Ground is to be broken soon on the latest component of the Alpharetta City Center downtown redevelopment, now that the City Council has approved the sale of about six acres in front of City Hall.

MMS Alpharetta LLS is paying $5.1 million for the land. Development partner Morris & Fellows plans to begin work soon on more than 100,000 square feet of restaurants and retailing; MidCity Partners, on 36,000 square feet of offices; and South City Partners, on 168 rental apartments.

Construction fencing is to go up this week with a formal groundbreaking ceremony expected the week of March 19, Assistant City Administrator James T. Drinkard said.

Restaurants, shops and the office building will open from fall 2017 through mid-2018, and the apartments will open in the fall of 2018, according to a city news release.

City Center is being developed on 26 acres assembled by the city in the area south of Academy Street and east of South Main Street.

Projects completed to date include a new City Hall, new Fulton County library, 5-acre park and 445-space parking deck. Voysey by Hedgewood Homes, with 42 single-family homes, is under way nearby.