Council approves plan to convert former Total Wine space for Dominique Dawes Gymnastics and Ninja Academy

The Alpharetta City Council unanimously approved a master plan amendment and conditional use request to allow Dominique Dawes Gymnastics and Ninja Academy to occupy a 20,000-square-foot former Total Wine building at 380 Northpointe Circle.

The applicant plans to reuse the existing building on 2.18 acres to provide recreational and competitive gymnastics, an agility obstacle course modeled on American Ninja Warrior, and children’s party services. Miguel Duran, speaking for the applicant, said the company would clean and repaint the building and add landscaping. “It’s been vacant and in disrepair for quite some time, but we’re gonna clean it up and we’re gonna beautify it and build something that we can all be very proud of,” Duran said.

City planner Michael Woodman told the council the Unified Development Code requires 49 parking spaces for the proposed use; the site has 114. He said the proposal does not trigger Northpointe eco‑district measures but that the applicant committed to sustainable landscaping and providing designated van‑pool or rideshare parking spaces. Planning Commission considered the application on Aug. 7 and unanimously recommended approval subject to the 10 conditions in the staff report.

Council moved promptly from public hearing to action after no public comment was offered. Mayor Pro Tem Merkel made the motion to approve MP‑25‑09/CU‑25‑12; Councilman Heipps seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The application does not include building expansion; hours presented to staff are 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily, and the applicant anticipates up to 40 employees. The council packet includes a citizen participation report showing supportive comments at a CZIM meeting and no speakers at the Planning Commission hearing.

The council’s approval allows the applicant to proceed with permit submittals under the conditions adopted by staff and Planning Commission.