Surveyors are studying the 51-acre former Verizon campus in Deerfield. Milton can buy it for $26.25 million or walk away when due diligence ends in late November.
Surveyors are on the former Verizon campus in Deerfield as Milton decides whether to buy it. The city has a $26.25 million offer on the 51.32-acre site at One, Two and Three Verizon Place. It can still walk away.
The city gave the update in a news release on Oct. 21. Surveyors were on the property this week, the city said. They are mapping:
- the lay of the land
- the utilities under the ground
- where the wetlands are and how far they extend
The review also looks at the site’s potential for outdoor recreation, access, trails and public space. The city said no final plan for the property has been set.
What happens next
The due diligence period is expected to end in late November, the city said. Milton will then either go ahead with the purchase or use its right to withdraw under the agreement. If it goes ahead, closing could happen on or before Dec. 1.
How the city got here
The City Council approved the purchase and sale agreement with Cellco Partnership and GTE Wireless on Monday, Sept. 21. The city’s recap of that meeting set out the terms:
- a $26.25 million offer
- a 60-day due diligence period, during which the city can withdraw
- payment from cash on hand, not borrowed money, if the city completes the purchase
“Tonight preserves the option,” City Manager Steve Krokoff said at the meeting. “It does not surrender the (final) decision.”
Mayor Peyton Jamison said the property “could potentially check a lot of boxes for the city. We’ll see if it works.”
The city’s agenda preview for Sept. 21 said the purchase would come back to the council before any deal could close.
Why the city wants it
City officials have called the campus a possible “public anchor” for the remaking of South Deerfield. That area is bounded by Highway 9, Webb Road, Georgia 400 and Windward Parkway.
The city already owns 24.42 acres nearby, off Deerfield Parkway. Together, the two sites could hold sports fields, parks and public gathering places, the city said. Dining, shopping and other business could sit alongside them.
The Sept. 21 recap said the review will also ask whether “marketable edges” of the land could be sold for private uses. That would help the city’s finances.
The same night, the council authorized a grant application. It seeks up to $15 million from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program for park space in South Deerfield. That could include athletic fields, courts, trails and inclusive play areas, according to the Sept. 21 recap.
A freeze on new applications
While the planning goes on, the city has paused certain development applications in South Deerfield. The council first approved a 30-day moratorium on Sept. 21. On Oct. 19 it extended it by 60 days, according to the city’s recap of that meeting.
The pause covers certain zoning, site plan, land use and land disturbance applications. City Attorney Ken Jarrard said a moratorium helps make sure new projects line up with the vision for the area.
The council also appointed its ninth and final member to the Deerfield-focused Development Authority on Oct. 19. The authority is helping the city weigh the purchase.
What it means for you
- No decision yet. The council has kept an option to buy. The city expects to decide after due diligence ends in late November.
- The cost: $26.25 million, from cash the city already holds, according to the city manager. Milton’s property tax rate stays at 4.193 mills this year.
- To follow it: the council next meets Nov. 2. The city’s Deerfield page carries the planning work so far.
- Live or work nearby? Our Deerfield neighborhood guide covers homes, schools, parks and the commute.
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