Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

Cobb, Braves meet Tuesday over $14 million dispute at SunTrust Park

The elevated walkway over Windy Ridge Parkway to SunTrust Park is under construction and is one of the projects for which the Braves are seeking reimbursement from Cobb taxpayers. There is an on-going dispute between the county and Braves as to whether taxpayers are responsible for roads, bridges and other pedestrian improvements in and around the SunTrust Park development. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM
The elevated walkway over Windy Ridge Parkway to SunTrust Park is under construction and is one of the projects for which the Braves are seeking reimbursement from Cobb taxpayers. There is an on-going dispute between the county and Braves as to whether taxpayers are responsible for roads, bridges and other pedestrian improvements in and around the SunTrust Park development. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM
By and Meris Lutz
Jan 23, 2017

Cobb County Commission Chairman Mike Boyce has called for a public discussion Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. over an Atlanta Braves' claim that county taxpayers owe $14 million for roads, bridges and other infrastructure improvements at SunTrust Park.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported today that the Braves are seeking reimbursement for five projects, but Cobb transportation director Jim Wilgus says the county has already spent $69.5 million on infrastructure improvements related to the new stadium and has more than met its public commitment.

Among the major projects for which the Braves seek reimbursement: $5.8 million for public roads inside the development; $5.7 million for pedestrian bridges over two outside roads; and $2.2 million for pedestrian improvements between the stadium and satellite parking lots.

The dispute comes three months before the Braves are scheduled to being playing at the new stadium.

About the Authors

Dan Klepal is editor of the local government team, supervising nine reporters covering county and municipal governments and metro Atlanta. Klepal came to the AJC in 2012, after a long career covering city halls in Cincinnati and Louisville, Ky. He has covered Gwinnett and Cobb counties before spending three years on the investigative team.

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Meris Lutz is a contributing writer covering climate, the environment and the economy. She is particularly interested in stories that explore the intersections between climate change and labor, markets, health, biodiversity, government transparency and public access to natural resources.

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