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TUESDAY'S
TOUR AND TIP
South
Cobb welcomes mixed use 'Desert' set for Ivy Walk
For years, residents in the Oakdale area have
referred to the vacant stretch of south Cobb land at Atlanta Road and
Cumberland Parkway as "the desert." Flat and barren, the 20
acres had long ago been cleared in preparation for development that had yet to
come.
Thanks to a variety of efforts during the past
year, including the combined attention of residents, community groups and
county leaders, signs of change are visible.
"Clearly, south Cobb has better
interstate access than several other areas of the county, and as transportation
problems have gotten worse, south Cobb's accessibility has been a plus,"
Olens said.
For Oakdale in particular, that newfound
desirability has translated into the desert being replaced by a new mixed-use
development about which community members seem extremely excited.
The development is called Ivy Walk at
Vinings and will combine townhouses with about 64,000 square feet of
commercial space. It is being built by John Wieland Homes & Neighborhoods.
With its high-end homes located amid and atop
businesses, it will be only the second development of its type in Cobb County.
And spread over 20 acres, it will be the largest mixed-use development in Cobb.
But more important, those who are excited about
the project are excited because, they say, mixed use is a relatively new
concept for the county, one that has much potential to create a renewed sense
of community in places such as south Cobb and to bring crowds back to places
that seemingly have been pushed into the shadows by malls and big box stores.
"It is truly going to . . . provide a sense
of place," said Rob Hosack, Cobb's community development director.
"Just the mixture of uses and architecture will be really unique, and
there will be a chance for a lot of street activity. . . . In addition, this
will help us reinforce the vision we have for Atlanta Road and transform
Atlanta Road, taking it from an older, commercialized boulevard and turning it
into an attractive thoroughfare."
Oakdale's story is not unlike that of Smyrna --
the site of Cobb's first Wieland mixed-use development.
Smyrna leaders spent a long time searching for
the right project to revive the city core. They steered away from projects and
proposals that came with big, impersonal box stores and ultimately settled on
the mixed-use development called the Lofts at Market Village.
With its 38 homes right in Smyrna's downtown, as well as restaurants, hair
salons, a day spa, florist and cafes, the project has accomplished exactly what
leaders were hoping it would, Bacon said.
"What really makes it so good is we have
homes in downtown," Bacon said. "It has changed the whole
downtown," he continued. "We wanted to give folks an opportunity to
come back to downtown."
Those involved with making Ivy Walk happen say
it's not likely to be the last development of its type in the area.
As community leaders and residents continue to
search for ways to revitalize aging neighborhoods and districts, the mixed-use
concept may pop up again and again.
PUBLICATION: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA)
Adams
Fairfield Realty
Chrissy Neumann
"Making You Feel At
Home"
www.castlesbychrissy.com
404.925.5335
fax - 770.565.4477