Judge Postpones Decision in Century Center Annexation Case

The first hearing in the case to determine whether or not the City of Brookhaven can proceed with the proposed annexation of Century Center was held at the Dekalb County Courthouse on Wednesday afternoon.

Judge Tangela M. Barrie will deliberate and announce her final decision in a few days time. For now, both the cities of Chamblee and Brookhaven continue to fight over the property.

Bob Wilson, the attorney for Chamblee, which is set to hold a referendum on the proposed annexation in November, argued that the City of Brookhaven does not have the right to annex the property unless the referendum does not pass.

"The General Assembly has encumbered this land until the referendum," Wilson said. "The cities would have you believe that they are on the same footing as the General Assembly, but they are not and they never have been."

Century Center requested to be annexed into Brookhaven after the referendum was scheduled, initiating the conflict between the two cities. 

Cecil McLendon, attorney for the City of Brookhaven, argued that blocking the annexation by the City of Brookhaven violates the rights of the property owners of Century Center.

"It's the property owners who initiated this action, not Brookhaven," McLendon said. "This infringes on the rights of [the property owners]." 

The City of Chamblee asked for an immediate decision but Judge Tangela M. Barrie decided to take the results of the hearing under advisement and announce a decision in a few days.