In a memorandum, last week, to Mayor Eva Galambos, City Council and residents, the Sandy Springs Conservancy echoed what many say they would like to see at the center of the new downtown plan – green space.
The SSC envisions the old Target site as a central park space that connects to Heritage Sandy Springs and Williams Payne House, with sidewalks that link to Abernathy Greenway and Lost Corner.
The memo from the SSC board of directors said, ”This park could feature large, green lawns, tree-lined walkways, play areas, water features, picnic areas and benches”
The letter referred to a growing awareness that parks increase property values: “Parks are now a new measure of community wealth. The overflowing parking lot at Overlook Park shows us that a beautiful park is a place people want to be. The well-attended events at Heritage and the Farmer’s Market show us that people enthusiastically attend events in our downtown core.”
During this week’s public input sessions led by the city and master planning firm Goody Clancy, Terry Morris, an expert in development projects said, “What I would like to see is us get away from the monument called City Hall.”
Morris said town squares with a City Hall at the center don’t work. “You drive into the square and City Hall is right in the center and then it’s dead on the weekends.”
Morris is married to Cheri Morris who serves on the SSC board of directors. The full SSC memo is attached to this story.
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