The homeowner: Suwanee Town Center boasts a cosmopolitan feel, but in the suburbs, says homeowner Jeanine Ritter. Condos, townhomes and single-family homes have popped up around Suwanee Town Center, which opened in 2003 at the intersection of Buford Highway and Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road. It is a popular spot, with restaurants and shops. Concerts, festivals and movies are held at the 10-acre park, which includes an amphitheater and serves as the community's main gathering space for events. Ritter and her husband, Don, own a three-bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo in Madison Park at Suwanee, which has 31 condos in two phases. "Before we had a family, we always thought it would be a dream to live in Midtown and have everything at our door. As we had children, schools became important and the suburbs and the amenities. That's what kept us in Gwinnett County," said Ritter, a court reporter for Gwinnett County who moved from a single-family neighborhood in Lawrenceville. Living close to the action makes it easy to be involved. Just out their door, they play trivia weekly at Mellow Mushroom and watch sports events at Old Towne Tavern & Grille. Daughters Chelsea, 19, and Emily, 17, serve up Italian ice and frozen custard downstairs at Rita's. The balcony of their unit, which they purchased in 2007, overlooks Town Center Park. "We've got our city of Suwanee planner on the back of the door and we always look forward to the next events," Ritter said. "It's just a real unique, fun place. I can't imagine living any place else right now."
About the community
Suwanee Town Center
County: Gwinnett
Price range: Mid $100,000s to low $500,000s for condos, townhomes in single-family homes in Madison Park at Town Center and Shadowbrook at Town Center
Information: 678-725-4643, www.prudentialganewhomes.com (Madison Park at Town Center)
Taxes: About 1.5 percent of sales price, for City of Suwanee and Gwinnett County taxes
Style: European and traditional townhomes, condos and single-family homes
Square footage range: About 2,000-3,700 for recent and new construction
Standard features: Hardwood floors, granite countertops, coffered ceilings, built-ins, stainless steel appliances, two-car garages and underground parking
Amenities: Walk to dining, shopping and community events at Suwanee Town Center; access to walking, biking, rollerblading and jogging on the Suwanee Creek Greenway, a multipurpose 4-mile trail through wetlands, wildlife habitat and wooded areas
Developer/builder: Madison Retail/Tuscany Construction (Madison Park at Town Center)
Schools: Level Creek Elementary, North Gwinnett Middle, North Gwinnett High
More on schools: schools.ajchomefinder.com
Getting there
Take I-85 north to Exit 111 (Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road) and turn left. Travel about 2 miles and turn left onto Buford Highway. Take an immediate left into Suwanee Town Center.
For sale
$449,900: 320 Town Center Ave., Unit 206, Suwanee 30024. A new three-bedroom, 3 1/2 bath condo in Madison Park at Suwanee with 10-foot ceilings, a two car-garage and a balcony overlooking Suwanee Town Center.
$166,320: 3937 Savannah Square St., Suwanee 30024. A three-bedroom, 3 1/2 bath townhome built in 2005 and sold “as is” in Shadowbrook at Town Center with hardwood floors and a finished basement.
Community information provided by Beverly Hart and Lynn Slimmon with Prudential Georgia Realty.
Housing trends in ZIP code 30024
Sales of new homes: 159, down 41 percent
Sales of existing homes: 557, up 17 percent
Median price of new homes: $225,9000, down 12 percent
Median price of existing homes: $208,500, down 14 percent
Source: AJC’s Metro Home Sales Report, 2009 data
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