Forest Park development authority reviews pending property sales, lease dispute and economic development plans

Forest Park Development Authority members on June 25 received updates from counsel and staff on two properties under contract, a tenant lease dispute that may lead to dispossessory proceedings, an elevator inspection tied to third‑party litigation, irregular board appointment timing, and several ongoing economic‑development efforts including interest from a coffee vendor seeking a brick‑and‑mortar location.

Authority counsel summarized two pending sales: 794 Main Street is under contract to Georgia Utility Contractors Association, Inc., for $150,000 with a $5,000 retainer. Counsel said, “They have a 90 day due diligence period that began May 1,” and that the buyer’s title report showed only minor wording issues that counsel did not expect to affect closing. Counsel told the board the buyer must submit building plans by July so the authority can review them and respond at the next meeting if there are concerns.

A second contract is with PDC Land Acquisitions LLC, described as a single‑purpose entity created by Prestwick Development, for “$300,000” with a $5,000 earnest deposit, counsel said. Counsel reported that the buyer’s due diligence ends this month and that the contract is conditioned on the developer receiving an award of low‑income housing tax credits by year‑end, meaning construction or other activity likely would not proceed until after that award is made.

On a separate matter, counsel said the authority has not received an executed lease from a longtime tenant identified in the transcript as the dentist (referred to as Mr. Kelly) and that rent payments have stopped. Counsel told the board that he has contacted the tenant’s attorney and warned that “if they do not, within the next 15 days, send us an executed lease ... we will have no choice than to start a dispossessory.” The board did not take a separate formal vote on enforcement at the meeting; counsel said he would continue to follow up.

Counsel also reported on an inspection connected to a third‑party lawsuit arising from an incident in 2022 in which a person was trapped between elevator floors at 850 Main Street. Counsel said outside inspectors engaged by the plaintiff did not find defects in the elevator during a site inspection he attended and that he did not expect the authority to be named as a liable party; he added that the authority “is not parties to the litigation” and that the relevant statute of limitations against the authority “may pass” given the event’s date.

Board governance issues were raised in the legal report. Counsel told the board that members’ terms are out of sync with how the enabling resolution and law intend staggered terms to operate and that some members’ terms currently end in different months across the year. He described a six‑month statutory provision that allows authority directors to elect someone to fill a vacancy if the appointing body does not do so within six months, and offered to prepare a memo to the city about aligning appointments. Counsel also reviewed training requirements, saying board members initially must complete an eight‑hour course and that refresher requirements may apply over time.

Economic development staff gave an update on Main Street activity and other initiatives. The staff member reported early interest in a property at the corner of Jonesboro Road (exact parcel not specified) and said staff must coordinate zoning questions with the planning department before bringing a more substantive proposal to the authority in July. Staff said the city is coordinating with Digital Realty on a data‑center project in the area and is planning a town‑hall meeting; staff also said the city is drafting community‑benefits language to accompany that outreach.

Staff said there is continuing discussion about shared parking for Main Street as mixed‑use and townhome projects proceed, and outlined branding work: a new economic‑development logo, a refreshed Main Street logo, marketing collateral, a new city website expected within one to two months, and plans for seasonal light‑pole banners along Forest Parkway and Main Street (approximately 126 poles). Staff also announced that a Blues on Main (fall) event and an upcoming Habitat for Humanity ribbon cutting are scheduled.

A local small‑business owner, identifying herself as Alexis and representing Bond and Brew Coffee (a mobile coffee cart), described her business model and said she seeks a small brick‑and‑mortar location in Forest Park. Alexis said she has operated at city events and markets, and described the business mission: “We’re building something rooted in community, culture, and connection.” The authority welcomed her presentation and discussed availability at renovated 850 Main Street, which staff described as an additional rentable community facility with an upstairs ballroom.

Procedural items on the agenda included adoption of the meeting agenda (with removal of a Towercam lease item) and approval of the prior meeting minutes; both motions were made, seconded, and approved by voice vote. Toward the end of the public portion, a motion was made to enter a brief executive session to discuss lease terms; board members opted to stay in the room and proceed to discuss benchmarks and lease terms with staff present.

Questions and follow‑up directions recorded in the meeting included counsel’s request that buyers submit plans early for review; counsel’s commitment to continue outreach to the dentist’s counsel about the missing lease and rent; and staff’s note that further zoning and parking details will be brought back in the July meeting. No binding development approvals or new contracts were signed at the meeting.

The meeting included routine board procedure and multiple informational updates that the authority said it will revisit at future meetings as plans and submissions proceed.