Dunwoody releases Edge City 2.0 Report

By Press release submission

Feb 4, 2023

After spending a year seeking community input and review, the City of Dunwoody is releasing the Edge City 2.0 report, a market-feasible and aspirational vision designed to guide the next chapter for Dunwoody’s portion of Perimeter Center. The final report was presented to the Dunwoody City Council last week and is now available online: www.dunwoodyedge.com

“This report reinforces a lot of what we know about what makes Dunwoody unique - MARTA and interstate connectivity, a large base of existing employment, hotel, and shopping, all in a concentrated area,” said Dunwoody City Manager Eric Linton. “As we look out over the next 20 years, we’ll look to activate Dunwoody’s Perimeter Center with connected greenspace, mobility enhancements, and entertainment options for residents, area workers, and visitors to enjoy.”

A joint effort between the City of Dunwoody and the DeKalb Board of the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCIDs), Edge City 2.0 was carried out in close coordination with a consultant team led by Pond & Company. Funding for the study was provided by a grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) through the organization’s Livable Centers Initiative Program (LCI). An LCI grant of $120,000 was matched with $30,000 from the City of Dunwoody for a total project cost of $150,000.

“The Perimeter CIDs was thrilled to partner with the City of Dunwoody to develop this plan,” said PCIDs Executive Director Ann Hanlon. “The section of the Perimeter market that falls within the City of Dunwoody is full of opportunity, and as the business district redevelops over time, this plan will guide our collective efforts to shape that growth. The next generation of the Perimeter Center in Dunwoody will be an even more vibrant version of the one we already enjoy today.”

The report finds that recent developments of the State Farm Campus and Twelve24 office building, coupled with the first phase of construction for High Street and Campus 244, are organically establishing a “core of activity” for the study area around the MARTA station. Edge City 2.0 emphasizes future development opportunities in proximity to MARTA with most development activity taking place at what is currently the Perimeter Mall site and adjacent properties.

Redevelopment would be concentrated around a central gathering space along Ashford Dunwoody Road, promoting outdoor space and connectivity across Perimeter Center. The scale of future development is highest around the Dunwoody MARTA station and decreases to the north and east.

“The report is a vision document that we can use to engage developers and property owners during the planning stages of new projects to articulate exactly what the community wants,” said Dunwoody Economic Development Director Michael Starling. “Edge City 2.0 is not meant to become static. Instead, the City will continue to engage stakeholders and members of the public so that the vision can evolve based on changing conditions.”

Edge City 2.0 was developed with collective input from elected officials, PCIDs, major property owners, governmental partners, and community members. Here’s the engagement timeline: