Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves this week renewed his call to have a voice in any negotiations involving the fate of Turner Field – and this time there are signs it might happen.
Eaves will ask his fellow commissioners on Wednesday to approve a resolution calling for the City of Atlanta and Fulton County to agree on a process for redeveloping the stadium site when the Braves depart for Cobb County by the end of next year.
Among other things, the resolution asks city and county officials to solicit proposals from developers and institutions that might be interested in the site.
Only Georgia State University has publicly expressed interest, though Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has said several other suitors have privately inquired about the sale.
So far, Reed has taken the lead on negotiating the sale of the stadium, which is operated by the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority. The mayor has said neither the Fulton Commission nor the Atlanta City Council are required to approve any sale process.
But in a meeting with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s editorial board Monday, Eaves said the mayor has told him privately the county will have a seat at the table. The chairman said he wants to ensure the process is transparent and that the public has a say in the site’s future.
“Even if Georgia State is a great partner, let’s make it an open process,” Eaves told the AJC.
Reed spokeswoman Anne Torres said she has not reviewed Eaves’ resolution and cannot comment on it. But Torres said the mayor’s office was instrumental in securing an Atlanta Regional Commission study that will provide one avenue for community input.
Eaves’ resolution is the latest twist in a sometimes tense standoff between the city and the county over the future of Turner Field.
Fulton County has one-third ownership interest in the stadium property and Atlanta has the rest. Eaves says the county’s stake allows the Fulton Board of Commissioners to vote on any proposal to redevelop the site.
The mayor has repeatedly said he believes the final decision rests with the authority, which holds fee simple title to the property. Two-thirds of the board members were appointed by Reed.
Over the months, Eaves and Reed have engaged in a war of words. But lately, both have softened the tone of their public comments. They've also met to discuss various issues, including the reopening the Jefferson Place homeless shelter.
Wednesday’s vote on Eaves’ resolution may test their fledgling partnership.
The resolution spells out in some detail how the city and county should solicit public input. For example, it says they should establish a timetable for soliciting public comment, establish a website for community discussion and sponsor workshops where residents and businesses can discuss the redevelopment.
That’s welcome news to Matthew Garbett, a member of the neighborhood-based Turner Field Community Benefits Coalition.
He’s among those who have asked Reed and local leaders to hold off on selling Turner Field until the completion of the ARC-funded study next summer.
In his view, the study will help refine and coalesce a cacophony of opinions about what should become of the 77-acre site.
“There are as many opinions about what they could put on those parking lots as there are people affected by it,” he said, listing ideas that include single family homes, a large retail district and even a casino. “You name it, people want it. That’s why we want to go through this process to come to consensus.”
Garbett said he’s hopeful the commission and council will agree to Eaves’ resolution.
“Obviously, I think that any politician or any group like the commission or council advocating for public input and an open and transparent competitive bidding process should be helpful,” he said. “Whether or not it will have an influence on the outcome is up to the mayor.”
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