UrbanizeAtlNewsBot

UrbanizeAtlNewsBot

9-acre church redevelopment aims to put downtown Smyrna on map Josh Green Wed, 05/08/2024 - 15:15 The City of Smyrna’s years-long quest to create a more robust and cohesive downtown is taking a significant step forward this month.

The Cobb County city is in the process of purchasing and redeveloping the strategically located, 9-acre Smyrna Baptist Church campus—along with an adjacent former Presbyterian church property the city previously acquired—as part of a project dubbed “Downtown the Downtown.”

The church property is adjacent to the mixed-use village considered downtown Smyrna today, situated along Atlanta Road about three miles outside the Interstate 285 Perimeter. The city’s Village Green redevelopment is just beyond that, with a second location of Suwanee’s popular StillFire Brewing in the works as part of the commercial component there.

The church redevelopment would mark another instance of congregations both urban and OTP selling properties to make way for denser development as metro Atlanta continues to grow.

Approximation of Smyrna First Baptist Church’s 9 acres in relation to today’s mixed-use village, with Atlanta Road pictured at top right. Google Maps

The scope of Smyrna’s 9-acre redevelopment plans off Atlanta Road. City of Smyrna

A recently formed Downtown the Downtown advisory committee met for the first time last week at Smyrna City Hall to review a timeline and next steps regarding the Smyrna First Baptist Church property at 1275 Church St. Negotiations with the church have been ongoing since last year.

According to a project summary provided to Urbanize Atlanta, city officials plan to issue a Request for Proposals on May 15 seeking ideas from development firms for the church property. The project is considered part of Smyrna’s placemaking B.O.L.D. Downtown Master Plan.

Exactly what the church property may become has not yet been determined.

A process involving “extensive citizen input” and “careful market analysis” will steer what redevelopment looks like, according to city officials. Whichever development firm is hired will help in the public engagement phase, per the city.

One building that will remain standing, the church’s stone chapel, is expected to be converted to public uses, such as live performances and community events.

Church properties that would be included in the “Downtown the Downtown” initiative. Google Maps

Plans call for saving and repurposing the church’s stone chapel for public use, such as community events and performances. City of Smyrna

Bids for the church redevelopment will be reviewed over the summer, and the project is scheduled to be awarded in August. The public engagement phase is slated to kick off sometime this fall.

City officials expect construction to begin in 2027. The church will keep operating at its current location for two years as its new facilities are built nearby on Atlanta Road, per project officials.

Travis Lindley, Smyrna Ward 3 Councilman and chair of the advisory committee, called the Downtown the Downtown redevelopment initiative a “tremendous opportunity” that will be guided by “a strong and meaningful public engagement process” in an announcement this week.

Find more site context in the gallery above.

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