Athens council OKs incentives and ordinance for Swan Creek retail center estimated at $34 million

The Athens City Council unanimously approved a resolution and companion ordinance on Dec. 22 to facilitate development of a new commercial retail center (Swan Creek LLC) on the southern end of Brawley Boulevard near I‑65 and Highway 72. Council members described the project as an estimated $34 million investment expected to generate jobs and significant taxable sales.

The resolution (item H) described a retail center that would include Hobby Lobby and at least four of several anchors listed in the packet (Academy Sports + Outdoors, HomeGoods, Burlington, Books-A-Million and PetSmart). The proposal estimated approximately $34 million in private investment and annual taxable sales of about $30 million. Council members voted to approve the economic-development resolution and then enacted ordinance I to implement the project agreement; both measures passed 4–0.

At public remarks, Amanda Schulte asked who the developer is and whether the development entity currently has a city business license; Attorney Shane Black explained that the company had not yet begun operations in the city and would obtain a business license when it commenced business activities. Mayor Marks and other council members described the project as a means to grow local sales tax revenue and expand retail choices, and said they expect future steps to include project agreements and implementation details.

Both the resolution and the ordinance were adopted after suspension of rules and unanimous roll-call votes.