East Cobb Commissioner Bob Ott stands in a field off Johnson Ferry Road that developers hope to turn into a 125-home subdivision, with houses priced up to $850,000.
“It’s a very familiar site,” said Commissioner Bob Ott. “Everyone knows about it. Most people refer to it as ‘the Perkins’ property.’ The Perkins family sold it.”
The 32-acre property on Johnson Ferry Road sits between the Riverhill Subdivision and the Parkaire Shopping Center, which houses the East Cobb Library.
Marietta attorney John Moore, who represents the developer, Brooks Chadwick Capital, said the proposal is to build 85 single-family detached homes and 40 townhomes.
Moore said the homes will be “three-sided” architecture with brick or stacked stone.
“Very high end,” he said.
The larger homes would be located adjacent to the Riverhill Subdivision and priced in the $850,000 and higher range at 4,000 to 5,000 square feet on 20,000- to 25,000-square-foot lots.
There will be a mid-range of homes on 7,000- to 12,000-square-foot lots in the $400,000 to $600,000 price range, followed by the townhomes near the library, which will begin in the $300,000 range at 2,500 to 3,000-plus square feet. The three-story townhomes will have two-car garages with optional elevators.
The development would also sport a six-lane swimming pool, two tennis courts and a cabana.
If everything goes as planned, construction will start in early summer with a completion date of two years or less.
Moore said the property has long been eyed by developers for commercial development.
“For east Cobb to get this all residential, it’s just an awesome thing,” Moore said.
“You’re not going to have a big retail site there at all. It’s going to be all residential.”
Moore said the property was sold by the Perkins family in December to a group of investors.
Jill Flamm, president of the East Cobb Civic Association, a group that represents about 10,000 homeowners, said her organization has been negotiating with the developer to ensure the best outcome for the community.
Her group will give the Planning Commission its recommendations at the Feb. 5 meeting.
“It is an important piece of property,” Flamm said. “Care has to always be taken in developing a piece of property that goes between residential into commercial.”
Ott said infill developments are historically “very difficult” to get right.
“Because what happens is people are paying an awful lot for a piece of property, and then they need a certain density to make that sales price work, and so in getting the density, they are not able to respect the surrounding properties’ density,” Ott said.
Ott said that’s not the case with this proposed development, which he believes respects the character of the surrounding community.
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The land is for sale. There is a buyer & a developer. The high-end prices will ADD value to surrounding neighborhoods.
(for folks in Smyrna,... duh!!)
This piece of land, whether previous pastureland or a development that went belly up, is much more
appropriate for a subdivision or commercial, etc., than a greenspace.
(for folks in Smyrna, natural parks, greenspace, trails are more appealing if TREES are on property).
This neighborhood is close proximity to many amenities, including shopping, library, services and various groceries. Also, to the south is the Chattahoochee Nature trail at Columns Dr., the east , you are at the Azalea Dr. trail , nature center & Roswell Greenway, then travel west and you'll find the East Cobb Park.
Where I do think Cobb falls behind, is the lack of protecting tree canopy & lack of planting street trees.I admire Trees Atlanta. They have really ADDED to quality of life ITP.
Smyrna calls a cement sidewalk, a trail.
Smyrna calls a sodded, treeless plot,.. a PARK.
Smyrna calls a grocery store & gas station, economic development.
This is the difference in land value. There is no VALUE in Smyrna land.
Get it, Smurf??
Everyone knows that single egress "apple tree" developments are horrible, bad planning but no one does a darn thing to stop them.
Yeah but did kenesaws section 8's result in 2 murders in December?
Smyrna's did!
Shhhh, I forgot, we must keep this quiet!
Oh and by the way your model town of Roswell had a triple homicide the other day and Decatur's county commissioner will be indicted soon.
The folks in East Cobb are just plain SMARTER than the folks in Smyrna.
There has been nothing, zip, zilch, nada been done to try to bring Smyrna up, even a notch.
In fact , when Smyrna had a recent vote to approve new homes in the LOW 200's on a large vacant lot in the center of historic Williams Park, the people that SHOULD have been vocal AGAINST this low price point, came out in support!
Here's a hint Williams Park- homes in the LOW 200's are not going to add one ounce of value to your neighborhood!
So tell me, HOW do we sell out OLD '50's built homes that are abundant in Smyrna,.. when you continue to flood the market w/ new, cheaply built low priced homes?
You DON'T- they turn rental! And that is what is happening all over Smyrna!
This is ONE of the reasons Smyrna is in trouble.
Noone using critical thinking!!
In fact, there is an effort, to keep Smyrna stagnant. And the plan seems to be working beautifully.
Congratulations East Cobb, on a different type of development for your community.