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DEL.ICIO.USDo you envy Suwanee?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Why did the chicken cross the road?
Because the amenities were better on the other side.
Like a 92,000 square foot sports academy where you can train like an Olympic athlete. Or a biking/jogging/walking trail called the greenway that is lush with wonderful vegetation. Or a two-year-old library with every possible periodical you could think about reading. And a high school where SAT scores symbolize high academic achievement.
All these amenities are found in Suwanee, Ga., Lawrenceville’s neighbor.
Is Suwanee the better half of Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road or is it that Suwanee is just newer?
Lately I had heard all I could stand about Lawrenceville’s youngest neighbor. The new Suwanee fountain, the farmers market, the new developments merged into existing historical locations. The “live … work … play” motto that’s tossed into all of Suwanee’s press releases and propaganda.
“Is this cookie-cutter living?” I wondered while envisioning a “Stepford Wives” kind of neighborhood.
But now I’ve got a bad case of Suwanee envy thanks to spending last Saturday at their Suwanee Day Festival.
I drank birch beer from a giant tin can and had a really good meal from a vendor specializing in grilling. My youngest son spun upside down longer on one ride there than a half-day’s worth of Six Flags attractions.
This was good, clean, wholesome family fun, perfectly suburban. Not so much Stepford, as more like a living, breathing, new millennium Norman Rockwell painting.
So now I like Suwanee’s newness and oldness and wonder why Lawrenceville can’t seem to capture that same ultra-suburban feeling.
Lawrenceville has more than 100 years of development over Suwanee and a larger population. But don’t forget Suwanee’s well-publicized live, work, play plan for land development makes it seem like a better real estate investment.
Is the grass truly greener on the other side of town? Or underneath it all is Suwanee only good for visiting, not living?
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: Jacqueline Bullard
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By Jay Johnston
September 20, 2006 8:02 AM | Link to this
Stand by for great things in Lawrenceville. The parking deck is underway, the renovation of the old Methodist church for the Aurora Theatre has started, and you should see the concept plans for the new “City Center” park which will include an amphitheatre, a fountain, public green space etc. The first phase of the walking trail linking the Justice Center and Rhodes Jordan park is in the design phase. Also there are several residential proposals being reviewed for “Intown” living downtown. Dominick’s Italian restaurant from Norcross is opening at the corner of Perry and Crogan streets. McCray’s Tavern on the Square is renovating the old Monfort Drugstore space. With the Gwinnett Medical Center and it’s associated facilities, the new Georgia Gwinnett College, and Briscoe Field airport there is a new and exciting vibrancy emerging in Lawrenceville. Stand by for great things.
By delois
September 20, 2006 12:15 PM | Link to this
Until Lawrenceville cleans up some of the trashy businesses and empty buildings around the downtown area (i.e, the drug/sex motel for the high school kids and derelicts to hang out at and all the rundown used car lots and car repair/tire businesses), downtown Lawrenceville will not be all that attractive. One new restaurant has already failed because it’s just not that much fun to hang out in downtown Lawrenceville. I hope the plans work but as a long time resident, I’m skeptical.
By Paula
September 20, 2006 2:29 PM | Link to this
I am definitely not jealous of Suwanee. Too much traffic…..
Well, Dominick’s will be a welcome edition to the City, I am sure, and I really hope that they make it. My issue, and I think the issue of many of the resident’s, is all of the empty buildings. I mean, look at the Ingles Shopping Center - there are still SEVERAL of the stores stitting vacant. Look at the old shopping center at the corner of Sugarloaf and Hwy 29…… EMPTY. A friend of mine lives in the Davis Mill Town homes, and is constantly hearing gun fire. Tear down those nasty duplexes at the corner, and either make it a park, or something else. I was horrified driving down Johnson Road yesterday, and seeing graffiti on a house that is for sale. When my husband and I bought our house, the neighborhood was very family oriented, and now, well, it has changed, and NOT for the better. Sure, a City mandated Neighborhood Clean-up was a great idea, but will they continue to monitor the place? Somehow I doubt it…..
Drive down Pike street toward 316, Nothing interesting there….. Drive down 20 between 124 and Gwinnett Drive - BLAH! Do something with the Walmart. Do something to make people actually want to play in the city. When I go to Rhodes Jordan Park, I see THUGS there. I’d rather take my child to Collins Hill Park than RJ.
Wake up City Council and Planners. Look around you! And I mean take a GOOD LOOK. All I see is more and more empty building, and more postage stamp size lots with houses on them going up! This city needs some serious TLC!
By Renee Unterman
September 20, 2006 4:31 PM | Link to this
Suwanee is everything and more that you experienced at the festival. It is also the good quality of life that is promised on the standard water tower that says “Gwinnett is Great”. Mayor Nick Masino and his city council have done an excellent job not only promoting the live, work, play theme but also planning, envisioning a great new city life with the town square while still capturing the old town feel. That festival reflects what occurs in Suwanee 365 days a year. Senator Renee Unterman Georgia State Senate, District 45
By Ryan Branch
September 21, 2006 9:39 AM | Link to this
Well, I would expect no less than the gloss and shine by a politician like Renee Unterman.
The proposed Suwanee park was to be located on the OTHER side of the tracks in land that was already developed. But NO, they had to plow down and grade flat a lovely forest on the corner of Buford Hwy and L-S road. I now refer to it as “Clear Cut Park.” I don’t recommend visiting it in the summer.
Speaking of the towers… yesterday I stared at the “Gwinnett is Great” behemoths for nearly an hour at 10 in the morning, not exactly the height of the rush hour.
State and county politicians have let developers devour the county turning Gwinnett into the most congested area I’ve ever seen. Now we have crime, over crowded schools and empty commercial properties that attract undesirables. I’ve lived here more than half my life, but the house is going on the market asap.
And yes, I live in Suwanee.
By Carolyn Harvey
September 21, 2006 10:05 AM | Link to this
Each town has its benefits. Suwanee lacks a cohesive downtown. There’s no town square with restaurants and shops like Lawrenceville has. There is a lack of good restaurants and bars. You have to either drive to Lawrenceville, Duluth or Buford to get to a Target or K-Mart (all we have is Wal-Mart). We have a great greenway, but we don’t have a dog park or any other passive park. And there are very few sidewalks to take people along Lawrenceville-Suwanee Rd. where the major businesses are located. All things considered, I do think the quality of life in Suwanee and in Gwinnett in general is wonderful.
By Laura H
September 21, 2006 10:16 AM | Link to this
Hard to disagree with most of the comments, even those that contradict each other.
Is Suwanee better? YES Is Suwanee better because it’s newer? YES (won’t be new forever though)
Is Suwanee traffic horrendous? YES!! L-S Rd is to be avoided at all costs. Takes longer to cross the hwy than it does to drive to downtown Atlanta. The businesses along that corrider will suffer and soon! Nobody I know believes it worth the aggravation to pick up a fast food burrito. Hence, Suwanee will soon have it’s own empty bldgs to deal with.
I am hopeful though that one day, the city leaders of L’ville, Suwanee & Duluth will work together & get it right and then we can enjoy the variety and diversity in this little “triangle”. It would be make a good thing even better!
Suwanee resident & loving it!
By Lawrenceville Resident
September 22, 2006 11:24 AM | Link to this
My first comment is this: One of the biggest problems in Gwinnett is the competition between towns. EVERYBODY has their on piddly little Fall Festival and spring arts festival. Now towns want to out do each other’s fountain.
These towns should find out what’s great and unique about each one and draw people from all over the county and beyond.
Suwanee is not better because it’s NEW, some might say there is a lack of history, character and charm. What Suwanee has done is put out a well-planned stream of City sponsored events. But where do they go besides a bedroom community. The traffic and parking situation if they we to have any growth is going to be a large problem.
Lawrenceville has much more potential. Lawrenceville is not where Suwanee is in terms of completing the development but the work has started and plans in place to really change the perception of the county seat. In terms of restaurants, the one that closed has been snapped up so fast that I don’t think location has anything to the previous owners failure. There are as I count 8 existing places to eat with 2 more opening before the end of the year right on the square in downtown Lawrenceville.
The New Aurora Theatre and City Parking deck will be complete next spring this along with the historic courthouse makes Lawrenceville a true destination. Future plans are already in the works for a green space and possibly an outdoor performance venue to help tie the Square to the Justice Center. This will really make Lawrenceville more pleasant for visitors.
Jacqueline- you were in Suwanee at it’s best and brightest, but what have you attended recently in downtown Lawrenceville?
Were you at the July 3rd concert of The Music Man?
Were you at the August Shawn Mullins concert?
Have you been to the Saturday Morning Farmers Market?
Have you taken the Lawrenceville, GA Ghost Tour?
I could go on. Some times we take for granted what we think we know about our backyard. Grass is greener etc. I don’t pretend to be objective, but I do try to have perspective.
That takes me back to my main point. Gwinnett is Great and could be Greater if we embraced and enjoyed each other’s communities for their uniqueness. Save the rivalry for the football field, this is life – live it. Embrace and celebrate what is great about your community.