Blackhall Studios’ plan to develop part of Intrenchment Creek Park in exchange for donating three nearby parcels of land has been controversial from the start, partially due to the condition of that land.
Now, the company is taking steps to clean up its property.
About 2,000 tires that were illegally dumped on a tract along Bouldercrest Road have been removed. A contractor working with Blackhall said that about 2,000 more tires still need to be cleaned out, plus several piles of trash and tree stumps.
Critics of the land swap deal said Blackhall has not been a good neighbor by allowing the trash to pile up for months and they don't trust the company to be good stewards if it is allowed to take ownership of protected greenspace.
A landscape architect working with Blackhall said the trash wasn’t cleaned up sooner because it took time to identify a place that would accept thousands of tires, and recently a deal was struck with Liberty Tire Recycling.
Blackhall currently uses the property for storage, but it wants to give 55 acres to DeKalb County that will be used to rebuild and increase amenities at Intrenchment Creek Park. In exchange, the company would build on 48 acres the park off Constitution Road.
The DeKalb County commission would have to sign off on the land swap deal. The CEO’s office said at a recent town hall that it is still reviewing options and will eventually bring a recommendation to commissioners.
Residents who live near or use the park are split on the proposal. Some say it will allow for a bigger and better park while allowing economic development in south DeKalb. Others say the Blackhall land is less desirable and that it is bad precedent to allow a private company to build on park space.
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