Dunwoody, DeKalb Reach Deal For New Austin Elementary

DUNWOODY, GA — Dunwoody and the DeKalb Board of Education (BOE) have agreed on a plan to build a new Austin Elementary School in exchange for more parks space and access to sports facilities.

The agreement gives the school system 10 acres of property for the new school adjacent to the school’s current location, and delivers future park space and shared access to sports facilities to the city.

Under the agreement, the city would purchase the entire 9.8-acre property where the current Austin Elementary School is located on Roberts Drive, and a 7.9-acre portion of the existing Peachtree Charter Middle School (PCMS) on North Peachtree Road. Dunwoody would also obtain shared access to a four-acre track and sports field on the PCMS property.

The school system would then purchase approximately 10.2 acres of the 27.8 acres of Dunwoody Park/Dunwoody Nature Center property on Roberts Drive for future construction of a new, 900-seat Austin Elementary.

“This is an initial agreement that will be vetted in a ‘public town hall’ type meeting where citizen input will be sought and evaluated. A public vote by the City Council will be taken after Dunwoody citizens have an opportunity to hear and comment on the agreement,” said Dunwoody Mayor Denis Shortal. “There are details within the agreement which will need to be reviewed and worked out. After hearing public, input the City Council will decide the best course of action."

Under the agreement, two new baseball fields will be built at the newly acquired 7.98-acre site adjacent to PCMS as replacement for two baseball fields currently at Dunwoody Park.

At closing, the school system would pay Dunwoody $3.6 million.

Several public meetings are scheduled to be held on the proposal:

• Public Information Meeting: Monday, October 17, 2016, 6 p.m. at Dunwoody City Hall (41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 103, Dunwoody, GA 30346)
• City Council Meeting: Monday, October 24, 2016, 6 p.m. at Dunwoody City Hall (41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 103, Dunwoody, GA 30346)
• Public Information Meeting: Tuesday, October 25, 2016, 6 p.m. at Dunwoody City Hall (41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 103, Dunwoody, GA 30346)
• City Council Meeting: Monday, November 14, 2016, 6 p.m. at Dunwoody City Hall (41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 103, Dunwoody, GA 30346)

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