Maybe it’s hard to believe, but more than eight years have passed since Sandy Springs debuted the initial phase of City Springs, a 14-acre municipal, arts, and social centerpiece that, overnight, gave the young OTP city the centralized gathering place it had always lacked.

Now, a long-planned growth spurt for City Springs is coming into sharper focus than ever before, with a broader goal of convincing Central Perimeter workers and visitors to put down roots—and leave the car at home.  

Last month, Sandy Springs City Council OK’d a resolution that authorizes the city to advance plans for City Springs’ second phase, set for 5 and ½ acres just south of the existing district. The action paves the way for rezoning and negotiations surrounding the sale and redevelopment of the properties in question, which include vacant land and parking lots, among other uses. 

City leaders also selected a master developer, Dallas-based Trammell Crow Company, to spearhead efforts to expand City Springs into more of a vibrant and walkable full district. 

General overview of conditions in question last year, with City Springs shown at top (starred) and Hillcrest’s construction at left.Google Maps

Aerial view of full growth plans at City Springs phase two, with today's mixed-use district (around star) shown at top right. Trammell Crow Company; via City of Sandy Springs

TCC plans to head work on phase-two City Springs through its residential subsidiary, High Street Residential, with development support from metro Atlanta-based firms Third & Urban, DSM Real Estate Partners, and Hedgewood Homes.

Across the street, HSR and Third & Urban have also partnered on an 8-acre infill development, Hillcrest, that broke ground in fall 2025 and announced fresh retail signings just last week. 

Sandy Springs leaders picked the City Springs phase-two development team as part of a bidding process that kicked off in June, recently calling the selected vision the strongest fit for extending phase one’s placemaking, as guided by a City Springs Master Plan adopted in 2022. 

As illustrated in early renderings, the redevelopment would aim to lure a boutique hotel, more local retailers and restaurants, and upscale multifamily residential options, in addition to standalone houses. 

Expanded greenspace and nodes for public gatherings would also be a focus, per city officials. 

Plans for mixed-use and hotel frontage in City Springs' second phase, facing south, with Atlanta skylines beyond. Trammell Crow Company; via City of Sandy Springs

Planned centralized courtyard and greenspace in phase two. Trammell Crow Company; via City of Sandy Springs

Rusty Paul, Sandy Springs’ mayor for a dozen years, said City Springs’ walkable downtown setting fundamentally changed how his city comes together. Phase two represents “an opportunity to build on that foundation, bringing new energy, amenities, and connections to the heart of our city,” as Paul said in a recent announcement. 

No timelines for phase-two development or groundbreakings have been specified.

Next steps call for city officials to move forward with rezoning and property acquisition, while design, financial, and contractual details are worked out, per the city. 

Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Dallas, TCC is a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 firm with 3,000 buildings developed or acquired in its portfolio, spanning 700 million square feet with a $90-billion value. As of June this year, per company officials, TCC counted another $30 billion worth of projects in its pipeline. 

Find a closer look in the gallery above. 

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