MARIETTA, Ga. — IKEA is coming to Cobb County.
The City of Marietta announced in a meeting Wednesday that the furniture store will open a new location on Franklin Gateway.
Mayor Steve Tumlin hailed as one of the largest and most important economic developments in the city’s history.
Ikea bought 28 acres on Franklin Gateway from the city for more than $9 million.
Breaking: @IKEAUSA to build second metro Atlanta store in Marietta. Announcement made at special @cityofmarietta council meeting. It’s being touted as the “largest retail entity ever in Cobb County. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/Fl3RF9MOe3
— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) December 20, 2017
The Franklin Gateway area has undergone a revitalization over the past several years.
In November 2013, Marietta voters approved the $68 million bond referendum of which $64 million is dedicated for the redevelopment of the Franklin Gateway Redevelopment Area.
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The program included the privatization and/or sale of properties for the development of new residential, commercial retail, office or light industrial development, infrastructure improvements and new roadway construction, according to Marietta’s Gateway Community Improvement District (CID).
The goal was to revitalize this area with the creation of new jobs, offering a safe, livable environment and a strong economy.
“The city has worked very diligently on the redevelopment of the Franklin corridor and IKEA would like to be part of that redevelopment,” said Jim Anastos, a representative for the company.
The IKEA Marietta store will be built on the site of the former Marquis Place apartment complex, which the city purchased through the 2013 Redevelopment Bond in July 2015, and an adjacent property consisting of 6 acres for a total of 34 acres. The store will be over 300,000 square feet.
There's no timetable of when construction will begin. IKEA officials said hundreds will be employed during the construction phase, and hundreds of new employees will be hired when the store opens.
Cox Media Group
