Suwanee to extend Town Center area with large mixed-use development (Atlanta: apartments, construction)

[Airforceguy]

Suwanee is really stepping up with making its downtown charming...

The Suwanee Downtown Development Authority has taken initial steps to enter a public-private partnership with developer Terwilliger-Pappas to create a mixed-use multifamily/retail building at Chicago Street and Buford Highway adjacent to Town Center. The proposed $46 million development, on 3.5-acres currently owned by the DDA, is expected to feature a five-story structure with 10,000 square feet of street-level commercial/retail/restaurant space and 235 high-end apartments. The project will also include a parking garage.

Under the terms of the letter of intent, Suwanee’s DDA would receive $600,000 in cash for the property plus ownership of the 10,000 square feet of commercial/retail space. The approximately 3.5-acre property being purchased by Terwilliger-Pappas was acquired by the city over time for $497,000.

Suwanee to extend Town Center area with large mixed-use... | www.ajc.com

[ATLTJL]

A lot of the higher quality, more progressive suburbs are getting much smarter about how they develop and grow.

I'm not saying that it's going to rival intown development, but I don't think it has to. Suburbs like Suwanee are growing in their own ways, but ways that reflect modern sensibilities and make them attractive destinations for a broader group of people.

It could be that someday downtown Suwanee and other downtowns like it are more walkable than all but the heart of midtown. Or maybe not, but the point is, the days of clear cutting trees and erecting stip malls is over for cities that know what they are doing.

In Duluth, we're behind Suwanee. But, the city is getting a lot smarter. Dreamland is going to be an awesome addition, and if you went to the 4th of July firework display, all of the town was wall to wall people. I think it's due to the marketing they did with radio stations, but it's clear they are trying to step up their game. I wouldn't say there's a buzz around downtown Duluth, but things like food truck Fridays seem highly successful and it's a great little area for locals to mingle and relax.

These areas don't have to be midtown or O4W. But when millennials have families of their own, they will be able to settle in areas that have good housing stock, quality schools, without giving up absolutely everything they loved about living intown.

I think it's a winning formula. And I think time will prove me right.

[sedimenjerry]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

A lot of the higher quality, more progressive suburbs are getting much smarter about how they develop and grow.

I'm not saying that it's going to rival intown development, but I don't think it has to. Suburbs like Suwanee are growing in their own ways, but ways that reflect modern sensibilities and make them attractive destinations for a broader group of people.

I agree. I think it will at least help attract younger residents. Not everyone wants to live smack dab in the middle of a city, especially if their job is somewhere out in the burbs. My friend just moved to the Rittenhouse Square area of Philly. You can't get a much better location in Philly. He can walk to a myriad of restaurants, bars, high end shopping, the actual square, and he can take the train to a lot of other places including more American history than most states can claim. Still, he's about 50/50 on happiness. It's super busy, all the time. When you do have to drive, it's an absolute pain. It's noisy at all hours with sirens, construction, honking, etc. It's expensive to do just about anything, even if you don't deal with parking.

[Airforceguy]

It would be awesome one day if MARTA's gold line could be extended to this area.

[OhioNative]

Many of the local residents are unhappy about the development and there is a big Facebook drive against it. However, it seems like it's a done deal given the fact that the city government is the driving force behind it.

[ATLTJL]

There's actually a week long conversation about transportation in Gwinnett county that starts next week.

The Great Exchange on Transportation

[MattCW]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

It would be awesome one day if MARTA's gold line could be extended to this area.

No it wouldn't, HRT is an inappropriate mode for running that far out from Atlanta, this development would be ideal for a Suwanee commuter rail station however.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

It would be awesome one day if MARTA's gold line could be extended to this area.

Originally Posted by MattCW

No it wouldn't, HRT is an inappropriate mode for running that far out from Atlanta, this development would be ideal for a Suwanee commuter rail station however.

Right, rail runs right through the middle of the city, and a station could be easily incoporated into a development. That would be especially useful as a TOD who's revenue goes to supporting the station and rail operation.

A combination of Park-n-Ride and actual apartments / retail / local entertainment / food would do some good work to compliment any other developments the town is considering, while having connection to MARTA at Doraville.

[bellhead]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

It would be awesome one day if MARTA's gold line could be extended to this area.

If you have a high density residential/massive parking garage for commuters/commercial/shopping district it will be the hub of your city for a long time if there is a rail link to Marta.

Think what the stops on Marta have done for Midtown and Buckhead.

[hautemomma]

Yep, these types of developments are part of what will attract or retain young professionals and families. This is written about in detail in the book, The End of the Suburbs. Of course, as it turns out, the suburbs are not ending at all; they are evolving.