The City of Brookhaven held its final public meeting on the development on Feb. 27 City Hallallowing residents to inquire about land use, traffic and the cost of the $78 million building.
The Brookhaven City Council will vote on the final design in March or April, with groundbreaking expected in the fall of 2023.
The city is entering into a 50-year ground lease on the 1.24-acre property currently used as long-term parking at the Brookhaven/Oglethorpe MARTA station. MARTA parking will move to the rear lot off Apple Valley Road.
The new city hall is being paid for by commercial property taxes in the special service district, City Manager Christian Sigman said, not Brookhaven residents.
Sigman said the city hopes to encourage quality development in the area.
“Such projects are catalysts. … anchoring this particular area of the city with a high-quality public building will serve this community for generations,” Sigman said.
Less than 30 people came to the virtual meeting. In response to the city’s ongoing survey, 900 participants said they wanted a welcoming space with public art, an eco-friendly building with green spaces and public accessibility.
Sizemore Group owner Bill de St. Aubin presented potential design elements for City Hall. He said 62% of the building is for public spaces and 38% for offices and “everyday functions of the city”.
The building’s glass design is a throwback to the local government’s promise of transparency. It also has a tree in the center of the lobby, lots of natural daylight, a green area on the roof and an accessible entrance from the street. The canopy at the entrance imitates the emblem of the city with two rivers.