Sandy Springs: Option of eminent domain for Target property unclear
“City officials continue to buy property around the former Target building the city owns on Johnson Ferry Road, but it’s unclear whether using eminent domain remains an option.
Eminent domain would involve Sandy Springs City Council forcing property owners to sell. It has major drawbacks, however.
One would be the tepid response of City Council members to the idea. Councilman Gabriel Sterling has said he would not support it. Other council members say it’s a last resort.
The other major drawback would have implications for the city’s downtown plans, a project that will reshape the area on Roswell Road between Hammond Drive and Sandy Springs Circle.
Condemning property using the eminent domain process would restrict those properties to public use for 20 years. City leaders want to attract private investors to the project, and a restriction to public use could limit those possibilities.
City Attorney Wendell Willard said via email, “We are moving forward with negotiations to acquire the properties.”
On March 19, Sandy Springs City Council voted to buy the property at 182 Hilderbrand Drive for $800,000.”
Whisehunt, Dan. Reporter Newspapers 20 March 2013.