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| The site of the proposed redevelopment |
Nearly 80 townhomes planned for North Druid Hills Road.
Atlanta-based Oak Hall Companies, a developer of commercial, medical and residential properties, is proposing a large redevelopment on North Druid Hills Road. The company wants to build 78 townhomes in place of the Grand Slam Golf & Baseball (aka Hidden Valley Driving Range) facility at 3352 North Druid Hills Road. The development would be called "Provence Park." To begin this process, OHC is requesting that DeKalb county rezone the parcel from C-2 & M (Industrial) to RSM (Small Lot Residential).
This is not the first time the 11.5 acre parcel has been targeted for redevelopment.
As recently as 2014, John Weiland Homes planned to redevelop 59-70 townhomes on the property, but eventually abandoned its plans. Ashton Woods, another residential developer, sought to build 43 townhouses and 104 condo units in 2004, but also abandoned their plans. In both cases, the developers were put off by the cost of removing 12,000 cubic yards of dirt and slag, and then putting it all back (minus the slag). The slag, or "stony waste matter separated from metals during the smelting or refining of ore" was dumped there by the E.V. Camp Steel Works, a steel foundry that operated close to the nearby railroad tracks until the 1950s.
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| The "Grand Slam" property consists of two parcels, one 8.8, the other 2.7 acres. |
There are homeowner concerns over the construction's impact on stream and water quality, and runoff and flooding along the creek that has already been a problem for many years. Several homeowners living along the lower section of Burnt Creek Road have had to deal with wet yards and the occasional wet basement. Many feel any increase in runoff will result in even more severe flooding problems.
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Representatives from OHC recently presented their plans to neighbors. Possibly the most significant revelation was that the price of the property, jointly owned by Robert C. Bowden Family Trust and North Druid Hills Properties Limited, has been reduced to a point where OHC is confident they can absorb the remediation expense.
Additionally, although none of the homes would be built in the floodplain, all purchasers would be required to purchase flood insurance. The 78 townhomes will be offered for sale in the "high $300,000s."
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| The siteplan indicates 82 units but only 78 are actually planned |
OHC was unclear on whether a hydrology study has been completed or would be performed. There seemed to be little indication that if the study were to be or had been performed, that the information would be shared with the community.
The closing of the sale/purchase transaction is contingent on DeKalb county commissioners approving the rezoning request.
What are your thoughts on this proposed redevelopment? Do you think the area can handle or needs nearly 80 new townhomes? Do you prefer classic driving ranges like Hidden Valley or newer ones like Topgolf?
Please share your thoughts below.