Snellville’s dream of a “city market” — and a new library — appears to be one step closer to reality.
The city announced Tuesday a proposed intergovernmental agreement with Gwinnett County that would help spur the development of a three-story market and library building on Wisteria Drive. The library would be located on the first floor of the building and the market — which city officials hope will “house local merchants as well as restaurants” — would occupy the two upper floors.
Snellville officials first floated the city market idea late last year.
"This is a major step in bringing the Towne Center vision to reality," Snellville Mayor Tom Witts said in a news release. "With the help of Gwinnett County, the new city market and library will be a centerpiece of our ambitious plan to create a new downtown Snellville, one that will spur commercial and residential growth and be a catalyst for development in the city for decades to come."
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The county’s Board of Commissioners is expected to adopt the IGA during its July 18 meeting. Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash said Tuesday the county was “excited” to partner with Snellville.
“The city approached us with this idea, and we agreed that it would be good for the community,” Nash wrote in an email.
The property eyed for the development is already owned by the city, Snellville spokesman Brian Arrington said. The city and county will divvy up design costs for the main structure, with the city accounting for two-thirds of the funds.
The city will also be responsible for an attached, 128-space parking structure and a stormwater detention basin. Construction costs have not yet been determined.
Moving forward, the county would pay for library operating costs and the city would cover market costs.
“City officials are currently in talks with potential private and public partners expected to lead to the building out of the planned Towne Center area,” the city’s news release said.
In other Gwinnett news:
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