Dunwoody incubates in Sandy Springs

A temporary City Hall has been chosen for the new city of Dunwoody —- and it’s outside the city.

The City Council this week agreed to a six-month lease on offices in North Park, an office complex in neighboring Sandy Springs.

The city will pay about $8 a square foot for the space, which will be fully furnished and be home to the city manager and other city leaders, such as a finance director, who have yet to be hired.

“Oddly, Sandy Springs’ first City Hall was in Dunwoody, so maybe it’s reciprocation,” Mayor Ken Wright said of the location. “It’s just temporary, and you can’t beat the cost.”

The offices at 400 Northridge Road also are across the hall from those of Boyken International, a consulting firm helping with the start-up of the city.

Boyken CEO Donald Boyken had first proposed the space last month, saying he knew the business that had been using the space was leaving.

The low price reflects that decision, since Dunwoody is subletting the space.

A few residents balked at the location on Councilman John Heneghan’s blog, Dunwoody North.

Heneghan defended the move, agreeing with Wright that it is a temporary location and gives leaders more time to plan where a more permanent City Hall will be located.

Dunwoody is set to begin operations as Georgia’s newest city on Dec. 1.

The city remains locked in negotiations with DeKalb County over providing services, most notably police service.

City leaders have said they want to have a police force ready by April 1, but the city will need to pay for coverage until that happens.