J u n e 1 , 2 0 2 3 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 7 , N o . 2 2
leaders Medley tax incentives spark Johns Creek debate County honor charities By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
for service work
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek officials raised questions about the estimated $4.2 billion economic impact mega-development Medley will have on the city in a larger discussion on tax abatements at its May 23 work session. Medley, the 43-acre mixed-use project set to anchor Johns Creek’s Town Center, is projected to include 200,000 square feet of retail, restaurants and entertainment, 900 residential units and 110,000 square feet of office space. Local media have reported 11 new tenants have signed leases at Medley, most of them food and beverage concepts. Phase I of the project is scheduled to open in the latter half of 2025. The project was unanimously approved for tax cuts at a meeting of the Development Authority of Fulton County April 25. Medley will be taxed at 50 percent in the first year during the incentive period, bringing in an estimated $2.5 million, and will become fully taxable over a 10-year term. Because inducement is the first step in a two-step process, Medley’s financing for $400 million in bonds was approved the same day as the city’s work session — prompting questions from councilmembers about the nature of tax incentives. At issue is a loss in tax revenue for the City of Johns Creek. Kimberly Greer, Johns Creek assistant city manager, said the city will forgo $300,000 in tax revenue in year one. But she said the city would also be getting the same amount in taxes, an increase over the current annual tax revenue received of roughly
By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com
JOSHUA CURRAN, CFP® JOSHUA CURRAN
listened in. Councilwoman Stacy Skinner questioned whether the Development Authority notifies the city in advance of tax abatement approval. While it wouldn’t be “first right of refusal,” Abdullahi said there could be a “courtesy notification.” “There is no vote or voice that is in need from the city or the school in order to support the taxpayer,” he said. Tax abatements apply to all tax structures, Abdullahi said, including the city, the county and the school system. Councilman Larry DiBiase cited a comment made in front of the Development Authority Board, stating
ROSWELL, Ga. — Fulton County leaders visited the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell May 24 for a celebration event honoring 25 North Fulton nonprofit groups for their service to the community. The celebration came after the Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted to approve more than $7 million in grant funding for non-profit groups like the Chattahoochee Nature Center and North Fulton Community Charities as part of the county’s Community Services Program and Veterans Services Program at a meeting May 17. Speaking to the gathered crowd of representatives and local leaders at the center’s riverside pavilion, District 2 Commissioner Bob Ellis said Fulton County would not function efficiently without the nonprofit partners that provide a safety net for some of the county’s most vulnerable residents. “Really the beauty of this program is that it leverages the strengths that you all bring and the heart that you all bring,” Ellis said. Since the Community Services Program’s inception in 2016, Ellis said it has brought about $50 million in funding back to community partners throughout Fulton County and has served more than 900,000
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See NONPROFIT, Page 6
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Samir Abdullahi, Fulton County Economic Development director, leads the City Council’s work session discussion on tax abatements, May 23. Medley, the 43-acre mixed-used development slated for the city’s Town Center, received unanimous approval for tax cuts at the Development Authority of Fulton County the month before. $80,000. Mark Toro, Medley’s developer, won similar tax concessions 10 years ago with Alpharetta’s Avalon. For that project, Toro was awarded $550 million in tax abatements over 10 years as its construction was underway in 2013. That action cost Alpharetta an estimated $1 million in tax revenues over the 10year term, according to officials with that city. City asks for notification Fulton County Economic Development Director Samir Abdullahi led the Johns Creek council’s work session discussion. Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne also
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