Columns:: Spreading the wealth: University announces plans to buy, sell properties

since 12/15/98

Columns::October 28, 2002

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The university has listed the valuable frontage property along Atlanta Highway at New Jimmy Daniel Road with a local realtor and expects the property will return to commercial use and the county tax rolls. (Photo by Peter Frey)

Spreading the wealth
University announces plans to buy, sell properties

By Tom Jackson
tjackson@uga.edu

The university or its real estate foundation will soon sell one parcel of property and purchase two others, in an ongoing effort to

meet its educational mission and to address pressing needs under the physical master plan, officials announced last week.
“We are sensitive to concerns about the removal of property from Clarke County tax rolls and will work closely with the local government to emphasize the positive impact these projects will bring to our community,” says Henry M. Huckaby, senior vice president for finance and administration. “We are making public announcement of these transactions in the interest of keeping the public and the local government fully informed of the university’s plans.”
The parcels involved include:
• placing on the market for sale up to two acres fronting Atlanta Highway at New Jimmy Daniel Road in western Clarke County, a portion of the former Roberds property;
• purchasing approximately 456 acres along Double Bridges Road, of which 235 acres are in Clarke County and 221 acres in Oglethorpe County;
• purchasing a small, triangular tract bounded by Fulton, Thomas and Spring streets, formerly owned by Norfolk and Southern Railroad.
While there is discussion under way within the local government about the impact of UGA property ownership on the local tax digest, other economic contributions by the university greatly outweigh any negative property tax impact, Huckaby says. Among examples, he cited:
• Total annual economic impact of UGA on the Athens-Clarke community is at least $1.7 billion, according to the Selig Center for Economic Growth. Additional indirect factors such as spending by visitors attending conferences and spending by university retirees pushes that number above $2 billion per year.
• With more than 10,000 employees, UGA is by far Clarke County’s largest employer, with almost four times more employees than the second-largest employer.
• Under the 1978 Local Option Sales Tax law and subsequent special purpose local option sales taxes, Athens-Clarke collects three cents on every dollar spent in the county subject to sales tax. By law, LOST collections are rolled back on local property taxes and SPLOST collections fund important capital improvement projects of the local government and school district. This sales tax benefits from faculty and staff salaries, which total some $475 million, and local student spending in excess of $250 million per year.
• Some 16,300 non-university, off-campus jobs are attributed to spending in the local community by UGA and its employees.
• UGA currently has more than $300 million in construction projects under way or in planning, providing jobs and demand for materials, which are subject to sales taxes for projects through the UGA Real Estate Foundation.
• From 1987 to 2000, 33 new companies were created in Georgia based on technology developed at, or associated with, UGA. Fourteen of these firms are headquartered in Athens.
At the time of the purchase of the former Roberds Furniture Co. building on Atlanta Highway for use as a central receiving warehouse, UGA was unsure how many parking spaces would be needed, Huckaby says. Recognizing now that the full seven acres is not required, the university has listed the valuable frontage property along Atlanta Highway with local realtor Jamie Boswell, and expects the property will return to commercial use and the county tax rolls. The Roberds purchase benefitted downtown Athens and residents near the Chicopee complex on East Broad Street by removing large truck traffic from the area. Smaller vehicles now shuttle supplies into campus from the Roberds location.
The university’s purchase of the 456-acre Fleming property straddling the Clarke-Oglethorpe county line will allow relocation of many of the agricultural facilities now along South Milledge Ave. near Whitehall. The purchase is expected to have minimal property tax impact, as the land already is under a Conservation Preserve program. “We will seek the county’s input into discussion about the reprogramming of the Whitehall Farm properties,” Huckaby says.
The UGA Real Estate Foundation has purchased from the Norfolk and Southern Railroad a small (0.4 acre), triangular area bounded by Fulton, Thomas and Spring streets. The area initially will be used for parking. “This site presents an ideal opportunity for UGA and Athens-Clarke County to collaborate to improve street alignment and reduce traffic congestion in that area while improving pedestrian safety,” Huckaby says.
“Like all good citizens of this community, the University of Georgia contributes as much as it can to the health and wellness of the Athens community,” Huckaby says. “Like everyone, we probably can do more and will continue to work with local officials to improve the quality of life in this place we all call home.”

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