Holly Springs DDA approves lot‑sale amendment, signs off on revised Town Center concept plan

Speaker 1, a member of the Downtown Development Authority of Holly Springs City, summarized and the DDA approved a first amendment to the agreement for sale and purchase of lots between Stonecrest Homes, Georgia LLC and the Authority of Holly Springs. The amendment adds lots behind the Hartman House, sets a firm closing deadline of 06/27/2028, and allows the purchaser up to two 6‑month closing extensions, each for a $100 fee. Speaker 1 said the agreement provides $50,000 upfront and the balance of the '18%' at the time of a third‑party closing.

Why it matters: The amendment creates a firm timeline for lot closings and adds small extension fees, giving the authority greater certainty about when parcels will change hands and signaling progress on the larger downtown redevelopment effort.

Details of the amendment: As read into the record by Speaker 1, the amendment replaces the conveyance language to state, 'Purchaser shall purchase all lots on or before 06/27/2028; provided, however, purchaser shall have the right to extend such time period two times for a period of six months for each extension.' Speaker 1 said the city attorney has approved the language and that the agreement will be presented to City Council for consideration on June 2. When members asked whether the $50,000 initial payment was part of the '18%,' Speaker 1 confirmed that it is.

Town Center concept plan: The DDA also voted to approve a revised Town Center concept plan. Speaker 1 described two principal changes: an L‑shaped apartment building moved to the rear of the site so most residential units are concentrated in back, and the proposed brewery/social building was shifted to the front to better overlook the plaza. Speaker 1 said the developer reduced total residential units slightly—from an initial allocation near 270 to the 'low 260s'—and altered some ground‑floor uses from residential‑over‑retail to office‑over‑retail.

Construction sequencing and related projects: Speaker 1 outlined procurement and scheduling for related projects: statements of qualification for the city hall project opened May 30; a five‑member committee will review 16 plan holders and interview top candidates, and the award is planned for the City Council agenda on Aug. 18, with construction expected to begin this fall. Speaker 1 also said an amphitheater contract was awarded recently and that work will start this summer.

Infrastructure constraints: The DDA heard that completion of the parking deck is delayed because Georgia Power service remains underground and unavailable at the site, preventing finish work such as elevator and electrical completion. Speaker 1 said rough electrical and plumbing work is in place but cannot be finished without power.

Votes at a glance: - First amendment to agreement for sale and purchase of lots (Stonecrest Homes): motion approved unanimously, 5–0. The amendment adds lots behind the Hartman House, sets a closing deadline of 06/27/2028, allows two six‑month extensions (each with a $100 fee), and was noted as going to City Council on June 2. - Town Center concept plan (revised layout): motion approved unanimously, 5–0. Changes include relocation of apartments to the rear, relocation of the brewery to the front, and a slight reduction in unit count (to the low 260s). - Approval of meeting minutes (04/16/2025): approved unanimously, 5–0.

What’s next: The amended sale agreement will be forwarded to the City Council on June 2 for its consideration; the city hall procurement is scheduled to appear on the council agenda Aug. 18. The DDA did not set precise construction start dates for residential units pending final developer financing approvals.

Attributions and caveats: Quotations and procedural attributions in this report use the speaker labels as they appear in the meeting record (Speaker 1, Speaker 2, Speaker 3). The transcript repeatedly referred to a payment described as the 'balance of the 18%'; the record did not specify the base to which the 18% applies beyond the phrasing used by meeting speakers. Where the transcript did not attribute a motion to a named individual, this account preserves the DDA’s speaker labels rather than assigning personal names.