It’s been eight months since the news broke that Mercedes-Benz USA was moving their headquarters from New Jersey to Georgia, but the process has taken another step forward with the announcement that the Sandy Springs City Council has approved zoning for the new offices, as well as apartments and commercial space.
The location is on Abernathy Road near Ga. 400, a 75 acre tract of land that is the city’s largest undeveloped property. Over 1,000 jobs will be created or relocated to the 250,000 sq. foot office, which according to the automotive giant will cost nearly $100 million when all is said and done.
Apartments and commercial retail will come from Ashton Woods, which will make up nearly 400 single and multi-bedroom apartments. This part of the plan was opposed by a vocal minority at the Sandy Springs City Council meetings, with detractors arguing that the traffic impact may be worse than anticipated. Nevertheless the plan passed the City Council by a vote of 5-1.
The plan also calls for a 14 acre park, that land being donated by Caroline Glenn Mayson, whose family previously owned the land.
Attracting Mercedes was perhaps the crown jewel in what has been a wildly successful several years for Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and his plan to attract companies to the state. A highly competitive bidding war with North Carolina resulted in some $23 million in tax incentives being promised to the German company, but that number should pale in comparison to the economic impact that Mercedes will bring to the state.
