Mayor Shirley Franklin today announced that while progress is continuing on key Beltline projects, negotiations with Fulton County on the sale of the Bellwood Quarry have encountered some obstacles.
Last week, the City closed on the first phase of the redevelopment of City Hall East, which will be the first major Beltline development to be implemented within the Tax Allocation District (TAD). Attracting investments into the TAD in the early years of the 25-year development plan is critical. “By executing projects early, we are ensuring there will be an adequate tax increment generated to support the bonds we need to finance the parks, trails, and transit construction. Getting City Hall East underway in 2006 is a key milestone,” said Mayor Franklin.
The Mayor also sent a letter today to the Fulton County Commission responding to their offer to sell the Bellwood Quarry to the City for $20 million. The County’s offer is contingent on the City making 500 beds in its Detention Center available to the County to relieve its overcrowded jail. In her letter, the Mayor reiterated her willingness to make 175 beds available to the County, but made it clear that no additional beds could be made available given the City’s existing commitments to house federal prisoners and the need to house its own inmates. “I can assure you that the City has no interest in holding beds in abeyance; we have every economic and operational incentive to ensure that the Detention Center is fully utilized. If there were more beds available, I can assure you that we would make them available to the County. They simply do not exist”, the Mayor said.
The Mayor asked that the County agree to move forward with its sale of the Bellwood Quarry to the City. She offered $11.85 million for the quarry. “The appraisal for the property commissioned by the County and performed by Childers Associates values the property at $11 million. The appraisal commissioned by the Atlanta Development Authority appraised the property at $12.7M. Our offer of $11.85M splits the difference. If the County has a different methodology for arriving at a reasonable price we would be happy to consider it.”
The Mayor restated her hope that the sale of the quarry could move ahead and that the issue regarding bed space could be finally put to rest. “I look forward to completing the Bellwood Quarry sale and to finalizing our plans for this critical redevelopment project. I know the County Commission is as eager as I am to advance this truly transformational project.”
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