Blog

We have reached a pivotal moment in our short history as a city. 

In recent statements, Mayor Rusty Paul and the City Council have announced that they are making the redevelopment of the North End a primary focus for the remainder of their current terms in office. Since receiving the final report from the North End Revitalization Task Force in January, the city government has already made plans for a new community center and a non-motorized trail system a part of the city’s Parks and Rec Master Plan.

In addition, they have initiated a request for proposals (RFP) for the redevelopment of four under-utilized shopping centers. But this just begs the question that so many in our community are asking themselves — where are the city’s plans to address affordable housing? It’s undeniable that affordable housing is the true key to any kind of revitalization or redevelopment project.

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On Monday night, we joined forces with the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), the region’s top urban planning agency, to host a needed discussion on affordable housing issues in metro-Atlanta. Despite the pouring rain, roughly 100 attendees came out to engage in this important conversation. 

Some of those in attendance included City Councilman John Paulson, City Councilman Andy Bauman, Executive Director of the Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods Rhonda Smith, as well as Andrea Settles, who serves on the Planning Commission.

Sam Shenbaga with the ARC presented some of the issues and potential solutions to this problem. 

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We support the city’s decision to request proposals for the redevelopment of four under-utilized shopping centers on the north end of Sandy Springs, and the creation of a Community Center as is outlined in the Parks and Rec Master Plan.

The potential redevelopment of these properties will most likely send a message that the North End is “open for business” as the North End Revitalization Task Force Plan stated was needed to stimulate economic growth in this area of town.

We are, as is most everyone, in favor of economic growth on the North End and realize that a stimulus is most likely needed. However, we are concerned that there is no actionon the city’s part to create a place for the families presently living in the neighborhoods, a stated goal of the Task Force.

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A recent article published in the Sandy Springs Reporter raised an important concern regarding the Georgia Department of Transportation’s recent decision to bring toll lanes to Sandy Springs, rather than MARTA rail expansion.

These toll lanes will cost billions of dollars. Yes, billions.

Not only that, they will displace 40 single-family homes, causing unnecessary hardship for working families in our city. The idea behind this project was to reduce commute times for workers, so you might be wondering … by how much?

1 minute.

This multi-billion dollar project has been promised to reduce commute times by one, single minute.

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The Founders of Sandy Springs Together, David and Melanie Couchman, attended “Defining Atlanta: Q2 Affordable Housing” an informative event hosted by the Atlanta Business Chronicle to explore the topic of affordable housing in the metro-region.

The event included panelists of private and public sector backgrounds. One of the panelists was Carol Naughton, pictured above. Carol is the President of Purpose Built Communities and served as a panel member for the event.

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