Dunwoody Puts A Stop To Apartments For 6 Months

Dunwoody Mayor Perimeter CID
Photo credit: Bisnow
Dunwoody Mayor Denis Shortal Talks Traffic Issues With Perimeter Cid Executive Director Ann Hanlon At A Recent Bisnow Event.

It appears the city of Dunwoody is taking a cue from "Seinfeld" and its Soup Nazi when it comes to developers: No apartments for you! Come back in six months!

Dunwoody officials locked in a six-month moratorium on multifamily building applications, permits and construction to buy time for officials to review the city's fire safety codes and ordinances, Reporter Newspapers reported.

The move comes months after the Georgia General Assembly approved a bill that prohibits both cities and counties from banning the use of wood as a construction material, superseding many local ordinances that sought to steer developers on certain projects toward steel-framed construction. That law, while easily passed under the Gold Dome, was met with protest from some city officials, including Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, whose city enacted an ordinance that prevented wood being used for framing on structures taller than three stories.

“I think wood is a very safe product when used appropriately, but when you get that high up, you have to build in safety concerns for everybody,” Paul told the Northside Neighbor in March.

Dunwoody Mayor Denis Shortal told Reporter Newspapers this week that the new state law was “maybe a small part” of why the city was revisiting its fire safety codes, with another city councilman calling the moratorium a “breather” for the review.

The moratorium does raise the question of when some developers will be able to move forward on planned projects in Central Perimeter, including GID Development Group's massive High Street project that would include 1,500 apartments, 1,500 condominiums, 400K SF of retail, 400K SF of office and 400 hotel rooms and Grubb Properties' 20-acre project that would involve 900 condo units, according to Reporter Newspapers.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's Atlanta Newsletters
Related Stories

How Long Island Projects Can Cut Through Red Tape And Community Opposition To Cross The Finish Line

Emory Takes Over Proton Center For $82M: The Atlanta Deal Sheet

Dewberry's Midtown Eyesore Quietly Resolves $75M Mortgage

Boca Raton's New Leaders Throwing 'All Kinds Of Curveballs' At Developers

NYC Stops Construction On Another Office-To-Residential Conversion As Inspectors Descend On Job Sites

Mesirow Pays $132M For Midtown Luxury Apartment Tower

Self-Storage Sector Bounces Back As Investors Move Past Market 'Trough'

1200 White St., Atlanta's Newest Creative Hub, Is Transforming The West End

Regent In Talks To Buy Tower Place 100: The Atlanta Deal Sheet

The Crown Estate Unveils Nearly 170K SF Of West End Redevelopment

New Office Construction Is On Pause In Atlanta. Landlords Have A Chance To Fill Their Towers

AI-Assisted Construction-Bid Startup Fields $4M Seed Investment