DEL.ICIO.USDevelopment of the Week: Hightower Ridge
Shorter commute, more sleep
For the AJC
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Ayatta James and her husband, Tineil, got more space and a less congested location in their move from Loganville to Hightower Ridge in Snellville. Ayatta James, 33, a speech therapist, chatted about her new home.
Christopher Oquendo / Special
At Hightower Ridge, Ayatta (left) and Tineil James have a half-acre yard, so they’re no longer on top of their neighbors.
Getting there
Take I-20 east to Exit 75 (Turner Hill/Ga. 124) and turn left, traveling north on Ga. 124. Turn right on Pleasant Hill. Travel about 4.8 miles and turn left on West Hightower Trail. Hightower Ridge is about a mile on the left.
Atlanta home development stories
Shorter commute, more sleep
Location, busy social calendar, diversity of ages among draws
'I think the house found me'
Q. Why did Hightower Ridge appeal to you?
A It was quiet. It wasn’t on the main road. The lot size of the homes.
How big is your lot?
A half-acre. We just got tired of living right up under neighbors [their previous home was less than a quarter-acre]. We would just reach out and touch the next neighbor where we lived. We have a German shepherd, so she needed a little more space to roam.
How long did you search?
We had been looking for the past two years.
Why did it take so long?
We didn’t want to be up close on anybody. Most of the houses we looked at still didn’t give us quite as much room as we wanted. The fact that we found a house that was nice-sized and a nice-sized yard was a plus.
Does that make it easier, having pets?
I don’t necessarily have to get up and go walk my dogs every morning. I can just let them roam in the [fenced] backyard. Also it’s more exercise for them. They don’t have to stay cooped up in the house all the time, and I don’t have to always watch them.
What are your favorite features inside the home?
The master bedroom has two closets — one closet is off the master bath; the other is right off the master bedroom. I like the fact that the laundry room is upstairs. I like the overlook, and I do like the vaulted ceiling.
What’s your commute to work like?
I used to have a 45-minute to an hour commute. Now I have a 25-minute commute. It takes my husband 10 minutes to get to work.
What do you do with the extra time?
Sleep.
At a glance
Tineil and Ayatta James’ home has four bedrooms, three baths, more than 2,800 square feet of livable space and a loft area. They purchased the home at the end of May.
Hightower Ridge
Address: 4921 Tower View Trail, Snellville 30039
County: Gwinnett
Information: 770-483-6326, Scenic Homes
Price range: $220,000s-$270,000s
Homes: 75-100
Square footage: 2,800-3,200
Lot sizes: A third to a half acre
Standard features: Double vanity in master bath, tile backsplash in the kitchen, hardwood floors in the foyer and hallway
Amenities: None
Homeowners fees: $225 annual fee ($225 initiation fee)
Developer/builder: Scenic Homes
Broker: Scenic Realty Group
Schools: Norton Elementary, Snellville Middle, South Gwinnett High
More on schools: ajchomefinder school guide
For sale
$229,990: 4813 Tower View Drive, Snellville 30039. A new four-bedroom, 3½-bath home with a master on the main, separate dining and living rooms and a vaulted ceiling and fireplace in the den.
$224,990: 4843 Tower View Drive, Snellville 30039. A new four-bedroom, three-bath home with a two-story foyer, sitting area in the master bedroom, hardwood floors, columns and decorative niches and a fireplace in the den.
Recent sale
$243,045: 5011 Tower View Trail, Snellville 30039. A new four-bedroom, three-bath home with an island in the kitchen and sitting area in the master bedroom.