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SNELLVILLE – City officials are proud to announce the Fourth Friday Outdoor Movie Series coming to The Grove at Towne Center beginning Aug. 23.

The series of three popular children’s movies will kick off with “Kung Fu Panda 4” on Friday, Aug. 23 on the lawn of The Grove at Towne Center, located in the heart of downtown Snellville. 

The event is free and the movie will start at dusk. Beginning at 6 p.m., attendees are invited to enjoy the Splash Pad, check out King of Pops, and visit food trucks before the movie.

“We are excited to bring family entertainment to The Grove at Towne Center,” said City Manager Matthew Pepper. “We want to showcase The Grove and get families and visitors accustomed to coming to downtown Snellville for entertainment and soon, new restaurants and other businesses and activities.”

The outdoor movie series will run through October with “Elemental” playing Sept. 27 and a special Halloween-themed event with “Hocus Pocus” showing Oct. 25.

Attendees are encouraged to bring folding chairs or a blanket to sit on during the movie.

For more information and updates on the movie series, visit the city’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CityofSnellville. 

SNELLVILLE — Mayor and Council approved a millage rate of 4.00 mills Monday, the same levy as the past three years, meaning most homeowners will not see a property tax increase.

With a stable millage rate, homeowners can expect to pay the same in property taxes as they did the prior two years if their home’s assessed value remained the same.

The 4.00 millage rate is significantly lower than the previous rate of 4.588 mills, which was the rate from 2014 - 2022.

“I appreciate the hard work of the Council and staff to keep the millage rate stable at 4.00 mills,” said Mayor Barbara Bender. “It has been a priority of this Council to keep property taxes stable while increasing services to our residents.”

The average home value in Snellville is $350,000 and a homeowner would pay would pay $560 in taxes this year not including storm water fees and not including exemptions.

Mayor and Council recently approved the city’s FY’25 operating budget of $16.4 million and this millage rate will meet the tax revenue projection included in that budget.

Taxes collected from this millage form the largest revenue source the city has and are necessary to balance the new budget. 

Overall digest growth has been strong due to increased commercial property growth, like that seen at The Grove at Towne Center.

Mayor and Council have approved the construction of a 171-unit family residential complex that will take over the space that has been inhabited by the dilapidated remains of Ryan’s Steakhouse. 

The former restaurant has been shuttered for about 20 years and has been deemed an eyesore. Now, in its place, the five-story complex is slated to occupy 2380 Wisteria Drive.

The 2.76-acre site was rezoned from General Business to Towne Center Residential at the request of property owner Shifa Real Estate Investments LLC, of Duluth.

Plans call for one-, two- and three-bedroom “flats” to be located a quarter of a mile southeast from the $140 million mixed-use development The Grove at Towne Center at the intersection of Wisteria Drive and Hugh Drive, across from the Snellville  Post Office. 

Developers hope to provide 71 onsite ground‐level surface parking spaces, as well as 177 spaces on the first level podium‐parking garage. 

An 11,000-square-feet amenity area with pavilion is centrally located within the U‐shaped building.  

Access to the development is through a two‐way driveway at Wisteria Drive and two‐way driveway at Hugh Drive. A proposed  10-feet wide pedestrian sidewalk along Wisteria Drive will connect to the existing 10‐feet wide sidewalk along Hugh Drive. 

The existing 12‐feet wide Snellville Greenway Trail located on the eastern portion of the site will remain. 

Renowned Food and Beverage Vendor to Occupy New Market Building at The Grove at Towne Center

SNELLVILLE — The City of Snellville along with their public-private partners CASTO, one of the country’s leading real estate companies, and MidCity Real Estate Partners, announces Crooked Can Brewing Company has signed a long-term lease at the recently completed signature Market Building within The Grove at Towne Center. Located in the growing Atlanta suburb of Snellville, The Grove at Towne Center progresses toward final completion of the nine-building town center amidst exciting announcements, such as the award-winning brewery to call the $140 million town center home. 

“From the beginning, our commitment has been to create a vibrant and dynamic gathering space for our community,” said Mayor Barbara Bender. “Having an amazing operator like Crooked Can decide to bring their first location in the state to Snellville and The Grove at Towne Center is so exciting to witness and be a part of.”

Crooked Can Brewing Company was founded in 2014 and strives to consistently create quality craft beer while cultivating a social gathering place for friends and family with a free-spirited, laid-back approach to the art of brewing. The company has two other established locations offering its unique brewery and market/food hall concept in Florida and Ohio and looks forward to expanding its reach to the Peach State. 

“We are so excited to be a part of this wonderful new development and to position ourselves at the heart of the community of Snellville,” said Andy Sheeter, founder of Crooked Can Brewing Company. 

Crooked Can prides itself on producing distinctive craft beer with consistent quality and unparalleled taste, as monitored by its award-winning brewmaster. As a testament to the company’s craftsmanship and fan-favorite reputation, Crooked Can beers are now sold in Publix supermarkets regionally. 

“We are so pleased to announce this milestone addition to the signature Market Building,” said Kirk Demetrops, president of MidCity Real Estate Partners. “We see The Grove as a community hub where people can come together and socialize. Crooked Can shares our enthusiasm for fostering this atmosphere, and we're excited for them to join the city and us at The Grove!” 

Plans call for Crooked Can to open the brewery by the end of the year, followed shortly thereafter with several food vendors in the market/food hall.

“Our taproom and food hall concept has been a key part of the community redevelopment of Downtown Winter Garden in Florida over the past 10 years, and we are excited to have a similar impact on the City of Snellville in the years to come,” said Alan Delahunt, managing partner of Crooked Can Brewing Company. 

For more information on The Grove at Towne Center, visit Snellville.org/grove-towne-center. 

About CASTO 

CASTO, a fully integrated real estate organization since 1926, is a recognized leader in the ownership, management, acquisition and development of multifamily residences, commercial shopping centers and office buildings. CASTO’s growing portfolio currently includes over 6,200 multifamily units and over 26 million square feet of commercial property located throughout the midwestern and southeastern United States. CASTO is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio and serves a variety of clients from five offices in Ohio, Florida and North Carolina. To learn more about CASTO, visit castoinfo.com.

About MidCity Real Estate Partners 

Founded in 2009, Atlanta based, MidCity Real Estate Partners acquires, repositions, and develops office, and mixed-use properties. MidCity is known in the Atlanta market for their work on Alpharetta City Center, which was named a 2018 Development of Excellence for Exceptional Merit for Context-Sensitive Town Center Development, by the Atlanta Regional Commission. Through MidCity Realty Corporation, an affiliate real estate brokerage company, MidCity offers a full range of advisory services. MidCity is the successor company to The Griffin Company, a 35-year-old full service commercial real estate development and construction company headquartered in Atlanta, GA. To learn more about MidCity, visit www.midcitypartners.com. 

About Crooked Can Brewery

Founded in 2014, Crooked Can Brewing Company has established itself at the heart of the local community at its original location in Winter Garden, Florida. Having won several national awards, including medals at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup, along with being named best large format Craft Brewery in Florida in 2022 by the Florida Brewers Guild. Crooked Can Brewing Company continues to grow at a hyper local level and share their laid back but purposeful approach to beer with their many loyal fans. Crooked Can prides itself on offering exceptional quality beers in an environment that strives to bring people of all ages together. Always operating within a food hall environment, allowing people to gather over great beer, great food and great times. To learn more visit www.crookedcan.com or check us out on our social channels. 

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More About The Grove at Towne Center:

• This 18-acre Project recreated a City Center for the 100-year-old City of Snellville that had lost most, if not all, of its original buildings/structures.
• $140 million public-private partnership between MidCity Real Estate Partners, CASTO, City of Snellville and Gwinnett County. MidCity and CASTO served as master developers and owners of The Tomlin (multi-family housing) and retail.
• The project centers around “The Grove” symbolic of a Chestnut Oak Grove, where businessmen met in the City of Snellville over 100 years ago, today a Central Park for Snellville, including outdoor tables/chairs, splash pad, pavilion, and a grove of mature trees.
• Nine new buildings plus a 750-space parking deck
• The Grove serves as the destination for the completed 1st Phase of the Snellville Greenway
• Designed as a walkable/sense of place project, over 1,000 parking spaces discreetly serve the project

Uses/Tenants include:

• The Tomlin (www.thetomlin.com), 288 luxury apartments, 26 of those units constructed in separate buildings as “townhome” units over retail
• Retail and Restaurants
• Parkside at The Grove
• The Grove Taqueria
• Great American Cookies and Marble Slab
• More to be announced
• Market Building (Crooked Can Brewery/Food Hall 1st Floor, Event Space 2nd Floor)
• Gwinnett County Elizabeth H. Williams Library (www.gwinnettpl.org)
• Thrive Coworking (www.workatthrive.com/snellville)
• Northside Medical Snellville (www.northside.com)

• Significant public investment including road improvements (parallel parking, traffic circle, etc.), parking deck, master detention, shared common areas with private partners, and the first phase of the Snellville Greenway.

   

SNELLVILLE — The city is proud to announce a new partnership with Peach State Cornhole to bring the popular recreational game to The Grove at Towne Center.

“Peach State Cornhole is thrilled about the new partnership with the City of Snellville to host social cornhole leagues in The Grove at Towne Center in downtown Snellville,” said PSC co-owner Nick Boyers. “This space is poised to become the heart of the city and we look forward to drawing in the community to friendly competition on Thursday nights. We welcome all levels of players for a chance to toss bags, meet new people, and enjoy local restaurants and vendors.”

Peach State Cornhole hosts cornhole leagues throughout the state of Georgia offering multiple skill levels in the favorite tailgate game. At the end of each eight-week season, top teams gather for a state tournament. 

Registration is now open for the upcoming Fall League in Snellville at peachstatecornhole.com/snellville through Aug. 19. Players can register as a team or free agent in their skill level of choice. 

To receive a $20 discount at signup use code: NLSNVL.

The first night league night is Aug. 29. The season ends Oct. 17.

NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

The City of Snellville has tentatively adopted a 2024 millage rate that will require an increase in property taxes of 6.16 % percent. All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this tax increase to be held at Snellville City Hall, 2342 Oak Road, Snellville, GA 30078 on Monday, July 8, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax increase are at Snellville City Hall on Monday, July 22, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. and Monday, July 22, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 4.00 mills, an increase of 0.232 mills over the rollback rate, but no actual millage rate increase from last year.  Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate would be no more than the rollback rate 3.768 mills.  The proposed tax increase for a home with fair market value of $350,000 is approximately $32.48 and the proposed tax increase for non-homestead property with a fair market value of $450,000 is approximately $41.76.

The Snellville Mayor and Council approved a $16.4 million Fiscal Year 2025 budget June 10. 

The millage rate for the $16,421,455 budget will be set in July following public hearings.

View the budget here.

Mayor and Council made several appointments to boards, commissions and authorities at Monday night’s meeting.             

Re-Appointment to Board of Appeals

Post 2 - Deborah Jones - Term Expiration June 30, 2026

Post 4 - Tim Van Valkenburg - Term Expiration June 30, 2026

Re-Appointment to Planning Commission 

Post 3 - Terry Kori - Term Expiration June 30, 2026

Rose Purdy - Term Expiration June 30, 2026

Re-Appointment to Parks and Recreation Board

Post 2 - Anne Dowdall - Term Expiration June 30, 2026

Post 3 - Regina Hart -Term Expiration June 30, 2026

Post 4 - Alice Snipes - Term Expiration June 30, 2026

Re-Appointment to Downtown Development Authority of Snellville Board

Post 3 - Rafiq Ukani - Term Expiration June 30, 2028

Post 4 - Dan LeClair - - Term Expiration June 30, 2028

Post 5 - Jamey Toney - Term Expiration June 30, 2028

Post 6 - Deborah Jones - Term Expiration June 30, 2028

Also confirmed were Kevin Morrisey to Planning Commission Post 2 with a Term Expiration Date of June 30, 2026 and Richelle Brown to the Snellville Youth Commission Adult Advisory Board.

The Snellville Mayor and Council plan to approve a $16.4 million Fiscal Year 2025 budget at their next meeting June 10. 

The balanced budget carries a levy of 4 mills – the same it has been since 2022.

FY25 net spending increased by 8 percent, or $1,160,299. The increase is due, in part, to rising costs related to public projects and city services. As well as the addition of four full-time positions, and one part-time position. In addition, the budget includes the city’s portion of operations and maintenance expenses for The Grove at Towne Center and rental income from the newly opened development. This income will be used to fund expenses related to The Grove.

Other budget highlights include: 

$1.2 million is being invested for transportation-related projects including street resurfacing.

Sanitation services are subsidized with $1,309,300 in property tax collections.

The only planned capital expense is $150,000 for a new bucket truck for the Public Works Department.

A second reading and adoption of the budget is set for the June 10 meeting at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 2342 Oak Road.