Council OKs Property Transactions in City's Center

(Note: This report is based on a City of Lilburn press release)

The Lilburn City Council approved two important property transactions at its monthly meeting Monday night.

--The council approved the transfer of 38 acres of Gwinnett Water and Sewer Authority property to the Lilburn Downtown Development Authority. The former site of the Jackson Creek Water Treatment Facility, located near the intersection of Lawrenceville Highway and Indian Trail-Lilburn Road, is the property tied to Big League Dreams, the city's proposed multi-use sports complex.

The property has 1,350 feet of frontage on Indian Trail Road and around 500 feet more on Lawrenceville Highway. 

According to a press release emailed Monday evening, "The DDA’s ownership opens up many opportunities for the property’s redevelopment, but ultimately provides city control over its future."

--The council also approved property called the "final piece of property necessary for the realignment of Main Street," according to the press release. The $2-million Main Street project, which will realign the entry way to Old Town from Lawrenceville Highway, is expected to begin early next year and take six months to complete.

The realignment is part of the city's revelopment plans that include the construction of a new City Hall and library off Church Street. It is expected to be completed in late 2014 and cost $10 million, paid for with SPLOST funding (from voter-approved one-percent sales tax for special projects).

City officials say Monday's approvals are another step toward the redevelopment of the city's center at Indian Trail and Lawrenceville Highway.

“These are two very big vision pieces in our city. It is important for the city to lead development in a direction that will encourage quality growth and make Lilburn a destination,” Mayor Johnny Crist said in a released statement.