City officials are officially in the market for a developer for the city’s civic center project, which now is expected to cost up to $159 million.
Sandy Springs City Council on Jan. 21 unanimously approved a formal request for proposals from companies that want to be the city’s master developer for the project.
They are: Batson-Cook/Pope & Land; Carter/Selig Enterprises; MidCity Real Estate Partners/Morris and Fellows/John Weiland Homes/Pollack Shores Real Estate; North American Properties; and Seven Oaks Co./Orkin & Associates.
“We believe these firms are qualified to move into the next phase,” City Manager John McDonough told members of the council Jan. 14.
The companies will be asked to submit proposals on how they believe the 14-acre block of the city center should be developed. The area is bounded by Johnson Ferry Road, Roswell Road, Mount Vernon Highway and Sandy Springs Circle.
Proposals from the firms are due March 28. The city is expected to chose a developer by May.
City officials have proposed building a civic building that would include city offices and a 400-to-600-seat theater, housing and parks on property located at or near the intersection of Roswell and Johnson Ferry roads.
During the council’s Jan. 14 annual retreat, McDonough said the city already had approved $48 million for the civic center project’s first phase and that $111 million was needed. City officials have identified a variety of potential sources of funds, including a tax allocation district, bonds, and the city’s hotel/motel tax, that would product a projected $146 million, he said.
Nine companies or groups of companies responded to the city’s request for qualifications for the development job. A city committee reviewed the responses and narrowed the recommended list to the five approved by the council.
