Norcross wants to annex a large chunk of ‘underserved’ Gwinnett (Atlanta: real estate, apartment complex)

[Airforceguy]

The city of Norcross wants to annex a sizable swath of unincorporated Gwinnett County, a community that includes around 300 businesses and 6,000 mostly low-income residents.

modcut

https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt-...v5pXwkhnhRmuI/

[ATLTJL]

As someone who lived in that area a while back, I can emphatically say: Why in the world would Norcross WANT this parcel???

“For me, it’s about raising the quality of life for the people that live in that area,” he said.

Yeah, I believe that for about two seconds. Why does he REALLY want it???

[bu2]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

As someone who lived in that area a while back, I can emphatically say: Why in the world would Norcross WANT this parcel???


Yeah, I believe that for about two seconds. Why does he REALLY want it???

Redevelopment potential.

[sedimenjerry]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

As someone who lived in that area a while back, I can emphatically say: Why in the world would Norcross WANT this parcel???


Yeah, I believe that for about two seconds. Why does he REALLY want it???

LOL my thoughts exactly. That's ground zero in Gwinnett for crime and poverty.

[ATLTJL]

Redevelopment potential.

Do you think that's realistic?

Seems to me all the stores on furniture row, dumpy as they are, make money... So why would the landlords be interested in selling? And who would pay top dollar for the property, it's not exactly prime real estate. At least not yet.

Anyway, I don't know whether this is accurate or not, but one thing I've always thought is this area will never be able to gentrify because most of the land on the west side of I-85 along Best Friend Road is highly industrial. It's conveniently located on the railroad tracks, and from what I understand, this is where the Colonial pipeline (and maybe others) are tapped to distribute gas around the southeast. There are enormous operations with lots of infrastructure that will likely never move because it would be impossible for them to duplicate the pipeline/railroad/interstate access they have in this area.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Do you think that's realistic?

Seems to me all the stores on furniture row, dumpy as they are, make money... So why would the landlords be interested in selling? And who would pay top dollar for the property, it's not exactly prime real estate. At least not yet.

Anyway, I don't know whether this is accurate or not, but one thing I've always thought is this area will never be able to gentrify because most of the land on the west side of I-85 along Best Friend Road is highly industrial. It's conveniently located on the railroad tracks, and from what I understand, this is where the Colonial pipeline (and maybe others) are tapped to distribute gas around the southeast. There are enormous operations with lots of infrastructure that will likely never move because it would be impossible for them to duplicate the pipeline/railroad/interstate access they have in this area.

I have the opposite thoughts driving through there. It seems primed to change like Chamblee has been with old apartments and businesses getting replaced.

[ATLTJL]

All I can tell you is during the time I lived there, the only new businesses to open up were a coin laundromat and a Church's fried chicken.

Even the neighborhood Publix couldn't stay afloat. Shortly after it opened, it became a Mercado de Pueblo. Domino's also refused to deliver pizza to our apartment, claiming too many of their drivers had been robbed.

I thought it was pretty silly since I regularly walked to get my mail at 2am and never had any problems there, aside from the apartment complex being grossly mismanaged as complexes in low-income areas tend to be. But when even Publix couldn't make a go of it, that's when I decided it was time to move.

[jhtrico1850]

Originally Posted by bu2

I have the opposite thoughts driving through there. It seems primed to change like Chamblee has been with old apartments and businesses getting replaced.

I see the same but maybe 10-15 years not 5.

It’s already happening somewhat with the new construction surrounding Downtown Norcross or the expensive new things in Peachtree Corners. Not super close to the location in question, but still close enough.

For people that work in Atlanta (Midtown, Sandy Springs, Buckhead, etc), it’s no longer comfortable to live in Suwanee or Lawrenceville because of the ever growing commute. It was ok after the recession but now it’s really bad. The new bridges and stuff are only going to slow the worsening.

[ATLTJL]

Sorry, looking at the map again, the area where I lived was just outside this zone on the east side of I-85 as furniture row.

Take a look at the satellite image on Google maps for this area. I have very little faith in its ability gentrify, even in a 15 year timeframe, because of all the industry there that has little chance of converting into anything else.

The only thing that could possibly be a game changer is if the MARTA referendum passes and the station gets built near Jimmy Carter. Even if it passes, that station is likely 15-20 years from opening. So if you believe this area might gentrify, the real time frame for it is more likely in the 20-30 year range. I think even that is highly questionable. My hunch is if MARTA does get approved, it will eventually go to Gwinnett Place, which has a much stronger chance of seeing significant gentrification (unless they really do turn the mall into a cricket stadium, in which case, all bets are off).

[Saintmarks]

Sounds like a win/win.