City Move Would Force Out Popular Makara’s Eatery by Eminent Domain

Pass by the Roswell Road/Johnson Ferry Road intersection around lunchtime and you will usually see a crowded parking lot at Makara’s Mediterranean eatery. The restaurant opened in August 2008 and owner Ertan Makara says his popular business has grown by word of mouth, but this may be the last year at its current location.

On Tuesday, Sandy Springs City Council approved a resolution to acquire the property by eminent domain for the new city center municipal complex. City Attorney Wendall Willard said plans are to have the entire square at the intersection brought down by January 2014.

“We’ll see what’s going to happen,” said Makara. “I’m focused on the day to day and don’t want to get drawn into [the negativity]. Anything can happen. You don’t know.” 

Fulton County records show the parcel located at 6224 Roswell Road is owned by George Cotsakis Jr. and Chryse Costsakis Hallmark.

Neither Makara nor the landowners appeared at the City Council meeting where a public hearing was held on the issue.

City attorney Wendall Willard said several attempts have been made to discuss acquiring the parcel at a fair price, with the property owners and their attorney.

Makara told Patch that he is letting his attorney deal with the issue.

The condemnation process can take six months. Mayor Eva Galambos said politeness is not going to get the job done. “It’s eminently plain that this Council has adopted a plan for downtown Sandy Springs that includes a municipal complex that fronts Roswell Road, and would occupy some of the land that this particular piece of property is located on,” she said. “You cannot acquire a whole block by saying ‘Pretty please. Pretty please.’ “