County Looking at Another Land Purchase in Oak Grove?

Could Oak Grove soon see a second land purchase for a future park two weeks after ?

District 2 Commissioner Jeff Rader wants the county to review a 17-acre tract owned by Ed Nelms Jr. about a mile east off Lavista Road, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Nelms is asking for $6 million for the land, below the $7.5 million price tag he said he was offering residential developers. The land–as well as the 6 acres the county purchased July 12–is part of the Mount Zion community, a black farming community that emerged after Emancipation.

Rader has said he's actively seeking to purchase land in his district because it's one of the most well-developed areas in the county, but it wasn't planned with an adequate amount of greenspace. After spending about $1.78 million on the Lavista land earlier this month, the county has about $5 million to spend in District 2 on land from the 2001 parks bond, the AJC reported.

Residents and some commissioners have criticized the Lavista purchase earlier this month. The seller, Rick Porter of Paulee Partners, initially asked the county to pay $1.96 million for the land. The county assessed the land at $393,000 for tax purposes. After debate and deferral, Porter lowered his price about $200,000, and the board of commissioners approved the purchase.

CORRECTION: The article initially said Jeff Rader represents District 1. He represents District 2. The error has been changed.