If you ask one of those iconic Magic 8 Balls a question and then shake it for an answer, two of the possible replies that float up are “outlook good” and “outlook not so good.”
In Peachtree City, much of the outlook for new retail development focuses on construction of The Overlook, a large complex that recently broke ground on Ga. Hwy. 54 West. It will be located just up the street from The Avenue, which was built in 1999 with great success.
But unlike The Avenue, which can be accessed from both of the city’s two major highways, The Overlook will sit right on the most congested spot in the city, which worries those who already endure the more stop-than-go traffic there.
Plans for the new development include 98,000 square feet of retail space, consisting of two buildings with three or four midsize “anchor” stores plus smaller shops. Trinity Development has still not disclosed which stores are coming to The Overlook, but the architects, Wakefield Beasley & Associates, note on their website that “all of the prospective tenants have a national presence.”
Completion of the new center is estimated by fall 2016, and it will be fronted by a 20-pump RaceTrac gas station and yet another Chick-fil-A.
Despite its location next to the city’s largest nature area, the site has been zoned for commercial development for many years. But over the last decade, much wrangling went on with the planning commission and city council over how much and what kind of development should be allowed there. Outcry over “big box” stores nixed early plans for stores such as Kohl’s, which merely moved across the county line to Coweta.
The city’s desire for balance is a tricky one: how to attract businesses that provide tax revenue, jobs and convenience for residents, but without sacrificing Peachtree City’s unique character.
Peachtree City recently lost one of its most beloved local shops, the Omega Books store in the Peachtree Crossing center. Omega shut down just shy of its 30th anniversary, much to the dismay of its regular customers, who valued its personal service and hometown feel. I went there to find and sell used books, artsy calendars and the audiobooks I took on long car trips. But I guess casual visitors like me were too casual, and the regulars weren’t enough to keep the business afloat in the age of Amazon.
A few of the city’s mom-and-pop shops have relocated to smaller and quieter Senoia, although others have stayed or simply switched locations within the city.
But with hundreds of more houses being built across the street from The Overlook along MacDuff Parkway, it’s no surprise that Peachtree City’s western edge is the new retail magnet.
I’ve lived here since before The Avenue, Walmart, Home Depot and Target were built, and I understand the concerns. When is enough enough?
Will the new commercial development in Peachtree City be its last? Its best? Its downfall? The Magic 8 Ball says: “Ask again later.”
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