With sale of prime Decatur acreage wrapped, planning phase to begin

A 77-acre site just south of downtown Decatur and Agnes Scott College has officially been sold to the DeKalb County city, which plans to create public facilities and a 22-acre natural conservation area.

The former United Methodist Children’s Home campus, owned by the North Georgia Conference for nearly 150 years, was purchased by the City of Decatur after it’d been listed for sale early this year.

According to Decatur Metro, the deal closed last week.

Locals concerned about new dense development on the campus, as well as preservationists with interest in the century-old buildings, were reportedly relieved when city officials announced they were pursuing the purchase.

Exact plans for the site are still in the works, but it’s safe to expect space for active programming, including upgraded playing fields. A large portion of the land will also be dedicated to natural conservation. Finally, the historic buildings on the property will be retained and repurposed, though their future uses remain unclear.

Development of a community-driven master plan is slated to kick off in January.

Flickr - Decatur Then and Now

• Sale of United Methodist Children’s Home Complete [Decatur Metro]
• Decatur purchases historic campus for (potential) large new park space [Curbed Atlanta]