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For the 21st consecutive year, Snellville was named a 2021 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor the city’s commitment to effective urban forest management.

“We are proud to once again receive this important designation,” said Planning and Development Director Jason Thompson. “We are dedicated to preserving the trees we have and working with developers and business owners to keep our tree population abundant and thriving when new development projects arise.”

Snellville achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program's four requirements: forming a tree board or department, creating a tree-care ordinance, having an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.

"Tree City USA communities benefit from the positive effects that an urban tree canopy has year after year," said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. "The trees being planted and cared for by Snellville ensure that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life. Additionally, participation in this program helps cultivate a sense of stewardship and pride for the trees the community plants and cares for."

Planting trees in an urban space comes with a myriad of benefits past the recognition of this program. Urban tree plantings help reduce energy consumption by up to 25%, which will reduce general energy costs and help with the overall cooling of the city as well. In addition, members of the community benefit from properly placed trees as they increase property values from 7-20%. Trees also positively affect the local ecosystem by helping to clean water and create animal habitats to encourage biodiversity.

More information on the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCityUSA

CUTLINE: From left are Snellville Planning and Zoning Department Zoning Administrator John Dennis and Administrative Assistant Nelie Wilson.

About the Arbor-Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters and valued partners. Since 1972, almost 500 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods: communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival.

As one of the world's largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees. More information is available at arbordav.org.

Mayor and Council approved a plan from Manor Lake Development, LLC for a retirement community at the intersection of South Crestview Drive and Highway 78.

The 70,000-square-foot, one‐story  facility will have an 87 unit/bed assisted living with memory care facility and 32‐unit independent living cottages in 8‐villa buildings on a 13.28± acre site.

The development abuts a new, 55-and-up townhome development.

The City of Snellville will receive sealed bids to construct a restaurant as part of The Grove at 
Towne Center development. The Hall at The Grove is a two-story, 17,200 square-foot unique 
restaurant with event space on the second floor. The project will be funded with bond funds.  

Visit our Bid Page for more information.

As construction continues on Phase I in The Grove at Towne Center, the City of Snellville and the Downtown Development Authority, are excited to announce the addition of Northside Hospital to The Grove. In a transaction that closed at the end of May, Northside Hospital will occupy two buildings in Phase II of Snellville’s new City Center. 

The Northside Hospital buildings will include physician offices, an ambulatory surgery center, urgent care and other Northside outpatient services that will cater to the residents of Snellville as well as The Grove's growing community. Construction of the Northside buildings is anticipated to start immediately and open in the Second Quarter 2023. Phase I of the $100 million project commenced construction in March 2021, and residential units will begin leasing later this year.

“Northside has an outstanding reputation for the care and treatment of their patients, and we are delighted to add them to The Grove at Towne Center where they will help serve the members of our community for years to come,” said Snellville Mayor Barbara Bender.

“Adding Northside to our longstanding, excellent Piedmont Eastside facilities, will make Snellville a premium healthcare destination,” said City Manager Butch Sanders.

The city’s development partner Kirk Demetrops, founder of MidCity Real Estate, spoke about the new partnership, “We always wanted Phase II to further strengthen the unique mix that makes a town center so special, Northside is the perfect fit. The Grove soon will have nine buildings under construction, delivering a city center long sought after by the city and community.”

“Northside Hospital is committed to strengthening health care resources in the Gwinnett region,” said Debbie Mitcham, president and CEO of Northside Hospital in Gwinnett and Duluth. “We look forward to this new partnership, which will continue Northside’s high quality of care for our patients in their own community.”

Once completed The Grove at Towne Center, will include over 275 luxury residential units, 50,000 square feet of retail space (including a special use Market Building), 50,000 SF of medical office, the new Gwinnett County Elizabeth H. Williams Library with second floor co-working space and a 750 parking-space parking deck, all surrounding The Grove, a one-acre town green space.

For more information and updates on the Grove at Towne Center project visit www.snellville.org/the-towne-center-snellville.  

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, mix-use properties, commercial shopping centers and office buildings. CASTO’s growing portfolio currently includes more than 26 million square feet of commercial property and more than 5,000 residential units located throughout the midwestern and southeastern United States. CASTO is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and serves a variety of clients from five offices in Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio. To learn more about CASTO, visit www.castoinfo.com.  

ABOUT MidCity Real Estate Partners

Founded in 2009, Atlanta based MidCity Real Estate Partners acquires, repositions, and develops office, retail, and mixed-use properties. MidCity is known in the Atlanta market for several corporate headquarters and master developer of Alpharetta City Center, a public-private town center and award winner of ULI’s Excellence of Town Center Development, ULI’s People’s Choice of Public Realm and Atlanta Regional Commissions Development of Excellence. 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 SNELLVILLE

Snellville’s convenient Gwinnett County location, approximately 18 miles east of Atlanta and 45 miles west of Athens, has allowed it to prosper as a hub of commerce and retail in Northeast Georgia. Snellville's roots extend to 19th century London when two friends traveled to America and later started Snellville’s rich history of commerce with stores of their own. Snellville is home to the award-winning Snellville Farmers’ Market, a world class Veterans Memorial and one of the most decorated police departments in the state. Snellville is known for its dedicated volunteers and its celebrated diversity.

ABOUT NORTHSIDE

The Northside Hospital health care system is one of Georgia’s leading health care providers with five acute-care hospitals in Atlanta, Canton, Cumming, Duluth and Lawrenceville and more than 250 outpatient locations across the state. Northside Hospital leads the U.S. in newborn deliveries and is among the state’s top providers of cancer care, sports medicine, cardiovascular and surgical services. For more information, visit: northside.com.

SNELLVILLE – A proposed balanced budget of $14.69 million was unveiled Monday, one city officials say will be funded without a millage increase. The millage rate will be set by mayor and council in early July.

Increases in this year’s budget include:

• $385,000 in Community Development Block Grant expenditures and revenue remains in this budget from last year. This will fund the city’s Greenway, connecting to Briscoe Park.

• A new police dispatch shortfall of $168,726 will be covered due to a change in the service agreement with Gwinnett County.

• Gas, utilities and supply costs are up across the board due to inflation.

• The Parks and Recreation Department is now back to pre-COVID activity levels so program costs have increased.

• Very positive changes to police salaries were made to increase job retention and hiring

  competitiveness.

The city is once again showing its commitment to improving roads and infrastructure, budgeting $1.15 million for road resurfacing and $1.28 million for stormwater improvements.

The Mayor and City Council will consider adoption of the FY ’23 budget at 7:30 p.m., June 13 in the Council Chambers of Snellville City Hall, 2342 Oak Road, Snellville, Georgia.

The proposed budget can be viewed at: https://www.snellville.org/administration/budget-finance

***NOTE: This is not Henry Clower Boulevard, but Clower Street between Oak Road and Wisteria Drive.

SNELLVILLE — Clower Street, between Oak Road and Wisteria Drive, will close from May 31 to June 30 to complete the roundabout on Wisteria Drive.

The roundabout is designed to keep traffic flowing in the area of the $100-million mixed-use development, The Grove at Towne Center, which will be completed early next year.

Wisteria Drive will remain open.

Motorists will still be able to enter City Hall and Active Adult Center parking lots on Oak Road. The Cobblestone Business Park and the Nephron Snellville Dialysis Center will also be accessible from Oak Road. The Snellville Police Department will be accessible on Wisteria Drive.

Traffic congestion will be alleviated as school buses will be off the roads as schools are closed for the summer.

“We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and patience,” said City Manager Butch Sanders. “People will really appreciate the difference the roundabout will make regarding traffic flow when the roundabout is completed.”

For more information call 770-985-3500.

Snellville Police Officer Aaron Devries was named the recipient of the Life Saving Award at the Gwinnett Chamber’s annual Valor Public Safety Awards ceremony Friday.

Devries, who has been with the Snellville Police Department for four years, was given the honor “awarded to a public safety officer or unit in recognition of acts taken in a life-threatening situation where an individual’s life is in jeopardy.’

Devries, while heading home following an overnight shift, was flagged down by another driver, alerting him there was a car upside down in a river off of Highway 81.

According to his introduction, “Officer Devries, without hesitation, entered the river and made his way to the vehicle where able to break a window, reach in, and pull the occupant to safety.”

“We are very proud of Officer Devries, and we were delighted that he could be recognized by the Gwinnett Chamber along with the other Gwinnett County public safety heroes,” said SPD Chief Greg Perry. “We are thankful to have an officer of Aaron’s dedication and bravery serving alongside all the members of the Snellville Police Department.”

Mike Crumbley, of Kaiser Permanente, presented Devries with the award.

The City of Snellville (City) is soliciting competitive sealed bids for the Janitorial Services (#COS20220511) in the City of Snellville, Georgia.  

Please visit our Bid Page for more information.

SNELLVILLE — In an effort to safely discard unused and expired medication, there will be a Drug Enforcement Agency Drug Take Back hosted by the Snellville Police Department April 30.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Snellville Police Department, 2315 Wisteria Drive.

Participants can drive or walk up and drop discarded medication into the drop boxes. Medication may be left in its original containers with or without the labels as all items discarded are burned.

Please do not bring needles or sharp objects for disposal.

Contact Lt. A. Sullivan at asullivan@snellville.org or 770-985-3555 for more information.

SNELLVILLE — Local artist Joel Sturdivant’s work celebrates nature.

“l am the person who gets lost in the shape of a tree, the rushing stream, waterfalls,” he said. “I look at these places and think about their history. Who and how many lived here? How many generations lived, worked, played and passed here? Where did they go?”

His exhibit “An Eye on Nature” is currently on display in the City Hall Community Room. There is a reception of the work from 2 to 4 p.m. April 30 in the Community Room, 2342 Oak Road. The event is free and open to the public.

“I have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember,” he said. “My biggest inspirations come from the beauty of nature which is located all around us.”

Sturdivant has a Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Art from the Atlanta College of Art. Recently, he staged the first “student” one-man show at the Hudgens Center for the Arts, entitled “A Celebration of Nature.” He has had exhibitions at the annual Hudgens Members Exhibition, Johns Creek Members Exhibition and the Annual Festival of the Arts at Cumming First United Methodist Church.

He has contributed to Westmont College’s charity art auction and many of his works are now on display in private collections throughout the Southeast.

“Many of my works contain various planes, an idea I developed while in art school,” he said. “I use these planes to manipulate time and space. I violate parameters in an attempt to enter the space of the viewer. By stacking planes, I can move between seasons, or centuries. I sincerely hope you enjoy this exhibition!”