Sandy Springs authority approves purchase of 111 parking spaces at Hillcrest; council abandons 2018 slope easement

The Sandy Springs Public Facilities Authority voted Tuesday to ratify easement and parking agreements that will let the city acquire 111 parking spaces in a 646-space garage planned for the Hillcrest mixed-use development at 6150 Sandy Springs Circle. The City Council separately approved abandoning a 2018 slope construction and maintenance easement on the same parcel, clearing a technical title issue needed for the development.

The authority’s director of economic development, Chris Burnett, told members the city would own 17.2% of the garage’s spaces and finance the purchase through a 10-year tax-abatement arrangement. "The city will own 17.2% of the total parking spaces in the garage," Burnett said, and the city will place construction and acquisition funds into an escrow account to be administered by the city and held at Truist Bank.

The vote ratified two PFA actions: the execution of easement agreements to secure the 111 spaces and a budget amendment to make project funds available. The PFA approved agenda item PFA 20 25-12 (parking agreements) on a motion by Councilmember Melissa Mueller, seconded by Jody Rochelle, and approved agenda item PFA 20 25-13 (amending the FY2026 budget to purchase the spaces) on a motion by Mueller, seconded by John Paulson.

Why it matters: The acquisition gives the city guaranteed parking capacity in the City Springs district as the Hillcrest development — led by a Trammell Crow Company partnership — moves forward. Council and authority members asked how the city will control costs and revenues tied to the spaces and how the arrangement will affect future city budgets.

Key financial and operational details discussed - Garage size and city share: The full garage will have 646 spaces; the city will acquire 111 spaces (about 17.2% of the…