Century Center May Join New City of Brookhaven

Chamblee leaders are concerned about a reported plan to annex Century Center into the new city of Brookhaven.

Chamblee already has a plan in place to annex the area, along with several Dresden East Civic Association (DECA) neighborhoods.

“If Century Center is annexed by Brookhaven, this would be a significant reduction in the proposed tax revenue from this area,” said City Councilman Tom Hogan.

The discussion came during a specially called Chamblee city council meeting Friday morning, in which an interim city manager was appointed. The council is seeking to fire current city manager Niles Ford.

Hogan requested the Century Center annexation item be added to the morning agenda for discussion purposes.

If Brookhaven does annex Century Center, it’s unclear whether Chamblee would still seek to annex DECA’s communities, which include Appling Heights, Dresden Square, Frontier Woods, LaVenture Forest, Marlin Acres, Wakefield Forest, Tanglewood Circle, and Whispering Hills.

“The tax base at Century Century would have been used to support the delivery of government services in those neighborhoods,” Hogan said. “Without the revenue, it’s hard to reasonably justify the added expense.”

DECA residents are currently set to decide whether to annex into Chamblee on Nov. 5.

Brookhaven spokesperson Megan Matteucci said the city hasn’t received a formal application from Century Center to join the municipality.

“We’re willing to hear from any property owners, residential or commercial, who have expressed a desire to join the city,” she said.

“I’m disappointed in this development, because we’ve had a map that’s been out there for some time, showing a proposed Century Center annexation into Chamblee,” said Chamblee Mayor Eric Clarkson said.

Much of that area was included in the Lakeside City Alliance's first proposed City of Lakeside plan, but it was excised from the map after DECA residents protested, citing Chamblee's plans for them. When contacted Friday, alliance Chairman Mary Kay Woodworth declined to comment since the discussions appeared to be in the early stages.

Century Center is owned by Highwoods Properties.