Gwinnett college in line to get DOT land

By Christopher Quinn and Laura Diamond

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia Gwinnett College could get nearly 8 acres of property and a building owned by the state Department of Transportation for free.

Sen. Don Balfour, R-Snellville, filed Senate Resolution 114, which would transfer to the fast-growing college a former car lot that is directly across Ga. 316 from the campus.

The land and building are part of the right of way the DOT is buying to rebuild the interchanges between Ga. 316, Collins Hill Road and Ga. 20, and DOT spokeswoman Teri Pope said the department and college officials have been in talks about the possible transfer.

College President Daniel Kaufman said the land would likely house laboratories for the college's digital media program.

"It's really a win-win for everyone," Kaufman said. "We acquire a turn-key facility, and it won't cost the taxpayers anything because the state already owns the building."

He estimated it would be about a year and a half before the land could be transferred to Georgia Gwinnett.

The Lawrenceville college opened in August 2006 and enrolled about 5,400 students this fall.

Pope said she was unable to reveal the value of the potential gift because the DOT is still negotiating to buy right of way for the interchange.

Balfour, like Kaufman, called it good for everyone.

"It's a piece of property they can obviously use," he said, "and the state already owns it."