FAQs
What is the future Brookhaven City Hall?
The Brookhaven City Hall will be a gathering space for conducting the people’s business, to celebrate as a community, exchange ideas, and serve as a focal point and NorthStar for the City of Brookhaven within the Atlanta metropolitan area.
Why a City Hall anyway?
City halls, county administration buildings, etc. is a term used across the world for a building that houses the local government’s functions. City halls range from purely administrative offices (with limited public access) to all-encompassing public offices with all functions located in a single city hall building (i.e., public safety, courts, etc.), to purpose-built public gathering spaces.
What specific public spaces are in the proposed 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.
Will the public be able to use the Brookhaven City Hall?
Yes, the City will encourage the use of City Hall for community groups and events.
Where will the Brookhaven City Hall be built?
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. Click this link for the lease–purchase agreement with MARTA.
Why was the Peachtree Road location selected?
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.
How was the community engaged in the location and design?
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.
What will be located within the Brookhaven City Hall?
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
What will the Brookhaven City Hall cost?
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.
How is this being funded?
The City Hall is funded with Urban Redevelopment Bonds that will be repaid from the Special Service District. The Special Service District is a property tax overlay for commercial properties approved by the City Council on June 14, 2022. Homesteaded residential property owners are not being taxed for the Brookhaven City Hall.
How was the cost determined?
With a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) project delivery vehicle, the pricing for construction is checked three different ways.
- The design firm will price the design concept, but their pricing will not be refined because finer construction questions are not addressed in design.
- The CMAR firm will develop a detailed cost estimate based on the final design and it will be reviewed by the City’s Project Management firm. This will result in a GMP (Guaranteed Maximum Price). The cost estimate will use standard industry pricing software that reflects current construction labor and material costs and will also have bids from local industry trade partners furthering enhancing the accuracy of the pricing.
- Then, the CMAR firm will develop and issue bid packages for competitive procurement (i.e., site work, demolition, concrete, steel, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, etc.) to local trade partners, who with then be evaluated, and selected to be part of the GMP (Guaranteed Maximum Price).
The Project Management firm will be heavily involved in reviewing bids received to ensure maximum competition. To the extent the bids come back below the cost estimate, the City saves against the GPM. However, if any individual bid package comes in above the GMP, the CMAR gets to use any savings from other bid packages and any costs above the GMP are a burden of the CMAR firm.
Who are the architects?
City Council selected The Sizemore Group for architecture and design of the Brookhaven City Hall.
Who is managing the project?
The City Council selected Comprehensive Program Services (CPS) for project management. The project manager reports to the City Manager and will provide project updates to the Mayor and City Council as the project progresses.
How has the cost of supplies impacted the construction?
The local construction price index has risen 8.3% in the past year. The Brookhaven City Hall project estimate accounts for near-term construction costs increases and includes a 10% contingency on hard costs.
Will value engineering be a part of the design process?
Yes, value engineering will be employed throughout the entire process. The construction manager at risk (CMAR) project procurement delivery method inherently enables value engineering because the CMAR firm works directly with the design firm in the initial stages of the project to have the most efficient and cost effective final solution.
What are the projected annual cost savings compared to the monthly rent for the current city hall?
It is anticipated the annual operating cost will be less then the current leased City Hall. The current City Hall lease is a “triple net lease” with the City paying rent, property taxes and utilities on a 50-year+ inefficient building.
What are the national and local trends with respect to construction cost for buildings?
In the past year, the construction cost index has increased 8.3%. Costs estimates for the Brookhaven City Hall account for these near-term inflationary increases in the cost of construction and materials.
How is sustainability incorporated into the Brookhaven City Hall?
The Brookhaven City Hall will be built to U.S. Green Building Council “LEED – Gold” standards. The building will also include elements for WELL building and Earthcraft certifications.
How are we addressing homeless (MARTA)?
The presence of homeless persons is a common occurrence at transit stations everywhere. Being homeless is not a crime. Brookhaven will continue its efforts to assist the homeless toward emergency, transitional, and permanent housing. These programs are funded and coordinated by DeKalb County Government. As with the current leased City Hall, it is a public building that provides public services. However, City Hall is not designed to be a homeless or emergency shelter.
What security features will be included in the Brookhaven City Hall?
The City Hall will include both active and passive security measures. The building will have controlled access for most offices. The public areas will have the capability to enhance security as a specific event or threat level requires (including portable magnetometers, drop down gates, etc.)
City Hall will be connected to the City’s extensive camera system by both the interior and exterior cameras. City Hall will also include a dedicated Brookhaven Police Officer during normal operating hours.
Is the Brookhaven City Hall project part of the larger transit-oriented development on the large Apple Valley Drive parking lot?
Indirectly. The City anticipates that the construction of the permanent Brookhaven City Hall will be a catalyst for redevelopment and investment within the entire City Centre area.
How is noise (both for when people are outside and inside) and pollution from train/MARTA (when inside) being addressed?
Building materials, especially insulation and window glazing, will be included on not only the side of the building facing the MARTA and Norfolk Southern rail tracks, but also for Peachtree Road due to the volume of traffic. Similar precautions were incorporated in the State Farm corporate buildings adjacent to the Dunwoody MARTA station.
Will there be transportation / intersection improvements as part of the project?
Intersection improvements will be engineered for Peachtree Road and North Druid Hills Road. However, implementation is not part of the City Hall project scope due to the need to incorporate potential additional improvements for the future redevelopment of the larger MARTA parking lot on Apple Valley Road.
Can I purchase a road sign, like “Children at Play” to install near my house?
No. Only local governments can place signs in the right-of-way. If anyone else place signs, those becomes illegal encroachments and are subject to Code enforcement action.
The City cannot allow arbitrary placement of signs in the City rights-of-way, because it becomes a public safety issue for drivers. In the case of “Children at Play” signs, they are placed at schools and parks only. If these signs were allowed at every location where children existed, almost every street in Brookhaven would have them. Too many signs are distractions to drivers and distracts the focus from oncoming traffic and other vehicles.
How do I report a problem in my area in the road, right-of-way, or stormwater system?
The best way to report issues is through Brookhaven Connect using our website or downloading the FREE Brookhaven Connect app to report issues directly from your smartphone. Do not use Brookhaven Connect if you are reporting a Public Works emergency such as a tree blocking the road or flashing traffic signal, instead call our office 24 hours-a-day at 404-637-0540. Be sure to provide us with as much information as you can about the location with either exact addresses or nearest cross-streets.