Steve Nygren became a developer by default when he set out to establish an alternative to the urban sprawl that swept Atlanta in the late 1990's. The result, the hamlet of Serenbe, has become the jewel of Chattahoochee Hills and an example of exactly how one can build in nature without sacrificing the land.
"A lot of people are introduced to Chattahoochee Hills through Serenbe," said Tucker Berta, director of communications. "That said, we have a lot of other great places in Chattahoochee Hills."
The 33,000 acre city of Chattahoochee Hills is among the newer cities in Georgia, incorporated in 2007. The land conservation zoning calls for a minimum of 70 percent of the land to be preserved as green space. The first residents moved to Serenbe in 2005, before Chattahoochee Hills was a city, and the hamlet has since become one of the city's biggest attractions with an inn, three restaurants, art galleries, boutiques and a cooking series that attracts some of the top chefs in the South, Berta said.
But Chattahoochee Hills is also home to three farms, three equestrian centers, and two gardens, one of which is known for its lovely hydrangeas. In August, Chattahoochee Hills Charter School will open for grades K to 5 with a curriculum that meets all state requirements but also incorporates much of the community flavor -- think solving math problems by harvesting and counting carrots.
For all that it has to offer, Chattahoochee Hills would be just another fledgling community without the people who live there. This rural slice of paradise has a committed group of residents (2158 in 2007) who define community spirit, said city manager, Carol Wolfe.
"The community here is unbelievable," said Wolfe, who has extensive experience developing cities. "I have never been a part of anything like this."
Back in 2009 when citizens of Chattahoochee Hills thought they may lose the chance to purchase parkland for the bargain price of $100 per acre, they raised $250,000 in only two months and donated the money to the city to make the purchase possible. More recently, when Lt. Michael Stephen Vogt was killed in the line of duty by a man resisting arrest, the whole community mourned with the 30 employee police department. A memorial service and reception for the slain officer is scheduled later this month.
"It is the country, plain and simple, but it has all the elements you would want in a progressive city from arts to education to culture," Berta said. "The people and their love for the place is unbelievable."
