Prior to public vote, campaign for Forsyth Co. megaproject heats up

With no mention of a presidential race or lying politicians, a campaign flyer circulating online nonetheless makes no bones about it: “Want pro hockey in Forsyth? Vote YES on Nov. 5!” it reads.

That’s a reference to The Gathering at South Forsyth, a 100-acre mega-proposal in the north suburban county that first started coming to light in spring 2023 with promises of potentially luring a National Hockey League franchise back to Georgia, while building nearly 2,000 new homes and a whopping 1.6 million square feet of buildings devoted to retail, office, and hotel uses.

The project is now expected to cost in excess of $3 billion, with $1 billion of that funding a cornerstone, NHL-ready arena that would also stage concerts and events. But first, it faces a critical juncture: A Nov. 5 General Election referendum that could make or break the largest made-from-scratch metro district since The Battery Atlanta. [CLARIFICATION, 6:46 p.m., Oct. 2: A representative of The Gathering project sends the following note: "The vote is not a referendum on the project—it is simply a vote to authorize redevelopment powers. The vote is not a go-no-go for the project."]

Should Forsyth voters approve the referendum, it would empower county leaders to create a Tax Allocation District, a tool for establishing specially defined areas and using increased property tax revenue within them to fund redevelopment projects, as a means of economic stimulus.

In Georgia, all TADs must be authorized by a local referendum vote.

Earlier this year, Forsyth County leadership green-lighted plans for providing up to $225 million in future property taxes to help make The Gathering a reality—but only if the new district secures an NHL franchise. (The Gathering’s leadership had previously asked the county for $390 million in incentives.)

But a serious roadblock could be the NHL’s willingness to expand. The league’s commissioner, Gary Bettman, told the Toronto Star last month no expansion plans beyond the NHL's current 32 teams are on the horizon, despite well-documented interest in metro Atlanta (in South Forsyth and Alpharetta) and in Houston.

Nonetheless, to help curry favor with Forsyth voters and lay out TAD specifics, a 30-minute webinar is planned for 6:30 p.m. today in which The Gathering’s backers will explain why they feel a TAD is the best way to bring the project to fruition without burdening taxpayers.

The webinar will be hosted by The Gathering’s developer, Vernon Krause, a car dealership mogul and head of Krause Sports and Entertainment, along with Laura Semanson, Forsyth County District 5 Commissioner.

For The Gathering’s backers, the virtual meeting’s purpose is to make the case the TAD would not be a traditional tax on Forsyth residents but a necessary step that ensures “future developments pay for themselves, sparking growth,” per a meeting preview.

Supporters say the TAD is projected to repay the county its $225 million contribution in  12 to 15 years. After that, the estimated $40 million in property tax revenue generated by The Gathering would be channeled to county coffers and Forsyth County Schools, according to Krause and company.

Here’s a preview of the official Nov. 5 ballot language:

“Shall the Act be approved which authorizes Forsyth County to exercise all redevelopment powers allowed under the ‘Redevelopment Powers Law,’ as it may be amended from time to time solely in the designated 100.3 acres of property designated for ‘The Gathering at South Forsyth’ project?”

For a refresher on what The Gathering could eventually be (with the 18,500-seat arena in the mix), find the latest renderings in the gallery above.

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