ATLANTA – A metro Atlanta legislator has prefiled a bill that could lead to the creation of what would become Georgia’s 10th largest city.
State Sen. Brandon Beach, R-Alpharetta, prefiled Senate Bill 324 Thursday to let voters decide whether to create the new municipality of Buckhead City.
The new city would carve about 25 square miles out of Atlanta’s current city limits, about 18% of the city’s land area. It would also include about 20% of the city’s population and cost the city of Atlanta more than $250 million in property, sales and lodging taxes, as well as business license revenues.
Beach’s prefiling means the bill will come up during next year’s regular legislative session. Lawmakers are currently meeting in special session to redraw the state’s legislative and congressional boundaries in accordance with new U.S. Census data.
“Since the summer of 2020, the rise in crime throughout the city of Atlanta has been alarming and has caused many citizens to feel for their safety, even in broad daylight,” said Beach. “Over the past few weeks, we have heard testimony first-hand from Buckhead residents who feel their needs are not currently being addressed and what the proposed incorporation would entail.
“Now is the time for citizens in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta to have the ability to determine for themselves whether to form their own city and establish services which would be more responsive to their needs.”
Last month, the House Study Committee on Annexation and Cityhood and the House Governmental Affairs Committee heard testimony from several officials about how a city of Buckhead would impact Atlanta and the state.
Also last month, several Democratic members of the city of Atlanta’s legislative delegation urged Buckhead City supporters to pump the brakes on the proposal.
Bill White, CEO of the Buckhead City Committee, said the new municipality would not financially devastate Atlanta.
“Buckhead City would keep less than 10% of the city of Atlanta’s annual budget, while reducing Atlanta’s population obligations by 20%,” White said.
This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.
ATLANTA – The growing movement to turn Atlanta’s wealthiest community into its own city took on new opposition Monday.
Democratic members of the city of Atlanta’s legislative delegation will deliver a letter to Georgia House Speaker David Ralston and Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, urging them to reject efforts from out-of-area lawmakers to push forward a bill that would allow Buckhead a path to cityhood.
“There is a move underway to remove Buckhead – the beautiful, wonderful neighborhood that we all enjoy – from the city of Atlanta,” said state Sen. Nan Orrock, who chairs Atlanta’s legislative delegation. “The senators who I’ve seen pushing this don’t live in Atlanta.
“We’re here to say, put on the brakes,” Orrock said. “Buckhead doesn’t need to leave Atlanta.”
State Sen. Nan Orrock speaks during a press conference by members of Atlanta’s Democratic legislative delegation. Image: Tim Darnell
A city of Buckhead would carve about 25 square miles – or about 18% of the city of Atlanta’s land area – and create Georgia’s 10th largest municipality. It would also include about 20% of the city’s population and cost the city of Atlanta more than $250 million in property, sales and lodging taxes, as well as business license revenues.
Those figures come from a KB Advisory Group analysis. Earlier this month, the joint House Study Committee on Annexation and Cityhood and the Governmental Affairs Committee heard testimony from several officials about how a city of Buckhead would impact Atlanta and the state.
“I live in Buckhead, but Atlanta is my home,” said state Rep. Betsy Holland, who chairs the city of Atlanta’s House delegation. “Carving out this part of Atlanta will have a devastating effect on my family.”
State Rep. Betsy Holland speaks during a press conference by members of Atlanta’s Democratic legislative delegation. Image: Tim Darnell
Both Holland and state Sen. Jen Jordan said they were worried about the thousands of Buckhead-based students who attend Atlanta Public Schools (APS).
“APS owns those buildings and property,” Jordan said. “Those schools don’t become the property of a city of Buckhead. What happens to those properties? Who becomes eligible to lease or sell them? APS is under no obligation to service children who don’t live in the city of Atlanta. If APS decides not to teach those kids, they fall into the jurisdiction of the Fulton County school system, and that system doesn’t have the plans, capacities, finances or staff to absorb them.”
State Sen. Jen Jordan speaks during a press conference by members of Atlanta’s Democratic legislative delegation. Image: Tim Darnell
But Bill White, CEO of the Buckhead City Committee, said APS will continue to serve Buckhead families.
“The law is silent on what happens when the city limits contract,” White said. “The law does not say that APS shall have the same boundaries as the city. No one believes APS will forfeit Buckhead and commensurate funds collected in taxes. We are confident APS will serve Buckhead City.”
“We’ve heard Buckhead wants a divorce from Atlanta,” said state Sen. Sonya Halpern. “What we need is a marriage counselor.”
Halpern acknowledged the issue of crime in the community, which is a strong reason some residents and groups are seeking their own city. She said she was at the Peachtree Battle shopping center back in September when a deadly shooting broke out in the parking lot.
“I urge the people who are leading this cityhood movement to put their time and efforts and financial resources to work with this upcoming new mayor, this new city council and with us to solve these problems,” she said. “The answer is not leaving the city. Increasing the police presence and fixing our sidewalks and potholes and streets won’t happen if Buckhead leaves Atlanta.”
“A new mayor will solve nothing,” White said. “The city of Atlanta is poorly managed, unresponsive, and incapable of addressing the concerns of Buckhead. A new mayor is no solution.”
White also said a Buckhead City will not financially devastate Atlanta. “Buckhead City would keep less than 10 percent of the city of Atlanta’s annual budget, while reducing Atlanta’s population obligations by 20 percent,” he said.
Orrock cited opposition from the Georgia Municipal Association to a Buckhead de-annexation.
“This is the worst thing we can do for Atlanta but also for Buckhead and Georgia,” she said. “Carving up a capital city will increase political, social and civil disorder.”
Orrock also said she doesn’t foresee a strict, party-line vote on the issue.
“You will have to search far and wide for a Buckhead business that supports cityhood,” she said. “The business community has said loudly, ‘Do not move forward on this.’
“You start down this track, where does it end? Will Savannah want to split up? What about Athens? How are you going to split that up?”
“Though there remains much work to do by those intent on making Buckhead City a reality, it’s time for the Georgia General Assembly – perhaps in the recently called special session – to allow Buckhead residents to vote on the matter in a fair election by adding the issue to the November 2022 ballot,” White said.
This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.
ATLANTA – What would become Georgia’s 10th largest municipality – and one that could prove financially devastating to the city of Atlanta – had the undivided attention Monday of several lawmakers from around the state.
A proposed city of Buckhead would carve about 25 square miles – or about 18% of the city of Atlanta’s land area – as well include about 20% of the city’s population. It would also cost the city of Atlanta more than $250 million in property, sales and lodging taxes, as well as business license revenues.
Those figures come from a KB Advisory Group analysis, and a joint House Study Committee on Annexation and Cityhood and the Governmental Affairs Committee heard testimony from several officials about how a city of Buckhead would impact Atlanta and the state.
“There is a lot of interest in cityhood,” said state Rep. Darlene Taylor, R-Thomasville, who noted Monday’s meeting wasn’t designed to debate the merits of any cityhood bill, but the overall process of creating new cities. Monday’s meeting was the fourth of five proposed meetings on cityhood creation in Georgia.
But Tom Gehl, director of government relations for the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), warned lawmakers of the hazards involved in creating new cities from existing ones.
“The GMA is opposed to carving out new cities from existing cities,” he said. “If you don’t account for the debt that’s being incurred, you’re jeopardizing the municipal frameworks of cities around the state when they go to the bond market. That’s a frightening prospect.”
State Rep. Bee Nguyen, D-Atlanta, who is also running for secretary of state, said when lawmakers agree to carve out new cities from existing ones, that has an impact around the state.
Valdosta State University’s Center for Regional Impact also has provided a Buckhead city feasibility study, in which it found such a city to be “financially feasible.”
“The proposed Buckhead City should expect annual revenue of approximately $203,521,892 and annual expenses of approximately $89,921,825,” the report said. “Based on budget projections, Buckhead City would realize a surplus of $113,600,067 under current property valuations and applicable millage rates.
“Subsequently, Buckhead City could offer property owners a significant reduction in property taxes, enhanced and/or new services for city residents, or a combination thereof.”
The KB Advisory study also found the city of Atlanta could save up to $178 million by not having to provide various services to Buckhead.
“Despite the cost savings, the city of Atlanta would be financially worse off if the Buckhead area de-annexes, with net fiscal losses to the city of Atlanta ranging from an estimated $80 million to $116 million annually,” the report said, adding Atlanta Public Schools would lose $232 million from its coffers.
This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.
ATLANTA – Atlanta-based PrizePicks, one of the largest daily fantasy sports operators in North America, will move its headquarters from Buckhead to Midtown Atlanta, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday.
The move to the Star Metals Building on Howell Mill Road represents a $25 million investment. PrizePicks also plans to expand its Georgia workforce by 1,000 during the next seven years.
“Georgia continues to be a driver of tech growth and innovation, attracting innovative companies with its unique mix of talent and infrastructure,” Kemp said. “Today’s announcement is a reminder of our strength in both welcoming new projects as well as creating an atmosphere where existing businesses can expand and thrive.”
“This move to Star Metals will help us create more high-skilled and high-wage jobs in our great city while we deepen our connections across the community,” added Adam Wexler, co-founder and CEO of PrizePicks.
A representative of PrizePicks urged the General Assembly during the recently concluded legislative session to include fantasy sports in a bill to legalize sports betting in Georgia.
Stuart Wilkinson, director of government affairs for the company, told members of a state House committee that adding fantasy sports could generate $40 million to $50 million a year in Georgia on top of the estimated $100 million sports betting could be expected to raise in the Peach State annually. Sports betting legislation passed the Georgia Senate but didn’t reach the House floor for a vote.
PrizePicks is actively hiring. Those interested can learn more or apply for openings at www.prizepicks.com/careers.
The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Global Commerce team worked on the headquarters project with the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Invest Atlanta – the city’s economic development arm – and Georgia Power.
Hogg Hummock (Photo credit: Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation)
ATLANTA – Several churches and schools, an old newspaper building, and one of the last remaining Gullah Geechee communities in the country are on the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual “10 Places in Peril” list.
Places in Peril is designed to raise awareness about Georgia’s significant historic, archaeological, and cultural resources facing such threats as demolition, inappropriate development, or just plain neglect.
“This is the Trust’s 19th annual Places in Peril list,” said W. Wright Mitchell, the organization’s president and CEO. “We hope the list will continue to bring preservation solutions to Georgia’s imperiled historic resources by highlighting representative sites.”
Here is this year’s Top 10 list:
Hogg Hummock on Sapelo Island (McIntosh County) – The Gullah Geechee community, established by direct descendants of enslaved West Africans after the Civil War, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Recent zoning changes will let homes be constructed that are double the size of current limits, which could force further removal of the indigenous population.
Atlanta Constitution Building (Fulton County) – Built in 1947 in downtown Atlanta, this rare example of Art Moderne architecture in Georgia was occupied by the Atlanta Constitution and later the Atlanta Journal Constitution until 1955, then by Georgia Power until 1972. It has been vacant ever since.
Pine Log Mountain (Bartow County) – This privately owned wilderness area contains historic resources from three eras: a Woodlands Era rock wall built by indigenous peoples, four 1840s-era stone iron furnaces used for mining, and a convict labor camp that existed before Georgia lawmakers ended the convict lease system in 1909. The sites are now threatened with demolition.
Cedar Grove, Martinez (Columbia County) – Built in 1851 in the Italianate style, this home was owned by several prominent families. It later served as a church and housed the first integrated kindergarten in Columbia County. The recent discovery of mold and ongoing maintenance costs threaten its continued use.
Church of the Good Shepherd, Thomasville (Thomas County) – Built in 1894, this church is an example of African American religious expression and education in the South. A classroom and library operated there until 1964. Major repairs have been deferred as church membership has declined.
Grace Baptist Church, Darien – McIntosh County – Located on historic Vernon Square, this church was a significant institution within the African American community. The congregation disbanded in the 1990s, and the building fell into disrepair. The city issued a citation last May that could lead to demolition.
Old First Baptist Church, Augusta – This significant example of Beaux Arts architecture was built in 1902. The Southern Baptist Convention was founded on the site in 1845, and the building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Now privately owned, the property is in disrepair.
Broad Avenue Elementary, Albany – Built in the 1930s in the city’s historic district, the school served the community until the property was sold in 2005. The building is under threat of condemnation and demolition due to its deteriorated condition.
Sugar Valley Consolidated School, Sugar Valley (Gordon County) – Built in 1927 of indigenous Knox Chert, the school closed in 1974. The building is now owned by the county and most recently operated as a community center, voting precinct, and events space. The Gordon County Commission has deemed it unsafe and has announced plans to tear it down and replace it with a fire station.
Piney Grove Cemetery, Atlanta – This historic African American burial ground in the city’s Buckhead neighborhood is one of the last vestiges of several African American communities that once thrived in the area. The organization Friends of Piney Grove Cemetery has accused the homeowners’ association of an adjacent condominium development with failing to fulfill zoning conditions and a state law requiring proper maintenance of the cemetery, resulting in it becoming overgrown and inaccessible.
The Places in Peril list aims to encourage property owners as well as interested organizations and communities to work to revitalize deteriorated historic properties.
