like Spalding Dr. Elementary is being considered for closure. Fulton Co. Schools have an enrollment threshold of 450 students. When a school’s enrollment falls below this threshold, it can be considered for closure.

 

Spalding Drive Elementary has been a high-performing, traditional “community school” since it opened in 1966. In 2009 over 700 students were enrolled there. In 2010, Ison Elementary opened, and Spalding’s enrollment declined by 300 students, dropping to 428. For several years, the school maintained enrollment just above the closure threshold—until 2017, when the demolition of the Provence North apartment community caused a sharp decline. The redevelopment of Provence North, now known as “Juniper,” led to the loss of 66 students, four full-time teachers, counselors and support staff. The new apartments no longer offer the 3-bedroom units that were affordable to families, and the rental price now for a two-bedroom apartment is twice the price of a three-bedroom apartment before redevelopment, making it difficult for families to return. 

 

Spalding Drive Elementary is NOT the only school with declining enrollment. Across Sandy Springs, both public and private schools have experienced a 10-12% decline in enrollment over the past decade. This trend reflects a broader issue in our community—the lack of affordable housing for families.

 

Housing, Schools and the Future of Sandy Springs

 

To thrive, communities need housing at all price points to support the families who work locally, send their children to public schools, and volunteer with organizations that uphold the community’s infrastructure. These connections build the culture and sense of belonging that are vital for a city’s success.

 

Cities that thrive support housing (with zoning, bonds and other city tools) at all income levels. These create a “ladder of housing,” allowing residents and families to grow or downsize while remaining in their community. Unfortunately, Sandy Springs is facing a significant housing shortage, particularly in multi-family developments with 3-bedroom units that are affordable for young families. Most new rentals are “market rate” and range from $2,000 to $3,000 or more per month, while our median home price is over $545,083. For many first-time homebuyers and even long-time, senior residents looking to downsize, these prices are simply out of reach.

 

Our seniors are “stuck in place” with limited choices for retirement,  our new rentals are unaffordable and we have a shortage of three-bedroom units. Our single-family housing is out of reach,  with no starter homes available, creating a stagnant housing pipeline.  Our families are being priced out and have to move where there is housing they can afford.  

 

What’s Next for Sandy Springs’ Schools?

 

The potential closure of Spalding Drive Elementary could be just the beginning. North Springs High School is already being downsized as part of new construction plans. Without intervention and action to increase affordable housing options, more schools may face similar challenges in the future.

 

It’s time for our community to address these pressing housing issues before more schools face the risk of closure. Supporting a range of housing options is essential for keeping our schools open and maintaining the vitality of Sandy Springs.