Chuck Warbington
Chuck Warbington,PE
Executive Director

The Gwinnett Village CID in Norcross, Georgia recently submitted visionary plans to Gwinnett County in order to create incentives for redevelopment in the Norcross area through a Tax Allocation District called Gwinnett Village Gateway TAD.  This is the culmination of a years worth of planning, visioning, and public involvement that provides a blueprint for catalyst redevelopment projects while providing a new funding source for redevelopment and public improvement projects in the area.  Tax Allocation Districts leverage public funds to maximize private investment for redevelopment and have been successfully implemented in 47 states across the US.  The most well know TAD in Georgia was the successful redevelopment of the Atlantic Station project in downtown Atlanta. 

The Gwinnett Village Gateway TAD is currently awaiting approval by the Board of Commissioners in late 2008 or early 2009.  The TAD was envisioned for the area to improve, strengthen, and stabilize the economic base of the area while upgrading the aging commercial, industrial, and office districts in the CID.  The TAD includes 850 parcels and over 3100 acres.  The boundaries of the TAD include the "inner core" of the CID in Norcross centered along the I-85 corridor with catalyst focus areas at the I-85  interchange nodes at Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Indian Trail Road, and Beaver Ruin Road.  

The total private development investment over a 25 year period is anticipated to be over $3.3 billion dollars with a creation of over 15,000 permanent jobs.  This is all set in motion with just under $800 million dollars of public funds that will be spent in the area over the same 25 year period.  The exciting part of this incentive is that within the next 8 years, the public investment projection is approximately $500 million dollars to be spent on redevelopment and public improvement projects in the area.  Potential public improvement projects include:

•·         Road capacity expansions
•·         Bridge replacements
•·         Water/sewer enhancements
•·         Intersection improvements
•·         Recreation facilities
•·         Pedestrian safety improvements

The Board of Directors of the CID are excited about the prospects of the new year and look forward to having these incentives in place to spur positive economic change to the area. 

This article is being posted to Suwanee Talk with the express consent of the author.

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Chuck Warbington,PE
Executive Director

Article by:  Chuck Warbington, PE

It is probably that at one time or another, 99% of us have uttered the
phrase, "Where's a cop when you need one?"  Some startling statistics that
offers some explanation to that very question can be summed up under the
term: False Alarms. 

As has been reported earlier this year, the Gwinnett Village overall crime
rate was down by 1/3 over the first half of the year.  However, Gwinnett
Village, like the rest of the County, does register as problematic with
false alarms.

Annually, the Gwinnett County Police Department receives just under 39,000
security alert dispatches; security alerts are the leading cause for
dispatches and exceeds moving vehicle accidents that accounts for just under
24,000.  What is most alarming about these statistics is that 99% of these
security alarm dispatches are actually false or non-valid.  Of the 6111
alarm calls that occur at the Westside Precinct that covers Gwinnett Village
thus far in 2008, only 22 were valid.

Information from the Norcross Police Department indicates that false
security alarm calls are also a problem for the City's force.  Of the 1458
annual security alarm calls, approximately 2% are valid as provided by
police chief Dallas Stidd.

According to Gwinnett County Police, a false alarm dispatch can require one
to three officers to report to the scene.  These false alarm calls can take
up to two hours of an officer's time, thereby deterring them from regular
patrols where an actual crime could occur.  Not only do these false alarms
increase the threat of crime within the community, they are also serious
economic implications that are too easily dismissed by uneducated consumers
and the general public. 

Police officials confirm that it costs taxpayers $58.40 for every dispatch -
a number that does not truly reveal the severity of this problem until
multiplied by the 38,405 invalid false alarm dispatches.  Calculations
indicate that over $2.2 million in taxpayer dollars are wasted each year on
false alarms.  In a time of budget shortfalls, this is a significant problem
that businesses and residents alike should be attentive to.

The police have provided these few tips:

.       Mare sure the type of alarm is the right type for your particular
business
.      Use the correct motion sensor in the appropriate location.
Circulating air can move wall mounted items tripping the motion sensor.
.      Make sure employees are trained properly and have established
protocols for when employees accidently activate an alarm.
.        For repeated false alarms, contact your alarm monitoring company for
an analysis of your system.

This article has been posted to Suwanee Talk with the express consent of Chuck Warbington.

                                                            
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Suwanee’s 2009 fiscal year budget went into effect July 1, 2008 with the approval from the City Council in June. The 2009 fiscal budget of $12,863,830 is an increase of 10.43 percent over the previous year's amended budget. The millage rate will remain at 5.77 – which has remained the same or has been reduced over the past six years.

Within Suwanee's 2009 fiscal budget is a public safety budget which will consist of hiring two additional police officers, the purchase of three police cars and one motorcycle. The city's budget also includes the implementation of a take-home car test program for police officers. The cost of this program is projected to cost $90,820 for the year. Many of the surrounding jurisdictions currently have take-home car programs for their police officers.  This initiative will help the city of Suwanee remain competitive in attracting and retaining quality police officers.

Other Expenditures Include:

• Technology enhancements which includes digital records storage ($95,000)
• Update the city's website ($75,000) (www.Suwanee.com)
• Update to the 2001 Old Town Master Plan ($75,000 - Old Town & Suwanee Gateway areas)
• Directional signage ($88,800)
• Improvements to the current water system ($150,000) - most of which services the Old Town area.
• Staffing  & equipment for Sims Park
• Completion of Suwanee's first individual MS4 stormwater permit
• Staff salary increases ($75,560)
• Annual bond payments ($1.62 million) for the 2002 Open Space Intitiative and new City Hall

Projected revenue for the city is expected to top $1 million this year keeping the city fiscally healthy! The budget should maintain the current service levels providing the citizens of Suwanee the quality of life they have come to enjoy and expect.

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Source:  CrossRoads (Suwanee's Official Newsletter, August, 2008)

SUWANEE TOWN CENTER - THE HEART OF OUR CITY

Ask the citizens who live here and you will get as many different answers as the number of people you ask. But one thing we will all agree on... the creation of Suwanee Town Center has brought a new pride and excitement to the city and is the focal point of our community.  Without question, the strategic planning  to rejuvenate our city has claimed national attention!   Suwanee IS a a live, work and play community.

Suwanee Town Center is the corner stone of our city. Situated on 10 wonderful acres at the corner of Buford Hwy. & Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, the mixed used development  includes upscale residential loft homes atop the retail spaces, park with fountain and amphi-theatre, retail  stores, restaurants and  professional services. And, anyone who drives past the Suwanee Town Center realizes it is definitely a hub of activity seven days a week.

When you visit Suwanee Town Center enjoy:

• Free concerts on the lawn throughout the summer
• Local farmers market on Saturday's' during the summer months 
• Flying kites in the park
• Playing in the fountain on a hot summer Atlanta day
• Walking your dog or playing fetch with a frisbee
• Enjoying a fresh cup of coffee while reading the morning paper
• Biting into a tasty hamburger or yummy sandwich for lunch
• Enjoying a nice dinner with friends at one of the many restaurants
• Selecting the perfect piece of collectible art at the local gallery
• Browsing fine home interiors
• Pampering yourself at the muliple salons
• Annual  fall Suwanee Day Festival
• Or....how about just an old fashioned ice cream cone?????

The possibilities are endless .....
     

SUWANEE, GA - Where families come first!

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As a resident of Suwanee for....20 years, I have seen a lot of changes. The good news is the city officials have listened to their citizens and have created a very desireable live, work and play environment. With plenty of green space, three city parks (so far), beautiful trails winding along the Suwanee Creek it is no wonder it has been ranked as the #10 best place to live by Money Magazine.

As an avid visitor to the Suwanee Creek Park, I can attest to the fact it is a tranquil get-away where you can enjoy the wonderful sounds of nature, listen to birds sing, the look of a deer as it scrambles for cover back into the woods. You can't help but chuckle as the chipmunks and squirrels scurry for their next meal never pausing as you wander by. It is proof they have become accustomed to our intrusion.  The Suwanee Creek Park is a place where parents bring kids to ride bikes, where pet owners enjoy a stroll with their dogs, where joggers smile as they pass you buy and many who enjoy a good stroll are daily visitors.

And, the children haven't been forgotten. They have their very own park! Playtown Suwanee - where kids can be kids. Totally dedicated to the enjoyment of children. Nestled in the trees, the park provides hours of enjoyment! Jungle gyms, slides, swings etc. You name it, it is there for them to climb on, slide down or scurry through. A pedestrian walk-way will be completed this spring providing a walk-way under the railroad tracks creating a pathway from the park and the historic area of Suwanee to Suwanee Town Center.

DeVry Nature Park is "under construction". But is sure to be just one more great park for the citizens of Suwanee to enjoy. Suwanee Town Center is the hub. Greenspace (the park) is the focal point. The ampitheater, situated on the edge of the park, is the attraction during the summer for all to come out on a warm summer's eve to enjoy FREE concerts. Jazz concerts can be enjoyed once a month on Friday nights. Specialty concerts are held throughout the summer; last year the park hosted a wonderful concert by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra which drew thousands. A fountain in the middle of the park is the main attraction for kids to cool off during hot summer days. Along the outer perimeter of the park are store fronts and restaurants for your enjoyment.  A throw-back to yester-year, you will find high-end resdential loft condos atop the restaurants and retail shops.  The condo balconies provide great seats when concerts are in full swing. On the outer edge of Suwanee Town Center is a residential development, Shadowbrook, which features craftsman  style homes. Residents are within walking distance of all the activities at Suwanee Town Center, the restaurants andspecialty shops.

Suwanee has grown alot in 20 years. But I take my hat off to the efforts of our city! For me and my family it has been a job well done. Included in this article is a small video I put together to give you just a snapshot of what our small city looks like. Hope you enjoy it.

                                                              Click on image to view video

Want to know more about Suwanee, come to my house: MYSUWANEEHOME.com