$58 Million Downtown Plan Doesn’t Uproot Longtime Businesses for Green Space

Master Kleen dry cleaners and Waffle House will have to find new digs, according to the Sandy Springs master plan for its Town Center, but the three businesses on the east side of Roswell Road at Mount Vernon Highway can stay put, for now.

Last November, conceptual plans included a green space on the triangle and would have moved out Eddie’s Automotive and House of Oriental Rugs, which have been there 40 and 24 years, respectively, and also Mr. Mattress Outlet, a 12-year business.

Below: Vacant commercial space along Roswell Road not seen as a deterrent for downtown investors.

As for Master Kleen and Waffle House, Mayor Eva Galambos says they can find another nearby location. “I have said repeatedly that I don’t see any reason we couldn’t incorporate these businesses [in the Town Center area],” Galambos told Patch.

City Council is set to approve a resolution to adopt the City Center Phase 1 Implementation Plan, during their Tuesday evening meeting. The estimated cost of the first phase of the project is $58.5 million and does not include the civic center building planned at the old Target site. 

“We don’t have funding. We figure if we put up $7.5 million for seven years we could cover it,” the Mayor said.

City officials hope to attract developers for public/private partnerships and mixed-used structures. 

Galambos said she does not see vacant commercial space scattered up and down Roswell Road as a negative for potential investment in the area. “There are really not that many,” she said. “We will have 1,500 new housing units. The whole idea of a city center is there will be more people.”

See also:

Plans for New Downtown Green Space Would Uproot 40-Year Business

Edged Out? Business Owners Accepting of What Comes With New Downtown

Inaccuracies in Comprehensive Plan Helps City Shift Strategy in Apartments Dilemma