The owner (WEDP) of property located at 703 Louisville Road is seeking to acquire a 1-acre narrow strip of land along the Springfield Canal from the City to support the future development of 250 market-rate apartment units (the “Gateway Project”). In return, WEDP has offered to pay to the City the market value for the property to be acquired, and also invest a minimum of $1.5 million to build a retaining wall/canal structure that will be dedicated to the City upon completion.

City staff have determined the narrow strip of property is not needed, and the canal and Canal District will benefit from construction of the new retaining wall and the Gateway Project in general. The property to be acquired from the City is a long, narrow parcel that was appraised for $120,000.00.

OCGA 36-37-6(g) authorizes the City to “sell and convey parcels of narrow strips of land, so shaped or so small as to be incapable of being used independently ... to abutting property owners where such sales and conveyances facilitate the enjoyment of the highest and best use of the abutting property owner’s property without first submitting the sale or conveyance to the process of an auction or solicitation of bids.” There are no other abutting property owners to the sliver of canal being conveyed.

This matter has been reviewed and the resulting development agreement negotiated by the Public Works and Water Resources Department, Real Property Services Department, and the City Attorney’s Office.

Approval