Schools

New Smyrna Elementary School Formally Included in Belmont Hills Project

School is set to open in Smyrna's Ward 3 in the fall of 2013.

While Post 2 member Tim Stultz and the remaining six members of the Cobb County Board of Education ready themselves to face the county’s grand jury this week, things are much quieter with regards to the board’s newly approved in Smyrna.

After all, we’re talking about a school that doesn’t have a name or design, and there won’t be news concerning attendance zones and other logistic specifics until the school’s scheduled fall of 2013 opening date draws closer.

Still, the Smyrna City Council took another step last week towards its construction with the approval of a development agreement that now includes the elementary school as part of the overall Belmont Hills project.

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In May of 2008, the city approved a development agreement with Halpern Enterprises for a $250 million mixed-use redevelopment of the former Belmont Hills shopping center at the corner of Atlanta and Windy Hill Roads.

Under that agreement, Halpern self-funded the Tax Allocation District (TAD) eligible expenses (infrastructure improvements) and is to be reimbursed by county and city property tax revenue as a result of the project.  

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It has been Halpern’s task to secure up-front funding for the project, which has proven to be difficult during the current economic climate. A Tuesday morning message left by Patch to Halpern officials has yet to be returned.

In addition to about 740 residential units divided between condominiums, single-family homes, town homes and luxury rentals, the projects is slated to have about 110,000 square feet of commercial space.

Last month, the school board approved contracts totally almost $8.4 million for the purchase of property for the new school to be located along Fleming Road between Ward Street and Atlanta Road.

Totaling slightly less than 18 cares, three parcels purchased included $4.3 million for 9.027 acres owned by Halpern; $588,060 for 1.5 acres owned by Robert and Jennifer Young; and $2.9 million for 7.45 acres owned by the .

To reflect the change of use of the property, the council voted 6-1 to approve the amendment to the original development agreement to include the school in the Belmont Hills project, and to extend the deadline for commencement of significant construction until 2013. Councilman Wade Lnenicka voted against.

“Our previous school board member (Holli Cash) did a lot of work to make this happen and I’m hopeful our current school board member (Stultz) will keep up the momentum,’’ Ward 3 Councilwoman Teri Anulewicz said at the most recent council meeting.

In a newsletter to Ward 3 residents last week, Anulewicz indicated that she had been in “continued communication’’ with Stultz, who did not return messages to Patch regarding the new school.

On Feb. 17 when the board approved the contracts towards the construction of the school, Stultz said, “the community around Smyrna is looking forward to this new elementary school being built, and I know that the city itself is hoping that this new school can help with pushing forward the redevelopment of the area.’’

At last week’s meeting, the councilwoman said there was “delight’’ and “eagerness’’ being felt throughout Ward 3 concerning the new school.

“This community is ready to get behind this school,’’ said Anulewicz, who anticipates the school from the outset will have an active parent-teacher-student association. “This is a fantastic thing for us. In the past couple of years, there have been nearly 100 babies born in Ward 3 and those babies are going to have to go to school somewhere.’’


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