City of Atlanta’s expansion to Emory and CDC approved

Emory University is seeking to be annexed into the city of Atlanta. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Emory University is seeking to be annexed into the city of Atlanta. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

The Atlanta City Council voted unanimously Monday to annex Emory University as part of the city’s largest expansion in 65 years.

The city's 744-acre addition covers Emory, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

The annexation, which takes effect Jan. 1, brings prominent educational and healthcare organizations into the city limits, while also creating the potential for MARTA to build a light-rail line from Lindbergh Center station to the school’s campus. A MARTA line could be built using city sales tax revenue that isn’t collected in unincorporated DeKalb County.

The Atlanta City Council plans to vote Monday on Emory University’s annexation into the city.

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The annexation moved forward despite objections that it will harm DeKalb County public schools because the area will become part of Atlanta Public Schools. The city school system will grow along with the city, a move that covers fewer than 10 students but transfers about $2.25 million in property tax revenue from DeKalb schools to APS.

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