City Hall Location of Snellville in Metro Atlanta Snellville is a town/city in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States, east of Atlanta.
1.3.2 City territory swap In the homestead that Snell now referred to as Snellville, the two assembled a small wood frame building and started a company together, Snell and Sawyer's Store, similar to the one in which they were working in London.
It is uncertain when New London officially became Snellville, but the locale of the partners' store was referred to as Snellville in their advertising, and the young town began to show a promising future.
The City of Snellville received its charter from the General Assembly of the State of Georgia in 1923. The first mayor of Snellville was Gladston Snell, and the first police officer was Byron Whitworth. Britt acted as mayor, and George Martin and Crawford Juhan served as police officers. The town/city limits were enlarged to a 1-mile (1.6 km) radius from the center of town. Following Britt's term, the charter was again dormant until World War II, at which time Arthur Stancil became mayor. The charter has since remained active. The town/city used to sell bumper stickers at City Hall for $1.
Snellville's expansion remained slow until the 1960s, when the suburban evolution patterns of segregated uses and automobile dependency became commonplace. Present-day Snellville is quite a different place from the settlement that thriving James Sawyer and Thomas Snell. As of the 2010 census, Snellville's populace was 18,242 and encompassed 7,069 housing units. Over 1,150 businesses operate in Snellville, bringing in more than $1 billion in revenue annual. Snellville's political fitness now includes a mayor and five council members. There are over 100 employees working for the town/city of Snellville, which operates from five departments: Administration, Parks & Recreation, Planning & Development, Public Safety, and Public Works. The town/city limits have grown to 10.6 square miles (27.4 km2), and there are fourteen homes of worship positioned inside the town/city limits. As of early 2011, new housing construction, much of it upscale, continues in Snellville and in areas of southern Gwinnett County carrying a Snellville address.
This is the only region of metro Atlanta where this is occurring on such a large scale, despite the recession. The award-winning and upscale Governor's Walk neighborhood in Snellville went on to be instead of after the recession was well under way.
Georgia MLS statistics back this metro Atlanta anomaly, and many feel the area's good luck amid the foreclosure crisis occurred because Snellville remained strong economically amid the recession, and is a prominent relocation region for locals of the metro Atlanta region resettling from other suburban areas.
The Snellville Loop (Snellville East-West Connector) concept was advanced as a loop road connecting US 78 west of Snellville with GA SR 124 north of Snellville. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, this idea went through a several iterations until it was advanced into a route forming a complete north side loop (bypass) of Snellville, U.S.
On November 9, 1992, the town/city of Snellville adopted a resolution opposing any loop road around Snellville. After the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) later put the connector onto their Statewide Construction Work Program, the town/city of Snellville passed another resolution (on August 23, 1993) opposing the proposed Snellville Connector. The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) then received a request from GDOT and the town/city of Snellville to conduct a study to identify the best transit alternatives that are technically sound and supported by the small-town community. Recognizing the preferred alternative to be a primary transportation enhancement involving federal funds, ARC and its partners in the planning process designated the study as a Major Investment Study (MIS). City territory swap New City Hall In early November 2000, then-mayor Brett Harrell began negotiating a territory swap to transform an abandoned supermarket into a municipal complex and the now-former City Hall into part of a church campus. The old Kroger in the Oakland Village Shopping Center on U.S.
78 athwart from Snellville United Methodist Church and City Hall was just one of a several dead or dying shopping centers plaguing Snellville. Abandoned big-box stores had turn into enough of an eyesore to make them a primary copy in the 1999 town/city elections. Harrell had campaigned on a platform that encompassed accomplishments to revitalize vacant retail space. Among the concerned were tenants of the half-occupied Oakland Village Shopping Center that the town/city would take over, and who would be forced to relocate. The City Council voted unanimously that November to proceed with the exploration of a potential territory swap. There was concern that timing could turn into an copy and kill the deal in the early stages. The owner of the shopping center wanted to sell his property by the end of 2000, while the City Council decided to take no action for a six-month period. Some people expressed concerns about the universal at the City Council meeting and asked for the deal to be put to a popular vote. On March 5, 2001, the town/city held its first enhance hearing on the territory swap. Over 100 people attended the meeting to support the idea, while more than a dozen showed up to oppose it.
A several cited a recent $79,000 roof job on City Hall, and the fact that the swap would benefit the church more than the city, as reasons to back out of the deal. On March 26, 2001, the City Council met to vote on the territory swap proposal.
According to the Council, the Oakland Village Shopping Center was worth $2,700,000, and the current City Hall was worth $2,300,000.
Councilman Jerry Oberholtzer estimated that renovation of the shopping center for town/city use would be in the $2,500,000 range.
He also estimated that to renovate City Hall for future needs would run the town/city the same cost.
The City Council voted 3 1 in favor of the swap; Councilman Troy Carter was the only dissenting vote. As preparation for the swap began, the town/city hit a snag in June 2001 when it was revealed that there was a possibility of perchloroethylene soil contamination from an old dry cleaner site in the Oakland Village Shopping Center.
In response, the town/city began seeking a small-town ordinance banning the assembly of new wells and method any existing ones.
The town/city council voted on June 25 to adopt the ordinance but still allow the use of the well for irrigation.
The town/city council also decided to include the realignment of Oak Road and Henry Clower Boulevard at U.S.
A lawyer representing the Nash Family of Snellville filed a lawsuit claiming the town/city could not trade one of the parcels because the town/city didn't own it.
Later, the town/city used the site for a jail, a senior center and an agricultural building.
The Snellville City Council allowed funding for a multipurpose complex combining municipal functions and police services, plus offering a enhance gathering spot.
In the final plan, the territory swap would include an 8-acre (32,000 m2) universal encompassing a new City Hall, police department, senior center and enhance forum area. Groundbreaking for the new town/city hall began in March 2004 with the demolition of the Oakland Village Shopping Center.
Hogan Construction Group of Norcross was awarded the $7,400,000 contract to construct both the new City Hall and new Senior Center.
On March 12, 2006, the town/city officially dedicated the new City Hall, positioned at the corner of Oak Road and Main Street East (US 78).
Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer was quoted that arriving at the dedication day took "five years, four elections, three architectural firms and two lawsuits". The town/city hopes to one day grew the complex by adding a parking deck and a new enhance safety annex.
City Hall complex with the remaining Oakland Village Shopping Center out-parcel in front On August 13, 2007, the City Council awarded a $52,000 contract to Smithco Construction of Gainesville to demolish and remove the remaining piece of the old Oakland Village Shopping Center.
In January 2007, City Manager Jeff Timler informed the town/city council that they were in violation of his contract.
Noted as prominent and progressive, Snellville Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer accused the town/city council members of causing Timler's early departure with their overbearing micro-management of town/city staff.
Council member Bender stated that Timler had kept her well informed through email that she noticed had been CC'd to the entire council.
Council member Jenkins was quoted expressing his disapproval of the entire council-manager fitness by suggesting that a town/city the size of Snellville (+/- 19,000) would benefit more with a hands-on council. On March 12 a crowd of 50 people attended the City Council meeting to express their support of Timler as City Manager.
At this time, the City Attorney, Thomas Mitchell, stated his legal opinion that the town/city was not in violation of Timler's contract. Council member Jenkins accused Mayor Oberholtzer of using the town/city manager as a tool of politics by dragging Timler through the mud for political gain.
On May 14, 2007, the council met in a closed-door meeting to interview candidates for the town/city manager position on an interim basis.
The council was unable to decide on a single candidate and Timler was retained on a temporary basis until the council could meet again. At a specially called meeting on Wednesday, May 16, the council allowed the hiring of Macon-based consultant James (Jim) Brooks as interim town/city manager. In February 2008, Jim Brook's contract with the town/city lapsed.
On June 11, 2008, after a month-long search for a manager, the City Council unanimously allowed the nomination of Russell G.
In February 2011, the City of Snellville hired engineering firm Clark, Patterson and Lee in conjunction with famous urban planning firm Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company to begin the process of planning a new town center for the suburban community.
The City of Snellville operates under a council-manager form of government.
The town/city manager is appointed by the council and works with them on policy creation and then manages staff concerning implementation.
Comparing this form of government to a private business, the mayor acts as chairman of the board and the town/city council acts as the board of directors.
The town/city manager, under the direction of the town/city council, manages the day-to-day functions of the city.
In 2017, three town/city council seats will be up for election.
Unlike the county, state and nationwide elections, where voting is done by precinct, all town/city elections take place at City Hall.
78 looking west toward the town/city center 78 looking east from the town/city center toward Loganville State Route 124 looking south toward the town/city center from Dogwood Road Route 418 of the Xpress bus service, a joint venture between Gwinnett County Transit and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA), provides commuter bus service to downtown Atlanta from Snellville in the morning, and vice versa in the afternoon.
Snellville has one primary hospital, Eastside Medical Center, formerly Emory Eastside Medical Center, which serves the southern Gwinnett County Region. Several suburbs competed for this facility.
Snellville is positioned in southern Gwinnett County at 33 51 30 N 84 0 23 W (33.858439, 84.006324). U.S.
Route 78 runs through the center of the city, dominant west 25 miles (40 km) to downtown Atlanta and east 19 miles (31 km) to Monroe.
Georgia State Route 124 crosses US 78 in the center of Snellville, dominant north 7 miles (11 km) to Lawrenceville and south 13 miles (21 km) to Lithonia.
According to the United States Enumeration Bureau, Snellville has a total region of 10.6 square miles (27.4 km2), of which 10.5 square miles (27.1 km2) is territory and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2), or 1.22%, is water. Compared to most large metros/cities around the world at approximately the same latitude (33 39'), such as Beirut, Casablanca, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, Snellville has lower average winter temperatures.
Cities with greater rainfall are Miami, Florida, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Briscoe Park consists of 87 advanced acres (100 total acres), just south of the town/city center on Lenora Church Road.
In the city, the populace was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older.
In 2010, the town/city leaders of Snellville voted to adopt a new slogan for the city.
The current (new) slogan is an evolution of the old and is "Snellville, where everybody is proud to be somebody." The New London Theater group and the Gwinnett Ballet Theatre business both have their roots and studios in Snellville. Triple 7 Dance Company (located where New London Theater used to have its business) is a grow dance school owned by Tamara Whitehead.
The following schools serve the Snellville region and are part of the Gwinnett County Public Schools: The town/city of Snellville was mentioned in the 14th episode of the 14th season of Law and Order SVU by FBI Agent Dana Lewis in "Secrets Exhumed," (aired February 6, 2013).
"Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Snellville city, Georgia".
"History of Snellville", City of Snellville, February 2, 2016, "Mayor & Council - Snellville, GA".
"Fast Facts - Community Resources - Snellville, GA".
"Budget & Finance - Snellville, GA".
City of Snellville.
"Snellville may move City Hall; Mayor says deal with church to swap territory for strip mall would allow reshaping town/city center." "Snellville council takes up territory swap proposal; Church would buy shopping center, trade it to town/city for municipal complex site.", The Atlanta Constitution, November 28, 2000, "Snellville territory swap may falter; Timing at issue: Owner of shopping center seeks quick sale, but council wants six-month study." "Snellville territory swap gets different reaction; Proposal would benefit church", The Atlanta Constitution, March 6, 2001, "Snellville Council OKs territory swap; Multipurpose town center prepared for site", The Atlanta Constitution, March 27, 2001, "Snellville territory swap hits snag; EPD checking site for dry-cleaning solvents", The Atlanta Constitution, June 3, 2001, "Snellville Land Swap: His well leaves a big hole in method city-church deal", The Atlanta Constitution, June 13, 2001, "Snellville's territory swap apparently resolved; City limits use of water wells", The Atlanta Constitution, June 26, 2001, Hartstein, L., Nurse, D., "POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Land swap hits new snag over ownership", The Atlanta Constitution, July 8, 2001, Davis, M., "Snellville gives the go-ahead for City Center", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 26, 2003, Burk, J., "Crews plan late summer opening for Snellville center", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 27, 2005, Ghirardini, J., "Snellville City Center: Big day for new City Hall; After five-year journey, centerpiece makes debut", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 13, 2006, Visser, S., "Snellville town/city manager may be on his way out", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 13, 2007, Visser, S., "SNELLVILLE: City Council is 'out of control,' mayor claims", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 3, 2007, Osinski, B., "SNELLVILLE: City manager copy remains unresolved", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 13, 2007, Visser, S., "SNELLVILLE: City manager resigns, citing council interference", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 29, 2007, Smith, B., "SNELLVILLE: City Council delays hiring new manager", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 15, 2007, Osinski, B., "SNELLVILLE: Consultant takes helm as interim manager", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 17, 2007, Warren, B., "Snellville selects a new town/city manager", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 11, 2008, Anderson, J., "Snellville unveils plan for new town center", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 22, 2011, AJC STAFF "More express buses bound for downtown Atlanta ", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 22, 2007, "Snellville, Georgia Climate".
"Historical Weather for Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America".
2010 general profile of populace and housing characteristics of Snellville from the US census "Snellville adopts new slogan, honors old".
City of Snellville official website
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