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DEL.ICIO.USThe secret is out in ‘Gwinnett’s best kept secret’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Grayson, at least within its city limits, resembles one big construction site. Dirt’s being turned nearly everywhere you look.
“Everything looks like a mess,” said Mayor Jim Hinkle as we drove in and around the two-mile radius of a town that claims to be “Gwinnett’s best kept secret.” Me thinks the secret is out.
Subdivisions are sprouting and houses are being advertised at sky-high prices. “Starting in the low $400s,” stated one sign. The lowest figure I saw for a new housing development was $300,000. In this town, affordable housing may be a true oxymoron.
On Wednesday, the Badie Tour rolled through Grayson because, frankly, I’d never been to this part of the county. What an eye-opener.
Traffic on Ga. 20, which is being widened to a four-lane artery with a median, is horrendous. Shopping centers along the snarly road appear to be relatively new, but look rustic, thanks to architectural standards that have been put in place. Town leaders want to keep and re-create the Victorian style that graced buildings in the town’s early days. Think Madison, Ga.
And because of that, the Taco Bell/Long John Silver’s storefront looks nothing like those on Jimmy Carter Boulevard. And if the developer can’t or refuses to meet standards, tough. Waffle House didn’t come to town because businesses within the city limits (deemed a special overlay district) can’t operate past midnight. A Kroger, which is located outside that area, was granted a special-use permit to stay open 24/7.
For critics, the difference in the treatment of the two businesses and other issues point to under-handedness. Town leaders have been accused of operating a good ole boys network with strong developer ties. A reader raised that possibility to me this week in an e-mail after the AJC Gwinnett News publicized Wednesday’s tour.
Hinkle, a ringer for former Gov. Zell Miller , denies the accusation.
“Of course, all of us know developers from all over the county,” he said. “They are putting up their money to do something, but you should see the pages of conditions that they have to meet.”
For example, houses can’t be constructed of vinyl siding. That and other standards haven’t chased builders away, though. Housing projects dot the landscape. Some are next to pastures with cows and horses.
“One, two, three, four ….” That’s Hinkle counting the number of subdivisions that are in various stages of construction. He stops at nine.
“You can never stop growth,” said the retired attorney who works as a magistrate judge. “But you sure can control it if you do it right.”
Of course, growth poses issues. New houses mean there’s a need for schools, and several will have to be built in Grayson in the coming years. The Gwinnett County Police Department’s southside precinct patrols the area, and Hinkle say they’re great at it.
But their presence is not enough. So the city hires off-duty Gwinnett County police officers to buffer regular patrols.
“Nobody likes change,” Hinkle said. “But our desire is to make the changes that are happening reflect the flavor of Grayson.”
4Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail: rbadie@ajc.com.
Things to know about Grayson: Grayson was initially called “Trip,” a named suggested by local merchant J.D. Spence. The name was changed to Grayson in 1902.
The town’s centerpiece is Grayson Park, an eight-acre complex off Grayson Parkway located next to City Hall, the senior center and the Arts and History Center.
Grayson is served by the southside precinct of the Gwinnett County police department. In addition, off-duty Gwinnett officers also are hired to patrol the city.
On Nov. 7, voters approved two referendums to allow weekday mixed-drink sales in restaurants.
Grayson schools: Grayson Elementary, Pharr Elementary, W.J. Cooper Elementary, J.P. McConnell Elementary School and Grayson High.
The $6 million Grayson branch library opened in 2006.
Volunteers are needed for Grayson Day, an annual festival that takes place on the last Saturday of April. Details: 770-963-8017.
To find out more about Grayson, visit www.cityofgrayson.org or call City Hall at 770-963-8017 .
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: Rick Badie
Comments
By Mark
January 18, 2007 09:20 AM | Link to this
The secret is out. Now blacks and mexicans have another area to destroy once they finish with Snellville.
By Bruce Wilcox
January 18, 2007 09:39 AM | Link to this
Mark, the true redneck must be mad because they will not allow his trailer in.
This is telling…”Grayson is served by the southside precinct of the Gwinnett County police department. In addition, off-duty Gwinnett officers also are hired to patrol the city.” Commissioners double their pay, a city has to hire extra police, am I the only one that see’s a problem here.
Ga. 20 going four lanes, I hope those in the new upscale Greyson enjoy the commute in a few years.
By Rita
January 18, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this
We moved to Snellville (Brookwood)almost 5 years ago. Initially, we considered purchasing a home in Grayson. I remember then we were told it was Gwinnett’s “best kept secret”. Our minds quickly changed when we started to envision neighborhoods on top of each other, overcrowded schools with average test scores, and horrible traffic. I am so happy that we had the foresight to realize what was going to happen in Grayson and beyond. I cannot begin to imagine getting around in that area much less making the “trip” to Atlanta.
By Stars
January 18, 2007 01:04 PM | Link to this
I remember moving to Grayson back in 1990 and we could count the cars that went by in a given hour. Currently, when I’m visiting people in Grayson, I can’t even turn left onto Hwy 20. I get to sit there for over 5 minutes until someone lets me out.
The traffic is ridiculous out there and has been since the late 90s. Don’t forget that traffic is backed up past Sugarloaf Pkwy all the way up to Hwy 78 in Loganville. And that didn’t start when the construction started.
Damn that place. I’m glad I moved.
By DB
January 18, 2007 03:52 PM | Link to this
This the second article in AJC that I read relating to Grayson and each time I read very nasty remarks about blacks. I only have a few comments in repsonse: 1) The avg SAT scores in Grayson a few years ago was in the 900’s. Now it’s 1018. 2) Grayson does not have a Mexican illegal problem. Please check the Georgia Governor’s Student Acheivement website for demographics (3-5% hispanic for the past few yrs and not growing) 3) With the avg new home price somewhere around $300K, I hardly believe Grayson will go down. 4) No one even heard of Grayson football until a few out-of-towners started playing on the team 5) I LOVE GRAYSON
By DB
January 18, 2007 04:02 PM | Link to this
I have solution for Mark’s problem. Unless your house can appraise for $275k+ and you make a minimum salary of $75K a year, you cannot live in Grayson.
Mark - based on your comments I’m sure you do not make the cut. Can you please leave the city so our much more affluent new transplants (both black & white) do not have to walk in the same social space as you. Perhaps you could move to Cumming… …SURPRISE: Cumming has a vewy high illegal Mexican population. Once again, please check the Georgia Governor’s Student Achievement website. Look at a few of the elementary schools. That will tell you
By Mark
January 18, 2007 04:25 PM | Link to this
DB, I’m not talking about the present day Grayson. I’m talking about the Grayson of the future.It will look like present day Snellville in 10 years. Blacks move in, crime rate rises, and nice neighborhoods turn into “hoods”, and property values drop. I’m stating facts and you know it.
By Pat / snellville
January 18, 2007 10:23 PM | Link to this
The comment by Max is the most ignorant and racist statement any one person can make. Spoken directly from the mouth of an uneducated, ignorant person. Why is it always that the blacks are destroying the community?
I live in Snellville in a mixed community. And I see blacks as much as white and Hispanics taking care of their homes.
I will suggest that you get out of the 1950’ slavery days and take a good look around.
You are stereotyping all blacks, is like saying all white people are red neck trailer trash, and we know that it is not so.
I could be offended by this statement, as i am a resident of Snellville, and i am also Black Hispanic American female.
By Mark or max
January 19, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this
Pat, The truly ignorant one is the one who chooses to ignore the facts. And as far as being offended : If the shoe fits….
By MJK
January 21, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this
Hink is the MAN!!!!!!