News
Smith Real Estate Services, Inc. Completes City of Atlanta's Greenway Acquisition Project
Atlanta, GA. - As a result of a settlement of an enforcement action taken jointly by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), and Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeepers, the City of Atlanta began a $25 million dollar Greenway Acquisition project, as required by the settlement for violation of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Georgia Water Quality Control Act.
The goal of the project was to acquire and protect greenway properties adjacent to selected rivers and creeks within the Metro Atlanta area. Smith Real Estate Services, Inc. has managed the land acquisition process on behalf of the City of Atlanta since 2002. Unlike typical government land acquisition projects, owner participation in the Greenway Project was 100% voluntary. SRES assembled an expert team of title attorneys, acquisition agents, appraisers, review appraisers and closing attorneys to meet the City’s goals and expectations. After contracting over 1,000 owners, SRES participated in the purchase of nearly 2,000 acres of property consisting of over 150 separate parcels of land. Additionally, over 5 million dollars in bargain sales and donations were negotiated by SRES on behalf of the City.
“I am proud to have played a role in protecting the rivers and creeks for the City of Atlanta as well as the downstream landowners,” stated Pamela J. Smith, President/CEO of Smith Real Estate Services, Inc. “These properties will be forever maintained in a natural and undisturbed state. What an accomplishment for the environment,” she added.
Smith Real Estate Services, Inc. is a full service real estate consulting firm located in Atlanta, Georgia. Capitalizing on 23 years of expertise, SRES provides clients with comprehensive consulting offerings that include tenant representation, development program management, project management, agency construction management services, land acquisition services, due diligence services, and real estate valuation and evaluation services.
