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Smyrna moves to control Emory Hospital site, repurposes Castellaw purchase for future recreation
Summary
Council members said the city will acquire the former Emory Hospital site on South Cobb Drive for master planning and possible public-private partnership uses, and will buy the Castellaw Funeral Home parcel for future recreational court space; council indicated it will seek a destination-led redevelopment rather than dense multifamily.
Smyrna city leaders said the council has decided to acquire the former Emory Hospital site on South Cobb Drive and to hold the nearby Castellaw property for future recreation, with an emphasis on uses that would create a community destination rather than large multifamily development.
Mayor and council members said brokers representing Emory approached the city about future uses and that council members rejected proposals that would have prioritized large apartment complexes. City officials said the purchase will allow Smyrna to control land use and pursue a master-planned public-private redevelopment that could include athletic courts, instructional indoor field space, pickleball and other civic uses. Council members said keeping active medical offices on site where appropriate is also a possibility.
On nearby Castellaw — the former funeral home site — the council said it plans to acquire the parcel from Walton Communities and hold it for near-term court construction or other recreation uses. Council members said conversations with local pickleball advocates indicate players generally want courts rather than a large commercialized pickleball center, and that the city will prioritize flexible court space on the Castellaw site while considering a larger, destination pickleball component as part of the Emory master plan.
Why it matters: the Emory site sits on South Cobb Drive and offers transit access; the council said acquiring the property gives the city more control over future uses and zoning outcomes that residents favored. Officials said the decisions are preliminary and that master planning and partner negotiations are under way.
Next steps: staff will master-plan the Emory parcel with local and regional partners, analyze parcel phasing and public-private partnership options, and return to council as concepts and funding strategies are developed. The Castellaw site will be held for near-term recreational improvements, subject to design and budget approvals.
