Commercial and Residential Locksmiths in Sandy Springs

Sandy Springs firefighters scale down children's hospital, meeting patients from window

A group of Sandy Springs firefighters went to the top of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta to practice rappelling down the side of the 80-foot building. They were able to meet and surprise some of the children along the way.

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga - Some Sandy Springs firefighters decided to go to the top of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite to do some training. As they rappelled down the 80-foot building, they made some new friends along the way.

As they lowered themselves floor-by-floor, they would pause at the windows and wave to the tiny patients.

"Not everyone wants someone in the room with the kids, so it was a cool way of them getting to be close to us without us having to go in their rooms," said Capt. Kyle Sweeney.

The first responders saw the children's eyes light up. Both the children and the firefighters reached out to each other, and an instant bond was formed.

"For us to be able to feel that emotional connection with a piece of glass between us," said Lt. Anderson.

"It really brightened his day," said Zach Lansdell, whose son Levi is a patient at Children's.

Three-year-old Levi has been in the hospital for 200 days. His parents, Karli and Zach, say seeing the firefighters was one of his best days.

"It really made a huge impact on Levi and was a huge morale booster," said Zach.

After seeing the sweet smiles of the children through the windows, the first responders wanted to meet them, so they headed inside.

"To see the happiness it brings them that's fulfilling for us," said Capt. Sweeney.

"Every kid in there has a story, every kid, every family member. They don't have any idea what kind of joy they gave us," said Lt. Anderson.

Lt. Chris Mileshko was among the firefighters. His father's video company, Mileshko.com, took some unforgettable photos of video of the special day.

The firefighters say it was an emotional day, some of them have gone back to the hospital to visit some of the children they met, and have developed friendships with their parents.

As we move into 2023, the city is accelerating plans to extend the City Springs campus south across Mt. Vernon Highway to Hildebrand and in the triangle fronting Roswell Road. We have acquired the needed property and completed a conceptual plan for a hotel, more shops, restaurants, greenspace (including a Veterans Park), and residential options with an emphasis on ownership over rental.

City Springs’ success has drawn strong interest, so several aspiring partners are vying to produce City Springs 2.0, and early in 2023 we will winnow the proposer list to six potential partners to produce more detailed plans. We plan a final selection after public vetting in the first quarter of 2023.

The goal is to expand City Springs’s walkable, family-friendly environment and continue the steady redevelopment of our downtown.

The inflation roiling the general economy is drastically impacting city-sponsored construction. For example, one project estimated to cost around $6 million a year ago is now projected at $8 million, and if delayed until late 2023 will likely cost at least $9 million—a 50 percent increase in two years!

This phenomenon impacts all construction categories – roads, parks, storm sewers, buildings and sidewalks. In 2023, we may be forced to jettison projects, reduce their scope, delay them hoping prices moderate or find other ways to deliver capital projects at less cost.

While we face complications and increasing costs, simply stopping and trusting things are better next year is not acceptable either.

We are pushing forward infrastructure projects funded both by TSPLOST and our capital program, though rising costs may entail some adjustments and a little more inconvenience. Same for our new public safety headquarters.

The Veterans Park across from City Springs begins final construction in a matter of days with an expected November 2023 opening. Clearly, GDOT’s work on Ga. 400 and 285 is moving forward producing new, complex and confusing mobility difficulties.

After 50-years, we are finally in significant discussions with the City of Atlanta about our water system, so thanks to Mayor Dickens and his team for taking our concerns seriously and exploring solutions. Where we end up, time will tell. Yet, these are the first constructive conversations with Atlanta on this issue, and we hope 2023 brings a solution.

In 2022, we had grueling negotiations with Fulton County over Local Option Sales Tax revenues, a once-a-decade resource discussion. The city’s fiscal impact is minimal in the early years, but we benefit less from growth in the out-years, a real concern in high inflationary times. Next, we negotiate the service delivery strategy where we decide what services our citizens can expect as the county’s portion grows.

We closed 2022 as one of only six Georgia cities with a Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s AAA bond rating, which means our financial credentials are gold plated, a great distinction for our community.

As we face 2023, our challenges are great, but our opportunities are greater. Our goal remains to make Sandy Springs the model others look to for effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of life.

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Facing pushback from property owners, the Sandy Springs City Council approved the acquisition of five parcels of land through eminent domain Oct. 18.

The parcels are part of the Mount Vernon Highway corridor improvements project and Spalding Drive widening project.

Eminent domain, or condemnation, is the taking of a property for fair market value for redevelopment purposes, such as roads, sidewalks and parks. It can prevent projects from running behind schedule or the city from overpaying for property.

Late last year, the City of Roswell, which neighbors Sandy Springs, approved a resolution for the use of eminent domain for transportation and other city projects. The move was in response to an independent investigation into the circumstances that led to delays and multi-million-dollar cash settlements in the Oxbo Road realignment project.

Before leaving office, former Mayor Lori Henry said Roswell was “well-known” for avoiding the use of eminent domain. Roswell City Attorney David Davidson said the last time he could remember the city authorizing or considering the use of eminent domain was in 2008.

At the Oct. 18 meeting, the Sandy Springs City Council voted five separate times to approve the use of eminent domain for property owned by the Autumn Chase Homeowners Association, 348 Mount Vernon Highway, 6272 Mount Vernon Oaks Drive, 1235 Spalding Drive and 1265 Spalding Drive.

Announcement: Appen Media launches new publication in Sandy Springs

The Mount Vernon Highway corridor improvements project was started last year to increase pedestrian and motorist safety and traffic efficiency along Mount Vernon Highway from Vernon Trace to the Sandy Springs MARTA station.

The project is part of the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or TSPLOST, program voters approved in 2016. It is in alignment with Sandy Springs’ adopted Bike/Pedestrian Plan, Comprehensive Plan and Last Mile initiatives. The project will also provide connectivity to the proposed multi-use paths on Peachtree Dunwoody Road and Path 400.

City Attorney Dan Lee said that since starting negotiations with the Autumn Chase neighborhood in May 2021, the city has been unable to reach an agreement for approximately 7,047 square feet for fee simple right-of-way. While the city places the appraised value of the property at $235,800, the homeowners association has sought $560,000.

Lee said the deadline has now passed to renegotiate, and eminent domain is needed so the city can gain the title of the property. If the homeowners association insists on a higher price, it can take the issue up in court, but by that point, the project would have moved forward. Members of the homeowners association are expected to vote on the matter at a later date.

“As we’ve mentioned to you many times, the timetable for you to use eminent domain is driven by the construction deadlines,” Lee said. “As you know, this property is closely tied to utility relocations that are quickly moving upon us.”

Earlier in the meeting, a resident of the Autumn Chase neighborhood took issue with the fact that they were unable to meet with city officials before Oct. 18. But, Lee said, that’s because their attorney had picked that date, not because that was when the City Council planned to vote on the issue.

In their proposal, the Autumn Chase Homeowners Association is asking the city to spend additional funds to hire a project manager and plant new trees on the property. Lee said some of that is not compensable, but that the city could try to recalculate some of its numbers and come back with a better offer.

“The property owners made a couple of great points in that buffers are a big deal in Sandy Springs and should be, and we’re diminishing the depth of this buffer and it is probably compensable for us to add to that buffer,” Lee said.

City Councilman Andy Bauman said he hopes the homeowners understand that eminent domain is “one of the most difficult things” elected officials are asked to do. However, Mayor Rusty Paul said he thinks they can achieve both ends.

“The timing is unfortunate,” Paul said. “For whatever reason it’s gotten to this point, but [I] encourage [staff] fully to work to bring us back something that we don’t have to decide on, because it’s been agreed to.”

Councilman John Paulson moved to approve the use of eminent domain for the property owned by the Autumn Chase Homeowners Association, which was seconded by Councilman Tibby DeJulio. It passed unanimously, with Councilwoman Melissa Mular abstaining from the vote, because she owns a home in the subdivision.

The City Council then unanimously approved the use of eminent domain at 348 Mount Vernon Highway, owned by the Link Counseling Center, and at 6272 Mount Vernon Oaks Drive, which is owned by two private individuals.

Lee said city staff had already changed the project design three times to accommodate the Link Counseling Center and offered $142,900 for the appraised value of the property and resulting damages, but that the property owner was still demanding $429,000. He said that with the new design, the project no longer touches the property.

As for the land at Mount Vernon Oaks Drive, Lee said the appraised value is $29,000, but the city offered to give the property owners an additional $10,000 to avoid litigation costs. Still, the property owners counteroffered $66,000, which Lee said the city could not justify.

In 2018, the Sandy Springs City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement with Gwinnett County to widen Spalding Drive from two lanes to four from Winters Chapel Road to Holcomb Bridge Road.

The Spalding Drive widening project is part of Gwinnett County’s 2017 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax program. At the Oct. 18 City Council meeting, Lee said the City of Sandy Springs was unable to negotiate a deal with the McCubbins family, which owns the property at 1235 Spalding Drive. Both parties have been working together along that stretch of road for several years now.

Lee said the issue is that the family’s driveway will make the project very steep where it intersects with the road. The city has appraised the property is $49,000, but the family is asking for $100,000. Additionally, the family wants the city to redesign the project so that it goes around the driveway.

“The city’s proposal is after several design changes and offers to correct the driveway,” Lee said. “This offer includes a design of the intersection with the driveway and the right-of-way that includes about a $30,000 construction cost to keep the elevations of the driveway where they are in connection to the elevation of the roadway.”

Lastly, the City Council approved the use of eminent domain at 1265 Spalding Drive, the last piece of property for the project. What’s different from the others, Lee said, is that it is owned by six entities, including the IRS and the Georgia Department of Revenue, which cannot agree on how to divide the money. The appraised value of the property is $52,100.

“So, believe it or not, if there was ever a property that needed eminent domain, it is this property,” Lee said. “With your authorization, we’ll file the condemnation, and the money will be paid into court and then there’ll be a fight over ... it.”

Beer and Wine Craft in Sandy Springs is not only the smallest winery in the state, but also one of the few wineries that sells craft beer and wine making equipment in Georgia.

Founded in 1959, Beer and Wine Craft is nestled just a street over from City Springs and is the oldest craft beer and wine making retailer in the Southeast, with customers coming from all over the area to pick up their supplies. Owner Joe Keenan has been a Sandy Springs resident for 46 years, and he bought the store in 2012, and established the winery in 2014.

“When I turned 65, I retired...I got tired of sitting around,” Keenan said. “I love to work. I mean work is fun for me. So I ended up getting this little place and I put it in the winery in 2012 and then I moved it up to become a farm winery in 2014. And here we are, in all this wine in here we make every bit of it.”

The winery produces around 2,000 gallons of wine each year. It’s the only winery in Georgia where guests can taste wine, buy it by the glass, bottle, case or make their own — up to 30 bottles — of certain selected wines. Keenan imports more than 100 varietals of juice from the premier vineyards in some of the best wine districts from around the world, making it truly unique.

“Your wine’s only be good as the juice that you get and the juice you get is going to be as good as how it’s grown and who the farmer is and how you pick it,” Keenan said.

Keenan purchases his juice for the wines from Wine Expert, a company that has been around for around 50 years and supplies juice from places around the world, including New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, South America, Europe and everything along the west coast.

Keenan’s Private Reserve Blend — super Tuscan blend, he says — even won a silver medal at the American Wine Society competition last year.

In addition to making and selling their wine, Beer and Wine Craft hosts wine and beer making classes each month taught by Keenan himself. Classes are once a month and cost $75 per person. Beer making classes are $55 per person and held April 22, June 17, Sept. 23, Nov. 11 and on days to be determined in July and December. Keenan said he enjoys working with attendees and teaching them the chemistry behind wine and beer making.

“Helping people I really enjoy watching people learn,” Keenan said. “I mean it’s an amazing experience when people say, ‘Oh, I get it!’ and they like that a lot.”

Businesses have also held team-building experiences at the winery where they compete and see who can make the best wine. Groups such as wedding parties or various clubs have also signed up for wine making classes and wine tastings.

When Keenan and his staff aren’t conducting classes and creating wines to sell, they also work with engaged couples to create special bottles for their wedding day. Beer and Wine Craft does around 20 weddings a year. Couples can choose which kind of wine they want to serve and have the option to purchase mini bottles as wedding favors.

Beer and Wine Craft is at 203 Hilderbrand Drive in Sandy Springs and is open Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays and Tuesdays form 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursdays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m, Fridays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs officials this week secured a property key to finalizing the Johnson Ferry Road/Mt. Vernon Highway improvement project, initiated by the city’s 2016 transportation sales tax.

At the Jan. 17 Sandy Springs City Council meeting, councilmembers approved the purchase of 1.8 acres on Mt. Vernon Highway, called “the Spruill Property,” from the estate of a 96-year-old resident for $2.2 million.

The property, which sits between the Sandy Spring Library and Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, will allow the city to build a connector road between Mt. Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road, City Attorney Dan Lee said.

Corridor improvement projects in the area are aimed at “improving vehicular and pedestrian mobility” in the downtown Sandy Springs area by eliminating “bottlenecks” on Johnson Ferry Road and Mt. Vernon Highway.

“In an effort to support the need to promote development in the downtown area of the city, staff has identified the property as a necessary acquisition to construct a connector road between Johnson Ferry Road and Mt. Vernon Highway,” officials said in a report.

The project is part of set of improvements to Johnson Ferry Road and Mt. Vernon Highway totaling $23.4 million, which were funded through the Sandy Springs 2016 TSPLOST and started in 2017.

Lee said they have also agreed to trade a section on the west side of the property, which won’t be used for the road, to Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church.

A home on the 1.8-acre property will be demolished to build the connector road, and Lee said the city expects to close on the sale in February.

Council members also approved the purchase of land on the south shoulder of Mt. Vernon Highway for $313,000 from the Autumn Chase Homeowners Association. The parcel will also be used for roadway improvement projects on Mt. Vernon Road.

“The greatest part of this $313,000 recommended purchase price has to do with the cost to procure, which means replacing the hardscapes many trees on the property and lots of landscape,” Lee said.

The first property purchase was unanimously approved. The second purchase was approved 6-0, with District 3 Councilwoman Melissa Mular recused due to a conflict of interest.

Councilmembers also approved an amendment to the city’s solid waste ordinance, requiring all local waste haulers to offer recycling services to their customers.

Sandy Springs Sustainability Manager Catherine Mercier-Baggett told councilmembers the amendment would make recycling a uniform requirement for local companies but wouldn’t require citizens to participate in the programs.

“The greater goals of this text amendment is to provide convenient access to recycling to all of our residents and businesses and ultimately reduce the amount of waste that gets to the landfill,” Mercier-Baggett said

Currently all authorized waste haulers in Sandy Springs, except for one, offer recycling services. The company which doesn’t offer recycling is small and isn’t accepting any new customers, so it will be grandfathered in, she said.

Under the new ordinance, companies will only need to offer one type of recycling, but will be required to deliver what they pickup to a Material Recovery Facility and not the landfill. If problems arise with companies not disposing of materials properly, the company could be investigated, she said.

The ordinance amendment will apply for service at both single family and multi-family dwellings.

Mercier-Baggett said the ordinance amendment will go into effect in April.