Sandy Springs close to buying Target site for City Hall

Sandy Springs, a new city with no historic center, is honing in on a site for its first City Hall.

City officials say they hope to purchase for $8 million an 8-acre site on Johnson Ferry Road, near Roswell Road, that now hosts a Target store.

In July, the City Council gave initial approval to purchase the site, after receiving an independent appraisal at that value, said city attorney Wendell Willard. Surveys and other evaluations of the property have since been completed, he said.

Closing has been scheduled for Dec. 10. “At this point, it looks like a go,” Willard said.

According to Fulton County property records, the nearly 30-year-old retail building and surrounding property have a combined appraised value this year of $15.8 million — up substantially from a $6.2 million value last year. The taxable value of the site is $2.5 million, according to county records.

City officials say they have not determined whether to move city departments into the 92,000-square-foot building or to redevelop the site, which extends from Johnson Ferry Road south to Mount Vernon Highway. The property under contract does not include the Goodwill store, which shares a wall with Target, or any frontage on Roswell Road, Willard said.

Target corporate officials could not be reached for comment Friday.

In mid-October, Target is expected to become the first major anchor to open a new store in the redeveloped Prado, just south of I-285 on Roswell Road, said Nick Gold, a spokesman for the development company Sembler.

As for the old retail space becoming city headquarters, Sandy Springs officials say it makes financial and cultural sense for a permanent location for government, one owned by taxpayers.

“You’re always better off owning than leasing,” said Dianne Fries, a city councilwoman.

Councilman Rusty Paul cited its central location, and opportunity to provide “a drop of hope and aspiration to use it as a catalyst, for redevelopment of Roswell Road.”

Most government offices, including the council chambers, are in leased space in an office park on Roswell Road. The police department has its headquarters several miles away, in offices on Barfield Road. Between the two locations, the city pays about $1.6 million a year in rent, according to documents.