Ken DeSimone said he already had a top-notch department as the Sandy Springs Police Department’s chief, but now he has a first-rate facility to work in.
In April, the department’s new $56 million, 170,000-square foot headquarters opened on a 7.2-acre lot on Morgan Falls Road.
Previously, the department operated in four different buildings spread out in an office park where most of the city’s other departments were located prior to the new Sandy Springs City Hall complex opening in 2018. Today those police divisions – administration, uniformed patrol, criminal investigations and special operations – are united in a building that also includes the city’s municipal court.
“Before, we were working in an environment where you’d have a victim or witness come in to patrol and then had to walk another 100 yards” to take them to the right division, DeSimone said. “It’s like going to Northside Hospital and then they would push you across the parking lot to the operating room. It wasn’t conducive for doing business. Anytime you move a prisoner, that’s the opportunity for an escape right there. We’ve had two escapes in the past.”
He added that the new headquarters has the latest crime-fighting technology. “And the technology is just phenomenal, what we can do with traffic cameras, automatic license plate readers,” DeSimone said. “The technology in our radios, body cameras, cars, it makes the officers a lot safer. We had an officer in a foot chase a few weeks ago and it went well. He said, ‘Track my radio.’ The supervisors pulled up his location on a map. The officer doesn’t have to know where he is because he’s running, and we’re able to track him.”
The suspect was caught minutes later. DeSimone leads a department that was formed in 2006, months after the city was incorporated. The department has 195 full-time and part-time positions (with 152 being full-time officers), plus another 10 sworn reserves and 10 part-time officers. The new building has been “a game changer” for the city in staffing terms, DeSimone said.
“Since we’ve built the building, our recruiters have had 25 calls a day from people interested in coming here,” he said.” Right now we’re fully staffed with a waiting list. We’re still recruiting.”
A Kentucky native, DeSimone has nearly 40 years of experience in law enforcement, including service in the Marines and with the University of Louisville Police. He spent 20 years with the Charlotte- Mecklenburg Police Department in Charlotte, North Carolina, before joining the Sandy Springs force in 2009. He was named the chief in 2013, replacing Terry Sult. Gene Wilson was the department’s first chief and served in that role through 2008.
Overall, Sandy Springs’ crime rate is low for a city its size (107,763 residents according the U.S. Census Bureau’s website). Sandy Springs averaged 6.2 reported murder cases in the past five years and had only three reported homicides in 2024. The other reported crimes are fairly low, with averages of 18 rapes and 31 robberies in the past five years.
“For where we’re located in Fulton County and the issues that come along with Fulton, we’re very fortunate to have a crime rate so low with DeKalb County our eastern neighbor and Atlanta being just south of us,” DeSimone said. “Plus, the roads, [Georgia] 400 and [Interstate] 285, bring a lot of traffic and a lot of people [and] law enforcement issues, whether it’s crime issues or wreck issues with those two major roads. GDOT estimates that every 24 hours, over half a million pass through that intersection, making it one of the busiest intersections. The Sandy Springs Police Department is responsible for all of that.”
DeSimone said only one murder case, the death of a baby in 2006, remains unsolved, though some suspects in other cases haven’t been caught yet because they fled the state and/or the country but were identified.
When asked how the city’s police has kept the murder rate so low, he said, “The murders in Sandy Springs usually stem from two issues: domestic violence or drugs. If you fight those two problems with a strong narcotics unit, we have two victim advocates that work with victims in the first report of it. That way you can drive down your murder rate. Domestic violence is really hard to stop because we’re not in charge of who is married or dating who. Our patrol officers taking the initial report and our detectives following up on it [is key]. If you catch the domestic violence incidents early, you can have some kind of intervention, and sometimes that’s successful.”
In March, the department made the largest fentanyl bust in Georgia history, confiscating enough to kill 2.5 million people, according to a WSB-TV report. Authorities believe the individuals involved had cartel ties, and a U.S. Attorney’s Office news release stated that suspect Antwuan Brown of Alpharetta appeared in a court hearing on the case.
“Good detective work leads to good cases,” DeSimone said.
Other than the individuals accused of committing crimes in the city, the department’s biggest enemy might be Appen Media. The company sued Sandy Springs in 2023 in Fulton County Superior Court, accusing the police of not providing all the info it requested in its monthly open records requests as part of its coverage of Sandy Springs and other cities. Appen lost the county suit but won in part its appeal to the Georgia Court of Appeals, which ruled on the case in March.
Appen claimed that when the city would email its latest incident reports, they only included officers’ comments of one to two sentences instead of the full comments, which were several sentences and provided more details on each case.
The city argued that the longer reports, called narrative reports or supplemental reports, were exempt from disclosure under the Georgia Open Records Act, and the Fulton court sided with the city. In March, the Georgia Court of Appeals’ three-judge panel of Brian Rickman, Amanda Mercier and Christopher McFadden gave a split decision on the case, ruling in three parts.
“1. The Open Records Act should be construed to require the disclosure of the more detailed narratives to the extent they concern law enforcement’s initial response to an incident,” Rickman wrote in the court’s opinion.
“2. The evidence suggests that more detailed narratives may exist for the incidents that were the subjects of Appen Media’s requests and, therefore, the city may have violated the Open Records Act by failing to disclose them.
“3. Neither party is entitled to summary judgment at this stage. Because questions of fact exist as to whether the city produced all initial incident reports requested by Appen Media, neither the city nor Appen Media is entitled to summary judgment. For this reason, I concur in the majority’s ultimate conclusion that we must reverse the grant of summary judgment to the city and affirm the denial of summary judgment to Appen Media.”
Because the city is appealing the appeals court’s decision, DeSimone declined to comment on the case.
Hans Appen, Appen Media’s publisher and CEO, said the court of appeals has turned the case back to the trial court, and his company is waiting for the city to respond/resolve it by sending the full reports to it.
If you need proof that the city of Sandy Springs caters to senior citizens, you only need to look at its events calendar.
On back-to-back nights in November, the city hosted concerts with Judy Collins and Johnny Mathis, singers whose heydays came in the 1960s and 1970s. Both are in their 80s but still touring. However, Mayor Rusty Paul, a senior himself, said the city actually tries to appeal to a broad demographic, and those concerts are two of many events that cater to all audiences.
“We’ve got Graham Nash coming and the Village People coming,” he said, referring to concerts featuring Nash, the founding member of the bands the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash, and the Village People, a popular disco era band coming to town April 6 and 12, respectively. “So we try to provide a wide range of events here at City Hall.”
In Paul’s defense, the city also hosts events for all other age groups. They include a series of Broadway plays and musicals, a July 4 fireworks show preceded by a band’s concert, a lantern parade and a Martin Luther King Jr. birthday affair dedicated to the late Atlanta civil rights leader. Paul pointed out the city’s outdoor monthly Concerts by the Springs series that runs in May through September at the Heritage Green amphitheater as another senior favorite.
“We try to strike a balance across all demographic groups, but as you’ve noted, particularly in the cultural and entertainment space and recreation, we’ve hosted a lot of events that would appeal to the senior demographics,” he said. “With recreation, we host some events, such as tennis matches for seniors who might not be as nimble as they used to be.”
Prioritizing seniors is a no-brainer based on the city’s population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s website, Sandy Springs had an estimated population of 107,763 in July 2022. Residents 65 and older accounted for 14.2% of the population, the second highest age group (individuals under 18 make up 18.8%).
According to information from Sandy Springs, the city has 11 senior living facilities: seven assisted living ones, two independent living ones, and two retirement communities.
The city was founded in 2005 after a group, led by Eva Galambos, pushed for cityhood. According to the Sandy Springs website, the cityhood push started in 1966, when the city of Atlanta tried to annex the Sandy Springs community then in unincorporated Fulton County, into the city. In the more recent years leading up to 2005, the residents said they wanted to form a city of Sandy Springs so their tax dollars would be spent more wisely after seeing them go for decades to Fulton, which sometimes allocated those funds to other parts of the county.
Galambos was elected as Sandy Springs’ first mayor, and Paul took her place following his election in November 2013. She died in 2015. Since becoming a city, Sandy Springs has caught the attention of at least two national organizations for being friendly to both seniors and the younger crowd.
In 2022, TerraBella Senior Living, a company that owns affordable senior living developments, including one in Roswell, listed Sandy Springs as the best city to retire in Georgia. In its review of the city, TerraBella mentioned Sandy Springs’ greenery, homes and other benefits, such as annual events.
In January, Go Banking Rates ranked the city as No. 6 among the 50 Best Places for the Young and Wealthy to Live. The article said Sandy Springs has 22.6% of households with residents ages 25-44 earning $150,000, with a household median income of $93,303. Other categories mentioned in the article were its livability score is 73 out of 100, a mark based on property values, crime rates, and other data. Sandy Springs’ property crime and violent crime rates are 16.9 and 1.6 incidents per 1,000 residents, respectively.
“We try to make everybody feel welcome and at home and comfortable here,” Paul said. “… Our goal was to make the city the best place for any age group, but we definitely want our senior citizens to be comfortable retiring here, aging in place.”
He added that the city has always been senior-friendly when it comes to taxes and related living expenses.
“We have never raised the millage rate since we founded the city,” Paul said. “For 20 years the taxes have been low, and they’ve been predictable. Property taxes from the school district and county take a huge bite out of that fixed income, and we don’t want to force people with a fixed income to leave.”
He also said as a member of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s board of directors, he stays on top of any senior-related news from a city and metro-area standpoint.
But the city isn’t the only business that caters to seniors. In 1999, Fulton opened the Dorothy C. Benson Senior Multipurpose Complex, named after an advocate for increasing the county’s senior population activities. It’s one of four senior facilities and the only one in north Fulton. Any Fulton resident 55 and older can use the complexes.
The Benson Center, at 43,000 square feet, is the largest known day facility for senior adults, 55 and older, in the nation, said Andre Gregory, program manager for the Fulton Department of Senior Services.
“It’s very important to provide services and programs for seniors throughout the county,” said Erica Miller, public affairs manager with the Fulton Department of External Affairs. “I would say that our entire board of commissioners has continued to allocate funding every year for senior services. So that level of commitment to keep services in place and provide services that will help them is important.”
The Benson and other complexes offer two major programs, with the first including life enrichment: arts, computers, educational series such as how to prevent falls, deal with preexisting conditions and other related issues. The second program is health and wellness with everything from aquatics to land fitness.
“We were at one time the only facility in the nation that offered an Aquabike program, which is kind of like a spin class,” Miller said. “In addition to that, we provide meals at a nominal fee. That is probably on Friday the most used program because we serve fish. It’s a running joke that we have Fish Friday. In addition to that, we do special events such as a themed party.”
Sabrina Hudson, multipurpose facility manager for the Fulton Department of Senior Services, said the county also hosts health fairs and community days in which partners from local grocery stores and theaters to offer free or discounted services.
“We also have a hair salon, where we try to make this place a one-stop shop for medical and hair needs,” she said, later adding that the county also hosts speed dating events.
Gregory said the county partners with Grady Memorial Hospital to offer exams paid for by Medicare.
“We know [senior citizens is] the fastest growing demographic across the county, and if the county can support healthy aging and avoid premature institutionalization, meaning going into a nursing home earlier than normal, this is a way for us to keep health in place,” said Ladisa Onyiliogwu, director of the Fulton Department of Senior Services.
From a business perspective, the city caters to seniors in its own way. Adam Forrand, president and CEO of the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber, said many of its members are 55 and older. Though the chamber has no senior-only events listed on its events webpage, most of them are for all adults.
“Certainly in a community of our caliber and size, it’s important for residents to know one can age in place,” Forrand said. “If you want to be a long-term resident even into your twilight years, there are sustainable and vibrant organizations like our members I just mentioned to allow you to stay in Sandy Springs and age in place. That’s part of the vibrancy of our community, having multiple generations in our community that we can all benefit from.
“Depending on your individual circumstances, if you’re an older working professional who may be working past your retirement age, you’re contributing to the economic vibrancy of the community as well. That may be through a member business or non-member business. We want that. We welcome that and continue to support that.”
The Sandy Springs Society is another organization that doesn’t limit its membership to seniors but does serve them well. The city’s largest nonprofit was founded in 1988, and its mission is to support other charities in the city. Since its inception, it has raised $5 million.
Though the society’s current fundraisers are mainly its two shopping events, the Elegant Elf Marketplace and Tossed Out Treasures, its biggest campaign was the 2004 fundraiser regarding turtle statues. Called the Town Turtles of Sandy Springs, the project involved 75 statues of turtles dressed in different outfits. Each turtle was sold at auction for between $4,000 and $20,000.
About $750,000 was raised, and more than $500,00 went to purchase the Heritage amphitheater, said Beth Robertson, the society’s current president. At that time, the lawn was owned by Heritage Sandy Springs, a history-related nonprofit. But after Heritage closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city bought its properties and now runs the Concerts by the Springs series. The “sandy springs” for which the city was named are located on the former Heritage property.
The society also published a cookbook, “Savor Sandy Springs,” in 2022 as another fundraiser. The organization is in the process of giving out annual grants to the top nonprofits that apply for them. Robertson said this year 52 organizations have applied, down three from 2024, when 42 grantees got $370,000.
Gail Jokerst, the society’s 2021-22 president, said the group has more than 300 members ranging from the 40s to the 90s.
“Our 90-year-olds are just as active as our 40-year-olds,” she said. “… People think with this name Sandy Springs Society, we’re a social group, but our focus is not parties, dinners, and galas.”
Gail Jokerst, the society’s 2021-22 president and current civic affairs liaison, said several of the city’s nonprofits were founded by society members.
One such member, Jan Paul, Rusty’s wife, is also the chair of the Sandy Springs Civic Roundtable, an organization comprised of the city’s nonprofits, but is not a founder. The roundtable recently launched Springboard Sandy Springs, which serves as a search engine for nonprofits. Jan Paul said the city is also handing out grants and is in the middle of its application process. The deadline to submit an application was Feb. 11. First-time recipients/new programs can receive up to $25,000, and the rest can get up to $12,000.
For Rusty Paul, ensuring that Sandy Springs’ residents, including seniors, feel safe is another city focus.
“As a result of our focus on public safety, we have a community where our seniors can get out and walk and do so without fear,” he said. “That’s important to everyone but specifically to our seniors. We want everybody to feel safe, but particularly to seniors who may be more fearful of that. When you have a health issue, you want the fire department and ambulance to be there as quickly as possible, and we put a lot of focus on that.”
Rusty Paul also mentioned the city’s recent purchase of two vehicles to be used to stop crime. The community paramedic, on board since November, is a SUV that “will respond on low acuity calls instead of sending a fire truck or ambulance,” and the medical response unit (MRU), added in March, will be used as an extra ambulance in case the city’s regular ambulances are delayed.
Just six months after families of students at Brandon Hall School in Sandy Springs were notified that the school was closing its doors, Atlanta International School announced that it had bought the 25-acre campus on the banks of the Chattahoochee River.
The purchase of the property more than doubles the physical footprint of the Atlanta International School, which has occupied a 17-acre campus in the Garden Hills neighborhood of Buckhead since 1995. AIS will stay in that location while using the new campus to increase its student body and diversify its academic programming.
The Sandy Springs campus includes classrooms, large meeting spaces, laboratories, student dormitories, employee residential units, tennis courts, a gym, and playing field.
“AIS has grown exponentially since it was established nearly 40 years ago, and so we have been looking for additional space to accommodate the needs, ambitions, and passions of our growing student population. This acquisition will allow us to do just that,” said Kevin Glass, head of AIS. “As we begin this wonderful new era for the school and look towards the future, our mission and core values will remain unchanged.”
Glass added that “We now look forward to working closely with the River Gate Housing Association, the communities neighboring our new campus and Sandy Springs, to nurture an equally close relationship to the one we enjoy with our Garden Hills neighbors and Buckhead district.”
Scott Britton, chair of the AIS Board of Trustees, said that the expansion of the school’s physical space and facilities will enable the school to better fulfill its mission on a larger scale.
AIS is renowned for offering world-class language acquisition and immersion in Chinese, French, German, and Spanish. It serves more than 1,300 globally-minded students from pre-school to grade 12, from both the Atlanta area and around the world, representing more than 90 nationalities and 60 languages.
The Sandy Springs facility will fully open for boarding students grades 9-12 as of August 2025. AIS will offer a full international baccalaureate curriculum with middle years, diploma, and career-related programs. According to the school, the boarding program will offer an “enriching residential life, world-class IB academics, unparalleled college preparation, and an intentionally inclusive international community. We put language and culture at the heart of our mission, to ensure all students feel a true sense of belonging.”
With direct access to the Chattahoochee River, the property already hosted a summer camp and unique programs. It has expanded its AISx program for non-traditional education pathways students, such as student-athletes. AISx is the official high school educational provider for Atlanta United Football Club Development Academy players.
According to AIS, AISx is perfect for students who are seeking a flexible academic schedule, with both international baccalaureate and advanced placement courses offered, taught in person, virtually, or via asynchronous classes. With smaller class sizes and low teacher-to-student ratios, AISx students receive a highly personalized approach to academics and college counseling during their high school years. The classes are designed to meet students who are pursuing careers in sports or other specialties, or who require more flexibility.
In addition, AIS has announced a partnership between the Mouratoglou brand and its new facility in Sandy Springs. Patrick Mouratoglou is the legendary tennis coach of Serena Williams and mentor to many rising and leading professionals on tour. The partnership will provide students with both the AIS classroom experience as well as Mouratoglou’s guidance on the tennis court.
This will mark the first Mouratoglou Academy in Georgia, building on the successful centers and academies in Greece, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Italy, China, Bali, Australia, and in the U.S., Florida, Texas, and soon New York.
AIS’ Glass said the new partnership offers “talented young tennis players exceptional and exciting opportunities, both in the classroom and on court, here on the Atlanta International School Sandy Springs Campus. Whether the student athletes are coming from here in Georgia or from anywhere around the world, with our new day and boarding programs, they will get the very best international baccalaureate education and be part of a welcoming international community of friends.”
According to Emily Hands, AIS director of marketing, currently 50 percent of AIS students are American passport holders, with the rest from international families. She mentioned that some families of current students live in Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Roswell, or East Cobb and may find it difficult to travel to the Buckhead location, making the new Sandy Springs campus an appealing option.
In the heart of Sandy Springs, a dedicated group of individuals works tirelessly to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of our community. The Sandy Springs Conservancy (SSC), led by Chairman Jack Misiura, is committed to connecting residents with nature and each other while conserving natural resources and enhancing the beauty of our environment. Their efforts have brought to life some of the city’s most cherished spaces, including Morgan Falls Overlook Park, Abernathy Greenway Parks, Lost Corner Nature Preserve, and City Green, and they have ambitious plans for the future.
One of SSC’s most ambitious efforts is the Springway, a 31.4-mile trail system designed to connect parks and green spaces throughout Sandy Springs. SSC partnered with the City of Sandy Springs, the Path Foundation, and Kaizen Collaborative to create the trail plan. Phase 1 is currently under construction. This initial phase makes a big splash featuring a trail that loops through Morgan Falls Overlook Park and Orkin Lake to Roswell Road, with a scenic boardwalk over the lake as a highlight. Expected to be completed by the end of 2024, this phase marks the beginning of a transformative journey for the city’s outdoor spaces.
Micro Project Program
SSC offers grants of up to $5,000 for volunteer groups to create and implement projects enhancing parks, trails, and green spaces in Sandy Springs. When asked about one of his favorite projects, Misiura fondly recalls a scout group’s creation of a fruit tree orchard at Lost Corner Nature Preserve. Other completed projects include installing natural wood benches along the Overlook Trail at Morgan Falls Park, adding new steps and making trail improvements on the lake trail at Morgan Falls Park, and planting native azaleas at Lost Corner Preserve. Projects, chosen based on their potential community impact, must be completed within a year. To apply or get more information, click here.
Trail Blazers Walks
Every second Saturday morning of the month, SSC sponsors the popular Trail Blazers Walks, guided tours through Sandy Springs’ parks, trails, and green spaces. Led by experts in local flora, fauna, and history, these walks offer a fantastic opportunity to connect with community members and explore the area’s natural beauty.
Individual Volunteer Opportunities
SSC provides numerous volunteer opportunities for individuals. Outdoor enthusiasts can help at SSC booths during farmers markets or festivals, assist with Trail Blazers Walks, or participate in park cleanups and maintenance. Those preferring indoor activities can help out at the annual invitation-only Thought Leaders Dinner, the major fundraising event for the SSC. Volunteers are welcome to join various committees within the organization to assist with Fundraising, Communications, or Opportunities and Projects. The SSC always encourages suggestions from the public for improving Sandy Springs’ parks and green spaces!
Future Projects
While the Springway trail system is a monumental undertaking, SSC continues to identify and assist with the planning of new greenspace projects. One exciting upcoming project is Old Riverside Park. Currently undeveloped, this riverfront land will soon feature woodland trails, a riverside pavilion, a nature-themed playground,and a pollinator garden. The city is set to begin construction of the new park within the next 12 months.
The citizens and visitors to Sandy Springs owe an abundance of gratitude to those in the SSC who have worked so hard to provide for the amazing amenities and enhancements to our city’s natural resources. There is no doubt that through their work, tremendous value has been added to our community. For more information about SSC’s projects, calendar of events, volunteer opportunities, or to make suggestions, visit their website at www.SandySpringsConservancy.org.
As the second annual Dine Like a Local program opened in Sandy Springs on Jan. 2, already the foodie affair appeared to be pulling in more people than last year’s inaugural event. As of Jan. 3, 272 signups were counted, compared to 188 on the same date last year, according to Jennifer Cruce, executive director of Visit Sandy Springs, which sponsors the program. A total of 1,406 signups were made last year. The program runs through March 31.
Several improvements were made for this year’s Dine Like a Local which encourages both Sandy Springs residents, the wider Atlanta community and visitors from out of town to sample the two dozen restaurants that are participating in this year’s passport program.
Cruce said the whole process has been simplified this year. Diners sign up online to receive a free digital Dine Like a Local passport. Then passport holders can visit any of the participating restaurants and check in at each stop for a chance to win a number of prizes throughout the duration of the program, including restaurant gift card giveaways.
Last year the check-in process included a promo code that restaurants had to provide. “This year, people check-in on their phones via GPS. It’s much easier,” said Cruce. “Every two weeks, a $25 gift card to one of the participating restaurants” is given out. Each month, passport holders can win other gifts such as picnic baskets full of branded merchandise.
There are no visas required, nor are the passports actually stamped. When the holders visit a participating restaurant, they must click the check-in button to earn points. According to the instructions, “Your visit to any participating restaurant will only count for points once a month, so make sure to diversify your palate!”
There are three separate giveaways to choose from: bi-weekly, monthly and the one-time grand prize giveaway, which is a Yeti Roadie cooler stuffed with prizes. Passport holders “can buy multiple entries into each giveaway, and the more entries, the better chance to win.”
Three winners will be selected at random every other week to receive the $25 gift card.
As much as Visit Sandy Springs wants to tempt residents to eat out more often, Cruce notes that the organizers are very much focused on the hotels in the area. “You can’t attract people to the area without a good dining scene,” she said. “This introduces people to the restaurants they never tried before.” Her group has distributed postcards with QR codes to hotels to give out to patrons. “It helps our reputation locally and regionally as having a dining scene.”
Also, when dining patrons post pictures or reviews on social media, it “helps to build excitement about a new place to go,” said Cruce, who has worked at Visit Sandy Springs for nine years. She pointed out that she has seen a lot of changes in Sandy Springs since she started. “It’s been a lot of fun.”
She added, “Sandy Springs has one of the best restaurant scenes in the metro area. We hope residents and visitors will come out to experience all this great food this city has to offer.”
The restaurants that have returned to the program from last year include Banana Leaf Thai + Bar, Big B’s Fish Joint, Breadwinner Café, Chef Rob’s Caribbean Café, Cubanos ATL, Food Terminal, it Giallo Osteria & Bar, Just Love Coffee Café, McDaniel’s QN2, O’Reilly’s Public House, Sunnyside Pizzeria, The General Muir, The Select, Tre Vele and Under the Cork Tree.
New this year are Baraonda, Cupanion’s, Fuego Mundo, Mutation Brewing Co, Okiboru, Ray’s on the River, SabaRaba’s, Strive Foods, Zafron and Zambawango.
The Dine Like a Local campaign is presented in partnership with the Economic Development Department of the City of Sandy Springs. For more information, visit https://www.visitsandysprings.org/dine-like-a-local/
Cutlines:
Food photos from General Muir, Norifish, The General Muir and The Select
It’s true. It’s somewhat sad to see the hulking remains of old, reliable, favorite restaurants dotted around Sandy Springs over the past year, but a closer look reveals a more pleasing plethora of new restaurants that have opened in the city in the last few years.
Despite the lingering effects of the pandemic, which admittedly cast a shadow on the restaurant industry nationwide, Sandy Springs restaurateurs and industry executives are wholeheartedly optimistic about their eateries. And Sandy Springs reflects the overall picture for restaurants in the State of Georgia.
Karen Bremer, CEO and president of the Georgia Restaurant Association, said the state actually has more restaurants now than before the pandemic hit Georgia in early 2020. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, she said, there were approximately 19,000 restaurants in Georgia in 2020, while now there are more than 21,000 restaurants in the state. That’s despite more than 4,000 restaurants that closed in the state in 2020. Of the 21,000, “two-thirds are in the Atlanta/Sandy Springs area,” she said, adding the notable tidbit that some counties in the state don’t have any restaurants.
[The Georgia Restaurant Association includes Sandy Springs with Atlanta in its statistics.]
Bremer said that some of the restaurants that closed during the pandemic, since reopened with a new concept.
The Economic Development Department of Sandy Springs – the state’s 7th largest city – reports that 59 new restaurants or food establishments have opened since 2020. Of these, 30 are full service, 24 are limited service, three are snack bars, one is a retail bakery, and one is a brewery.
Restaurateurs are “fairly optimistic,” said Bremer, despite continuing concerns about labor availability and costs. In the past two years, labor expenses, which include workers’ compensation insurance and payroll taxes as well as salaries, have jumped 21 percent, she said. Food prices have risen 18 percent, as of the end of 2022.
“The average restaurant makes five percent profit,” she added. So, a restaurant that made $45,000 before the pandemic, would be losing $120,000 if it kept its prices the same.
A former restaurant owner and operator, Bremer said more people are dining out nowadays, but they are “value engineering”. Restaurants “need customer loyalty programs to reward existing customers” which are much more cost-effective than seeking new customers.
Forget old-time advertising in newspapers or coupon-dropping in mailboxes. “People are doing their marketing on social media. The largest percentage of the population is young and they don’t read newspapers,” Bremer said.
Earlier this year, Visit Sandy Springs – a destination marketing organization – held its Dine Like a Local digital dining passport and campaign with 21 participating restaurants. According to Jennifer Cruce, CEO of Visit Sandy Springs, the campaign, held in partnership with the city’s economic development department, was considered a success. The organization had 1,163 sign-ups and 550 check-ins.
The website analytics indicated that the Dine Like a Local landing page on VisitSandySprings.org out-performed its second closest page by more than 350 percent (14,851 sessions vs. 4,240 sessions). The page also led in goal completions for a single page with 3,900. And the campaign produced 579 E-newsletter opt-ins at sign-up.
Cruce added that “we gave away 18 gift cards purchased from participating restaurants, three Dine Like a Local branded insulated baskets full of picnic gear and treats – one each month – and one gorgeous Yeti cooler to the grand prize sinner.”
The campaign was so successful, “we are partnering to do it again starting Jan. 1, 2024,” Cruce said, referring to the Sandy Springs Economic Development department.
Jeff Trump, who along with partner Mike “Shooter” Horosh have worked together in the restaurant industry for more than 25 years, said he remains very optimistic about the industry. “We have had Brooklyn Café in Sandy Springs for 18 years. Sandy Springs is a vibrant and incredibly supportive community that truly embraces small businesses. We feel fortunate our restaurant is in such a wonderful place with great citizens and community leadership. Our City will only get better.”
Sandy Springs is one of the wealthiest cities in the state, so many of its residents may be surprised to learn that over 50% of students in the community’s public school system are economically disadvantaged. Sandy Springs public schools were thrilled when a nonprofit organization reached out personally to each school to see where their specific needs were. Sandy Springs Education Force provides free supplemental programs within the city’s public school system to support students to excel in high school and to assist and encourage them to move on to higher education or vocations upon graduation. Any child attending Sandy Springs public schools is welcome into SSEF programs.
SSEF began by sponsoring after school programs. These programs run for two hours at the end of every school day. The first hour is focused on academics, and free tutoring and time for homework are provided. The second hour consists of a variety of enrichment opportunities. These programs are open to all students at no cost to the family. SSEF covers the full expense.
Sandy Springs public school administrators and teachers are extremely grateful for the assistance provided by SSEF. The organization helps with everything from providing school supplies, which in many cases would otherwise come from the pocketbooks of the teachers themselves, to donating books, covering SAT/ACT and college application fees for those in need, and helping students decide which path they may wish to take beyond high school, whether that be which colleges to apply to or matching these high schoolers with potential employers and training programs following graduation.
What is the best course of action for a student who plans to enter the workforce upon high school graduation in lieu of continuing their education? How do these students know what training programs are out there and how to connect with employers other than blindly sending out resumes over the internet? One of the more exciting initiatives new to SSEF is the High Demand Career Fair scheduled to take place this November at Riverwood High School for both North Springs and Riverwood students. There will be companies and organizations in attendance offering jobs, apprenticeships, internships, and training programs designed for high school students and graduates! Companies such as UPS and Northside Hospital will participate, and students who attend are all offered help with their resumes which they will provide to the employers.
What can be more important than the futures of our children? If you are looking for a way to give back to our community, SSEF makes it rewarding, easy, and fun! SSEF is happy to train volunteers to help coach students along the pathways to succeed through college. Volunteers are needed to assist students with the college application process as well as to help match soon-to-be graduates with colleges or careers. There are volunteer opportunities for those who would like to be trained to work directly with students, one-on-one, as mentors, coaches, tutors, reading buddies and more. If you prefer to volunteer behind-the-scenes, there are also opportunities to help by collecting books, school supplies, etc. for various literacy programs within SSEF, and still larger roles filling much-needed help with their major fundraising efforts, the Lightning Run and STEAM Showcase.
“Everyone can do ONE thing. And if everyone does just one thing, we can move mountains, we can change the world.”
Irene Schweiger, executive director of Sandy Springs Education Force (SSEF).
Throughout the City of Sandy Springs there are springs, streams and creeks flowing by, including in residents’ front or backyards. They are tributaries that feed into the Chattahoochee River whose more than 20 miles of shoreline are located in the City of Sandy Springs. These branches of waterways are part of Georgia’s natural water supply.
But that does not mean residents can drink from these natural springs. According to Sara Lips, director of communications and community engagement in the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, “There is no drinking water permit issued using a spring as a source of water in Sandy Springs.”
Lips also noted that her DNR division does not have an inventory of springs in the state. So it’s not clear if anyone has an idea of how many natural springs there are in the city. But as one Sandy Springs resident pointed out, the spring in her yard is not always visible. Only after heavy rains does water trickle out of her spring, which isn’t far from a stream.
While the 38.52 square miles of Sandy Springs might be dotted with these waterways, it is the original underground spring located between what is now Heritage Sandy Springs and Williams Payne Museum, near City Springs Center from which the 18-year-old city derives its name.
Two centuries ago, the natural sparkling sandy spring provided a watering stop for Native Americans, travelers and citizens, as well as a meeting place and campground area. Sandy Springs United Methodist church was built nearby in 1851. According to one history, residents of Dunwoody would travel to the area for a camp meeting every year. The land under the church was owned by W.E. Spruill and included an easement which led to the spring.
According to a sign in what was once the camp area, members of the Mabry family for years were stewards of the site. “Living beside the spring, they added marble and concrete to make the surroundings less muddy and removed the shelter to open the spring to the sky. In 1984, an attempt was made to rezone the property as commercial. Had it been successful, the spring would have been buried in storm sewers and underneath mounds of dirt and concrete.”
Today it is a tranquil area with a bubbling brook bounded by beautiful foliage and flowers, and an integral part of the Heritage Sandy Springs Museum and Park. The four-acre park centered in the heart of Sandy Springs’ downtown area includes a 14,000-square-foot Entertainment Lawn with a permanent stage where summer concerts are held. The nearby structure offers rentals for weddings, parties, company picnics, business meetings and retreats.
For the curious or the thirsty, however, there should probably be signs for the safety of residents who might be enjoying the lush area. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, before water from natural sources can be approved for drinking, a manual filtration process is required because the spring water may have some impurities.
For residents wondering about their backyard streams, county health departments can help test for bacteria or nitrates. Or, water can be tested by a state certified laboratory. [Call Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or visit www.epa.gov/safewater/labs]
If one insists on drinking their natural spring water, it is advised to boil it first. Boiling is the safest method to kill disease-causing germs, including viruses, bacteria and parasites. And it is recommended that one add a pinch of salt for each quart or liter of boiled water.As summer’s hot, humid weather swamps the area, however, residents wanting to cool off either internally or externally might want to pour a cold glass of water from an indoor faucet or turn on a hose and sprinkler system to run through outdoors.
It may be a telltale sign. If you are seeing bright-colored red, yellow or blue lines – speckled with same-colored flags – lining the boundaries of your yards, it just may mean that one of the companies providing internet and cable TV is about to lay down fiber optics in your neighborhood.
While it’s possible that the lines may suggest a different type of excavation, the presence of various colored lines arranged in a tic-tac-toe pattern throughout an entire residential area typically implies an advancement in next-gen technology.
Fortunately for Sandy Springs’ neighborhoods, much of the basics have already been accomplished. According to Alex Horwitz, vice president of public relations at Comcast NBC Universal, “We’re already in Sandy Springs and have been for quite some time. We cover the vast majority of that city.” However, he added that “we are in the process of simply upgrading our existing network,” which, he explained, is a mix of fiber and coaxial cable.”
In April, Comcast announced that its latest Xfinity 10G Network upgrade is rolling out to homes and businesses across greater Atlanta. “With these improvements, Comcast is deploying new download speeds of up to 2 gigabits-per-second (Gbps), and up to 5x-to-10x faster upload speeds in Atlanta.”
Noting that Sandy Springs is included in this upgrade, the Comcast’s announcement notes that the “region now has the foundational next-generation network in place to begin introducing new symmetrical multi-gigabit Internet options late this year that can be delivered across Comcast’s existing networks with less cost.”
And Comcast is not the only service provider actively adding the fiber optic technology that is used for long-distance and high-performance data networking.
AT&T Fiber is available to thousands of customer locations in parts of Sandy Springs, according to Ann L. Elsas, AT&T’s lead public relations manager for the Southeast. “This is part of more than 1.5 million customer locations in the State of Georgia. Early in 2022, we launched and expanded our multi-gig services to offer up to 5 Gbps symmetrical speeds to consumers and businesses. With multi-gig speeds, we’re able to provide our customers with a first-of-its-kind internet experience.”
How does AT&T determine where it will next lay its newest technology? Elsas said that “we’re constantly evaluating our network and coverage to deliver the best, most reliable network to our customers, no matter where they are. We look at a number of factors when deciding to add fiber to areas, including – but not limited to – topography, distribution of demand and property availability.”
For many residents and business owners in Sandy Springs, understanding the technology behind fiber optics might be too much of a challenge. Simply put, fiber cables are comprised of thin glass or plastic. They use light to transmit data, empowering faster speeds and higher bandwidth than traditional copper cable, which depend on electrical signals. Because they provide faster data transmission, fiber optic connections remain strong even during heavy usage times.
Fiber optic cables are more expensive to produce than copper and installation is more expensive. And, because they are made of glass, they are more fragile.
According to one homeowners’ association president, it is totally worth it for the customers. Fiber optic cables are critical as the use of the internet continues to increase, he said. Both speed and bandwidth are improved significantly. “More and more of our everyday lift depends on high-speed connectivity which will be possible with fiber.” He added that he doesn’t know if having fiber optics in one’s neighborhood would actually increase property values, but it may cause a buyer to choose one subdivision over another.AT&T’s Elsas said that her company is committed to connecting people to what matters most to them by delivering “reliable, high-speed internet across the country.” And, she added, to see if fiber is available in one’s neighborhood, they can go to att.com/notifyme and enter their address.
For a few years, colorful turtles appeared to be the mascot of the City of Sandy Springs. Just as easily, it could have been cranes. Whether they were the blue herons on the Chattahoochee River that are often mistaken for cranes, or the tall, strong, but graceful machinery that dotted the skyline of the city symbolizing more luxury housing under development.
Then it seemed the ubiquitous cranes, with their hoist ropes to lift heavy objects, suddenly disappeared. Hundreds of luxury apartment units were built in Sandy Springs between 2017 and 2020. The most recent of these mid-rise apartment complexes, Adley City Springs at 6075 Roswell Road in 2020, and The Alastair at Aria Village at Abernathy Road and Georgia 400 in 2019 claim enviable occupancy rates. The former has an occupancy rate of 97 percent while The Alastair is at 94 percent.
Developers took notice of the strong occupancy rates, leading to the construction of a new luxury apartment complex, Wayfern Apartments, in north Sandy Springs. The project, formerly North Springs Center, has been under construction since August at the corner of Roswell Road and Dalrymple Road. The approximately nine-acre site had most recently been anchored by a Big Lots, but the shopping area had gone through many retail phases over the last 50 years or so.
Matt Hallman is the vice president of development for Georgia and Tennessee at San Diego-based Fairfield Residential. He said the 286-unit rental complex is planned to include studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as some two-story townhome-style units. The first units will be available in either the first or second quarter of 2024. Rents will range from $1,700 up to approximately $2800, with the townhouse units in the mid to high $3,000s.
The complex will include three-story apartment buildings plus a structured parking deck, Hallman said. Amenities will include a fitness center, clubhouse, office space for lease and a pool. Perhaps unique to the project will be a dog park and dog run.
Wayfern will face stiff competition from existing luxury apartments. The apartments – starting with studios up to two-bedrooms — at Adley City Springs feature nine-foot ceilings with ceiling fans and lights, carpeting, granite countertops in bathrooms, washer/dryers, digital programmable thermostats and home intrusion alarms. The kitchens include stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. Rents range from about $2,200 to $2,900.
The Adley City Springs public areas include a two-story fitness center, rooftop salt-water pool, an outdoor kitchen and golf simulator lounge.
Another recent luxury apartment complex, the six-story Alastair, has one-, two- and three-bedroom units renting from about $2,000 to more than $5,000. Many have private balconies or patios. The units include built-in bookshelves, wine racks, quartz or granite countertops and digital thermostats. Again, a salt-water pool with fire pits and lounge spaces, a two-story fitness center, private game room, full catering kitchen, electric car charging stations and on-site concierge are included at The Alastair, which is within walking distance of the Mercedes-Benz U.S. headquarters.
Also built since 2017 is the 550 Northridge Apartments with 220 units on Northridge Parkway, the Arabelle Perimeter at 1110 Hammond Road with 384 units, and Juniper Sandy Springs at 6558 Roswell Road. The latter includes townhomes. Other notable properties include The Collection at 4600 Roswell Road was built in 2015, Bell Glenridge on Glenridge Point Parkway also built in 2015, and 1160 Hammon Road in 2014.
When the City of Sandy Springs adopted its comprehensive development plan in 2017, it was noted that the housing availability at the time consisted of mostly single-family homes and aging rental apartments. The report stated, “Because of the high cost of land in Sandy Springs, the single-family homes are affordable to only the highest-income earners, while the rental stock does not satisfy the preferences of many renters who are willing to pay more for updated finishes, amenities, and better access to MARTA.”
The city realized that “the key to providing more housing at a range of price points will be to adopt policies that allow developers to fill in or redevelop parcels with a greater range of housing products, such as smaller-lot single-family homes and townhomes as well as midrise apartments and condominiums, because if the price of land is spread over more new housing units, developers can offer the housing at lower prices.”
The City also noted that by attracting more professionals and families to the city, demand for high-quality retail and dining will follow. The Roswell Road corridor and Perimeter Center were pointed to as the city’s target for both residential and retail development. Code changes created a new zoning district called North End mixed-use that is just north of Dalrymple Road where Wayfern Apartments is under construction.
All of this means that residents of the northern end of Sandy Springs will most likely become accustomed to the dirt-moving, concrete-lifting cranes once again.
Children who choose a cause within the community, and then create and execute an event to raise money for that cause… What can be better than that?! Kids Boost is an amazing organization whose mission is “to empower future philanthropists and social entrepreneurs ages 8 to 14”. “So many kids want to give back, but they just don’t always know how”, says Kristen Williams, the founder and executive director of Kids Boost. The organization gives children in the program $100 to help fund their events, and a professional on-staff coach who meets with them weekly to ensure follow through. The coach will ask questions and encourage the participants to come up with personal and meaningful ways to give back philanthropically.
The first 2 questions asked are “What makes your heart happy?” and “What breaks your heart?” The answers to those questions typically determine how the child can best help the situation or circumstance that is most meaningful to that child. While each participant has a professional coach, the events are conceived, managed, and carried out by the children. The kids also get to present the actual “big check” to the recipients! “Throughout the project, the child will become a philanthropist and social entrepreneur, while learning important lessons in money management, civil engagement and communication.” Just, WOW!
The average age of participants is 11 – 12 years old, and the average amount raised by Kids Boost events is $2,200. When children this age are asked what their goal is, they typically answer somewhere between $200 – $500. Just imagine their reactions when they realize they may have exceeded their goals by five to ten times! Parents are strongly encouraged to step back and let their children take the reins, along with their coaches, to manage the projects themselves. The most common feedback received by staff from parents is the confidence boost the children in the program gain. “We get lots of kids who lack confidence or self-esteem, so helping with that is a big bonus!”, says Williams.
Kids Boost had their offices in Sandy Springs until the pandemic. After 2020, they kept working remotely, but many of their participants still live in Sandy Springs and host fundraising events here in our community. A pair of Sandy Springs siblings who are passionate about reading and baking, secured baking supplies from local businesses, baked hundreds of treats, packaged them with their own logo, and sold them to friends and family to raise money to help less fortunate students get books to read through a nonprofit called Purpose Built Schools. They raised over $1,000 which enabled them to help provide a book to every elementary student in a summer learning program. They were onsite to personally help distribute these books to the students as well. Another Sandy Springs youngster who wanted to help children without homes chose to support the Atlanta Children’s Shelter. She organized a yard sale that also featured a bounce house and bake sale. She turned her $100 start-up money into $3,262 and was super proud to present the giant check herself!
Kids Boosters are typically between the ages of 8 -14, but there are plenty of opportunities for people of all ages to be involved. While the children organize and manage the events, adults are needed to donate various items such as venues, supplies, etc. Special talents are needed as well. Adults are paired with their passions, such as art, sports, jewelry-making, cooking, etc. Simply complete the volunteer application and let them know how you would like to be involved!
This is one of the few organizations where recipients of the fundraising events can, and often do, turn around and host an event of their own to pay it forward. The $100 seed money given to every Kid Booster combined with donations that the kids go out and procure themselves allows any child to participate in the program. Kids Boost has created the ability for every child of any background or socio-economic status to become empowered to make a difference in the world.
All of us understand the value of teaching our children “how to fish”. Here is an organization within our community that not only helps us teach our youngsters how to fish, but also teaches them how they can feed those fish to others in need! All of us encounter hardship at some point. There is no question that helping others during their tough times reminds us of the things that we are grateful for in our own lives. Kids Boost helps children fulfill the desire to help others, and hopefully, ignites a passion to continue service throughout their lifetimes.
Donate to a current Kids Boost project
Small Give. Big Impact. – One day smaller projects for kids’ teams, troops, and groupsThe Big Give – One day bigger projects for families and companies