LAST WEEK: ARE MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENTS THE FUTURE OF SUBURBAN DEVELOPMENT?
There’s a recent trend to develop mixed-use developments in nearly every city in Gwinnett. While the developments offer affordable housing, professional office and retail space, some wonder if they will attract young professionals and empty nesters with disposable income as promised. City leaders and developers believe the “live, work, play” concept is the answer to a thriving main street area and sustainable tax-base. Opponents are concerned about increased traffic, safety and diminishing green space.
Here’s what our readers had to say:
It's a good start, definitely worth a try. Suwanee town center success needs to be replicated in Duluth. – S. Bajwa
My wife and I moved to Peachtree Corners from Vinings with the intentions of finding a safe neighborhood and good school for our toddler. We wish there was option for mixed-use living in the suburbs. We loved being able to park our car on Friday and not need it again until Monday. – Walter E.
Residents need real stores in their mixed-use developments. In Sandy Springs, the Mercedes headquarters mixed-use development has land set aside for an east west connector between Hammond and Glenridge. However, with no timeline or funding, this public road, which GRTA deemed necessary, may not happen. The necessary infrastructure should be required in conjunction with these newly zoned dense developments. Development impact fees may increase for new roads, and other improvements conditioned into the zonings. — Tochie B.
Mixed-use developments seem to harken back to a time, when city dwellers or small town folk could walk to shops from home. Building a rapport with neighbors and shopkeepers. Creating community bonds. Ideally, there would be a few more grocers, drug or hardware stores, small park areas/green space… things a homeowner might use regularly… rather than multiple boutiques, jewelers, trendy shops, etc. I also find a deplorable lack of affordable housing, for singles, empty nesters and retirees that might be attracted to this lifestyle. Most of these developments are for the more affluent minority. "Mixed-use" might be the moniker, but they're not usually "mixed-income" friendly. — Claudette R.
Traffic is a nightmare all around these areas. I'm certain after 10 more open around Atlanta and they aren't hip in five years, contractors will move on to the next great trend. The new mixed-use at Sugarloaf was a beautiful piece of land that will now be a major traffic snarl all day, every day. Gwinnett needs to buy more land from landowners to prevent this or put in six more lanes on each street. I will enjoy my peace and tranquility with actual trees that are taller then three feet in Berkeley Lake. — M. Zell
I personally like the idea of mixed-use areas. We moved to this area from a very agricultural area in Athens. Getting groceries or "a trip into town" took over an hour. Forgetting an ingredient meant the meal was postponed a week until we had time. My biggest complaint with mixed-use areas is the cost of living. While I enjoy the convenience of the stores, I certainly don't want to pay a premium when the shops have an almost guaranteed market within the neighborhood. I think the additional people traffic makes the areas safer, although these do lack yards and "hominess". – M. Stewart
I am sick of traffic and all of these condos/shops/businesses. They are just another way for greedy developers to make bank and have no regard for the residents living in these areas. I doubt if there will be anymore woods or trees or hills left in Gwinnett in the next 10 years. – Mindi C.
One of the first decisions Peachtree City will make in 2016 is whether to fund the creation of a municipal broadband utility. The idea for a city-owned fiber optic network was first proposed in August; a preliminary plan was presented to the City Council in August after staff researched the feasibility and the financial implications.
The plan (online at www.peachtree-city.org) calls for the city to invest approximately $3.2 million for equipment and administration to provide high-speed, high-capacity access for local government (including education) and commercial use; residential service is not on the agenda. The city surveyed potential business clients to gauge interest in the project, and the responses indicated that it’s a service that would benefit existing and potential commercial clients – something the plan calls “a facilitator for commerce and economic growth.” The city says it has identified 256 potential customers.
Financially, the plan calls for the $3.2 million to be financed over 10 years. The projected data service revenue for the first five years is just over $1 million, but it has the potential for earning much more as users sign up. There is some risk, however; the plan states that “the profitability of this venture is highly dependent upon achieving enough market share to support the costs related to operating and maintain[ing] the City’s Broadband Network,” adding that if such demand doesn’t materialize, “additional cash reserves or increased rates will be necessary to cover operating losses.”
A decision on whether to move forward with the plan could come as early as the Jan. 7 council meeting. So tell us, do you think Peachtree City should create its own broadband service, or is the financial risk too great? Give us your thoughts at communitynews@ajc.com.
