Brookhaven’s City Hall/City Centre project gets underway

Brookhaven, GA, Oct. 17, 2023 – The City of Brookhaven, the acclaimed metro Atlanta community with small town charm and big city access, kicked off construction of its exciting City Centre project, a multi-purpose downtown district, with a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 11.

“After a decade of building our great city, it’s time for us to focus on enjoying it, together. And the City Centre is an emblem of this transition. Much more than a City Hall, it will be a monument to our community: A place where the public will gather, celebrate, enjoy coffee and movies, and engage with its government.,” says Mayor John Ernst.

Brookhaven City Centre will serve as the anchor of the 11-year-old municipality. A state-of-the-art City Hall will reside on an approximately one-acre site and be the project’s centerpiece with government offices and extensive space for public meetings, gatherings, and special events. The latter includes a catering kitchen and rooftop terrace. The City Hall project, which is expected to be completed by mid-2025, is funded via Brookhaven’s Special Services District. This means that no residential property tax revenue is used to fund the construction.

“By beginning construction on our new City Hall, we are building the anchor for something even more important—a City Centre that will belong to the people and further our commitment to integrate and unite our government with the good people of Brookhaven,” said District 1 Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tempore Liney Jones. “Public input, which has been gathered throughout the master planning processes for years, allows us to manifest the community’s vision for who we are as a City today and in the future.”

“Our new city center is making yet another down payment on our commitment to connectivity. How lucky that we will have our people’s house right on a MARTA rail line, accessible through a network of trails and walkways. I want to thank all the folks who have been watching this closely and raising questions and ideas to make this project stronger and more responsive to community needs, as well as the mayor, members of council and staff who have worked tirelessly on this generation-defining project,” said District 2 Councilmember Jennifer Owens. 

“‘Brookhaven is a beautiful City that deserves a beautiful City Centre,’ said District 3 Councilwoman Madeleine Simmons. ‘The MARTA station is in the heart of the City and has needed a facelift for quite some time.  Now, when residents drive, bike and walk down Peachtree Road, they will have an aesthetically pleasing place to enjoy coffee, arts festivals, live music, movie nights and more,” Simmons continued. “Brookhaven’s greatest strength is our neighbors, and I am so excited for a City Centre that will continue to bring us together to live, work and play.”

“This City Centre/City Hall project we are about to build will stand as a beacon of hope, a hub of civic engagement, a gathering spot for community events, and a testament to our collective commitment to the growth and prosperity of our city,” said District 4 Councilman John Funny. This construction project is not just about bricks and mortar, it’s about building a foundation for a stronger, more vibrant community.

“The architectural design of Brookhaven City Centre celebrates diversity and honors the citizen’s commitment to the community. Anchoring the center of Brookhaven at the crossroads of Peachtree and North Druid Hills, a beautiful transformation is about to occur,” said Bill de St. Aubin, AIA, CEO Sizemore Group. “Brookhaven is creating a place to celebrate all that has been accomplished and living legacy to future generations.”

"The City of Brookhaven has assembled an all-star team to deliver what will be a transformative project for the city, and we are honored to be a part of that legacy," said Bobby Campbell, Executive Vice President at McCarthy Building Companies. "From the construction and design teams, trade partners, MARTA and the surrounding community, each thoughtful contribution made by these groups during the planning and execution of this exciting development will power the future for the city." 

City Hall by the numbers:

• Actual Building Area - 58,250 Square Feet
• Site Acreage – 1.08 acres
• Public space on ground – 0.27 acres
  • North Plaza – 2700 sq ft
  • South Plaza – 6900 sq ft
  • Street Scape – 1500 sq ft
  • Atrium – 2700 sq ft
  • Multipurpose Hall – 4300 sq ft
  • Chamber Space – 2500 sq ft
  • Rooftop Garden – 4000-5000 sq ft
  • Rentable Board Room – 1650 sq ft
  • Public Rest Rooms – 1200 sq ft
  • Coffee Shop and Kitchen – 750 sq ft
  • Explore Brookhaven Store – 600 sq ft
  • Total Public Space – 36000 sq ft (0.83 acres)

• Parking
  • Surface parking –                   33
  • Ride Share/Dropoff -               4
  • Underground Parking -           56

                                              Total                89

The Brookhaven City Hall will be located at the corner of Peachtree Road and North Druid Hills Road on the existing long-term MARTA parking lot. The City of Brookhaven acquired the lot from MARTA in 2022 for the purposes of a permanent Brookhaven City Hall.

The current design includes an atrium and adjacent event space that total approximately 6,000 square feet for community gathering and rental. It will be supported by a catering kitchen.  The current design also includes a roof top terrace for public event use that will afford beautiful views of Brookhaven, Buckhead, and Stone Mountain.

Peachtree Road is the city’s “Main Street” and the most recognizable thoroughfare in the entire metropolitan area.  It was important to locate the Brookhaven City Hall close to mass transit and major mobility corridors to encourage access for all. Finally, the City Centre Master Plan and the 5-Year Comprehensive Plan Update calls for City Hall to be located within the City Centre.

Community engagement is a priority for the City of Brookhaven. Its first-ever Citywide Engagement Plan was approved by the City Council on Nov. 8, 2022, and guides community engagement for capital projects, planning efforts, policy development, daily operations, etc. Specific to the City Hall project, the public was engaged extensively during the City Centre Master Plan process to determine the general location of a City Hall.  For the building itself, there have been design charettes with stakeholders, public meetings with initial building massing, a visual preference survey, two virtual town hall events, and presence at several City events (Paint the Park, Light Up Brookhaven, MLK Dinner, etc.) Additional opportunities include the Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival on March 25 & 26, email comments on the project website at CityHallProject@BrookhavenGA.gov, and attending public meetings concerning discussion and approval of the development design on March 28.

The space plan for the permanent City Hall will include legislative and administrative functions including:

• Mayor and Council offices
• City Council Chambers
• Office of the City Clerk
• Human Resources Department
• Finance Department
• City Attorney’s Office
• City Manager’s Office
• Communications Department
• Facility Services Department
• Explore Brookhaven
• Information Technology Department
• Community / Event Space

The current budget for the Brookhaven City Hall totals $78 million. Of this amount, $60 million is for construction cost and $18 million for soft costs and contingency.

The City Hall is funded with Urban Redevelopment Bonds that will be repaid from the Special Service District.  Homesteaded residential property owners are not being taxed for the Brookhaven City Hall.

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