January 10, 2025 • 42 mins
In this episode of Peachtree Corners Life, host Rico Figliolini covers a range of topics for the new year with City Manager Brian Johnson. They address misinformation circulating on the Nextdoor app, discuss updates and future plans for Simpsonwood Park, and provide details on upcoming city infrastructure improvements, including gateway signage and parks.
Additionally, the episode announces new features in Peachtree Corners, such as a trail hub, an electric vehicle mobility hub, concert additions, and potential park development.
Timestamp
00:00 Introduction and New Year Greetings
00:35 Sponsor Acknowledgements
01:48 Addressing Inaccuracies about The Forum Parking
12:57 Simpsonwood Park Master Plan Update
27:51 City Gateway Signage and Trail Hub Plans
36:11 Upcoming Events and Community Activities
Additionally, the episode announces new features in Peachtree Corners, such as a trail hub, an electric vehicle mobility hub, concert additions, and potential park development.
Timestamp
00:00 Introduction and New Year Greetings
00:35 Sponsor Acknowledgements
01:48 Addressing Inaccuracies about The Forum Parking
12:57 Simpsonwood Park Master Plan Update
27:51 City Gateway Signage and Trail Hub Plans
36:11 Upcoming Events and Community Activities
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hi, everyone, This is Rico Figliolini hosts The Piece Corner's
Life and Today Prime Lunchtime with city manager Brian Johnson.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hey Brian, Rigo, how are you good?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Happy new year to you and same to you for
starting twenty twenty five. There's lots going on this year.
I'm sure we've finished up a year with a lot
of things. The city's about twelve years old, twelve and
a half years old, and there's always growing pains to
a degree, right, and things that you find out that
needs to be done. Before we get into that, I
(00:37):
just want to mention two sponsors we have Ivy Remodeling.
Eli lives here in peacerecorner Is with his family and
ev Remodeling is a is a remodeling company that does
from design to build expansions home adding home rooms and
renovating homes here at one isn't throughout the metro area.
(01:00):
You can find out a bit more about Eli's company
at ev remodeling ink dot com. Also, box Populi is
a new sponsor of ours. They here also in Peace
Recorners and they do for businesses and organizations anything that
you need and printed on. It's just amazing that you
(01:21):
give them something they can go and print on it
and engrave it and do whatever they need to do.
It's whether it's embroidered shirts like we got for Piece
Recorners magazine, or its large vehicle wraps, or its banners
of any sort, or imprints on a mini baseball bat,
and they could do anything from one to however many
(01:42):
you need. So check them out box Popular and we
welcome them as a new sponsor. So another I've gotten
that that out of the way. It's good to see you, Brian.
We were talking before this pre show before we start
about what the topics stuff that we want to talk about,
(02:02):
and it's interesting you mentioned stuff on next Door Neighbor,
some inaccuracies something, so I thought, I want to start
there because that's how Peatreecorner's Life podcast actually started back
six years ago, six plus years ago. There were so
many inaccuracies on next Door that even if I make
comments on it and people will come back at me
(02:23):
saying what do you know and stuff, I was like,
you know what, I'm not going to comment on there anymore. Rather,
I started a podcast and you came on at that
point too, somewhere around there, I think, and we started
talking about what was going on and putting out real
facts and stuff. So, so, what have you found on
(02:43):
next Door that you want to help clarify?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Well, you know, I will say that Rico that again,
the podcast even the magazine are two great resources for
factual information to come out and because you know, it's
great for there to be a communication vehicle for residents
(03:08):
to have. You know, it's always be able and nice
to throw out an observation or whatever. The concept behind
next Door, you know, theoretically is good. It's the application
of it that can get frustrating if you're in the
public sector because read so many things on there. You know,
(03:31):
somebody will throw out, you know, either an observation accurate
or not, or a question and then people just start
weighing in it. You know, with so much actually inaccurate
incorrect information, the city you know, it's not going to
dive into that scrum. And so this podcast and and
(03:58):
also the magazine provide a great view you for you know,
facts to get out there. So you know, again the
city very much appreciates you helping to facilitate this. We
were talking prior to the show about a couple of
things that have come up of late that you know,
somebody will throw out an observation or you know, something
(04:23):
they don't like and be like, yeah, I can't believe.
I think the latest one was, I can't believe the
Forum or the owners of the Forum.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Are going to start charging for parking. And you know
it's some of this.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I wouldn't expect everybody to know the difference, but you know,
it would be nice if somebody was.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Like, hey, here's an observation.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Is this accurate or is this instead? What has what
has happened on this particular issue is is if you
consider what we think of as the Forum is is
a long north south running retail you know hub, the
(05:07):
south end which would be on P Street corner Circle
by Trader Joe's, that would be the south end, and
then it runs up along you know, one P forty one,
and the north end of the entire you want to
call it, developed area is certainly East Jones Bridge. However,
(05:29):
one very important fact, and that is the company that
bought the Forum on P Street Parkway, which is the
retail part, was North American Properties, which is now Jamestown.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Their ownership stopped where.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Iumi's and Jason's Deli is. That's the extent of the
northern end of what they owe, right.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
So the building, the office building that continues is really
not part of.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
The Forum, that's correct.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
And so for those who know, I believe that's I
think it's three stories or is it four?
Speaker 2 (06:10):
I think it's four, It might be four.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
So then that four story commercial building and then the
out parcel of what is it Vice Star Credit Union
by Star correct, those two are not owned by Jamestown.
It's owned by a separate well. V Star is owned
by vy Starr. And then the commercial building is owned
by a real estate investment trust. I think somewhere up
(06:34):
in northeast they ain't got of Boston.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
The building and the parking lot around.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
The parking lot, that's correct.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
So that big parking lot that's in between the commercial
building and East Jones Bridge itself, that parking lot recently
in the city wasn't informed, and Jamestown and the property
manager of the Forum wasn't In four but there was
a decision made that they put out signs that said
(07:05):
at a certain point, starting in twenty I think it's
starting now in twenty twenty five, that they're going to
charge for parking of anything longer than thirty minutes, and
there's a QR code, and I think they're using some app.
We haven't at the city, have no idea what prompted
(07:27):
them to do this, you know, But.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
I mean it's a large too, it's a large parking lot.
I mean, I can't imagine them filling up with just
the people that have at the building, but maybe it does.
And I know I've parked there off to the side
that is on their property, just to go to Jason
Stelli or Ammi And even before any of that construction's
(07:52):
been going on, you know, before they put the jewel
boxes in and stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Sometimes you know, we get.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Crowded and I parked it. It's just easier. So I
can imagine they're probably using those parking apps similar to
what you see in other cities where if you're parking
a lot, then you have to put your code or
scan a code that you're going to be there, and
then automatically charges that. They're getting service like that to
(08:19):
do it, to do it right.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Yes, And that's what excuse me.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
It appears that they're doing you know, they're a private entity,
they can they have every right to do this. I
you know, again, it's longer than thirty minutes, So if
you were going to pick up something at Jason's Deli,
does not look like this would affect you anymore than
it did before. But you know, it's just interesting how
(08:47):
people like on the next door thread where this came up,
getting all worked up accusing the owners of the forum
retail space of you know, doing all sorts of things,
or the city you or the you know, You're just like, look,
you know, it's it's a private property owner's right to
(09:07):
do it. You know, thirty minutes. If you're just picking
up something, you know, it's still gonna be okay. Or
if not, just you know, use the app part there
and you know you're good.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
I mean, it's you know.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
It's not uncommon, like you said, other cities do this
in their downtown's. Yeah, you know, I mean the fact
that they're doing it and that that there's traffic to
a degree is usually an indication that there's enough interest
in the shops and everything that there's a bunch of
people going. It's a it's a good problem to have,
(09:43):
if you will.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
I mean, it is a problem.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Sometimes it can get a little bit tight in there,
but you know, I.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Mean, I yeah, there are definitely downtown areas that do this. Savannah, Charleston, sure,
Downtown out avalon ros the.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Right, or downtown Alpha Reta Red. But yeah, downtown Red.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
I mean that that happens and when there's more traffic
or when there's more density of people coming to the location,
that's going to happen. I know that probably some people
will say, well, you know, the Forum took away parking
and this is frustrating part of that as a byproduct,
but eventually, you know, I mean, it's better than having
(10:25):
seventeen stores empty when they originally took it. So I
always look at the bright side of it that you know,
there's good reason for this to be happening, and eventually
they're going to have more parking, right because I don't
know what the timeline is, but the idea is instead
of putting the parking deck behind belks, it's going to
(10:47):
come forward to P Street Parkway.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
But it's going to be part of to your point,
it's going to be part of the dedicated parking that
would be a associated with the multifamily or the hotel
when they go in. So you know, for those who
are like oh, when the multifamily goes in and parking
is going to even get worse. No, the multifamily will
(11:13):
have dedicated structured or parking deck parking right, same with
the hotel. But as part of the construction of it,
there will be additional I would say floors of the
parking deck that will be open to the public. So
that is part of that construction when it happens.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
And that should make up the difference almost of the
parking that was removed out of there. But yeah, I
think you know everything takes time, right did it also
park across the street and walk over to the pedestrian bridge,
But that's you know, depending what you're doing. If you
going to dinner for two or three hours, that's not
a bad thing, right, But that you know, you're right,
(11:56):
I mean next door people come in, they make comments.
Sometimes it's sigroni sir, and then other people will pylon
so let's just keep going. So there's like a hundred comments.
But you know, I mean, but it is a good
place to find out how the community feels about certain things.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Yeah, it serves a purpose.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
It's just you know, it's frustrating and then then you'll
end up having somebody who will put factual.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Stuff on there.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Yes, you know, I know, Counselman Christ is an example
of somebody who's on there who does spend some time
putting some factual stuff. Sometimes he'll you know, he'll end
up communicating with me or other members of staff to
make sure the information is good, and then it'll put
it there.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
And then but yet people won't.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
They'll they'll they won't even read the comments before they
put their comment. Yes, yes, and you're just like, oh
my god, it's been answered, it's been factually established or corrected.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
And you know.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Another one of late is the Simpson would Park master
plan update. That's right, you know, that's another one that's
going on where people are getting worked up about the
process and there hasn't been anything other than if you're
a fan of Simpson would Park maintaining more of a
(13:24):
passive nature, I would say that if you're a fan
of that, then all indications right now are that there's good.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
News if you will.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Gwenett County when they announced to the public that they
were going to update the master plan, yeah, they didn't
do a great job of allaying the fears of some
of the people who thought Oh my god, it could
be you know, anything from you know, Gwinnett County decides
(14:03):
to put the state's biggest pickleball complex or or you know,
other things.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
So they didn't do a.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Great job initially of kind of being like, hold on,
we're not looking to do that.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
They wouldn't commit and still haven't.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Necessarily committed to this whole Oh we're gonna, in totality
maintain a passive park posture.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
But there has now been one.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Official meeting of the advisory committee. That is, I can't
there's probably twenty five people on this committee. Half of
them were members of the original committee.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
That helped Guennette do the master plan. The other half
are new members.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
There are two people associated with the city that are
on this committee keeping an eye on it. I'm representing
the city and then Councilman Christ was asked to be
on it because he was a member of the original committee.
That was actually before he was even elected to city council.
(15:20):
So we're both on there, and you know, I can
report that the you know, County's consultant has ended up
started the process of all right, what would the committee
like to recommend to Gwenette County officially and some of
the charette.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Excuse me, some of.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
The conversation amongst the committee was all oriented to maintaining
a less developed, you know, passive nature to the park,
to include Gwinette's already move certain things from consideration that
(16:05):
for those again who wanted to maintain you know, the
passivity should be happy, like there's not going to be
things like activities that require lights at night, you know,
like those kind of things. Mountain bike trails and complex
have already been eliminated from consideration.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
So there have been certain specific things.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
That have been but right now all indications are that
it's merely going to be a discussion about what types
of improvements to make the passive park better.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
And go ahead.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
No, so I'm you know, I know that there was
a big contingent of mountain bikers at one of the meetings.
You know, well, the public meetings are really supposed to
look at what the.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Community wants, yep.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
I you know, these are bikers that actually are are
using the park that way. They just want better trails
to be able to continue using it that way. So
they're not even being you know, they came out and said,
let's we're using it that way, but you know, it
would be great for you all could create a trail
for us to use it more effectively, safely, whatever. And
(17:19):
I know that the rest of the community didn't like that,
but there was quite a few people that apparently came
out for that.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
I don't know how it was, which is why I
mentioned it, is you know, there are some people who
have been taking their bikes out there and just kind
of you know, it's not there's no official mountain bike trails,
but there have been a few places that they've but
Gwennette County has been like, we're not going to invest
(17:48):
in creating a mountain bike complex.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Yeah, it's a very expensive process.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Yes, and it takes a lot of maintenance.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
And you know, so now what you're you're going to
be seeing are the conversations around things like, hey, are
should some of the trails be improved such that they're like,
you know, paved versus you know, unimproved.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Should there be some you know, man made.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Improvements right at the river's edge that would allow people
to get close or even over top of the water,
almost like at Jonesbridge Park, just a road you have,
you know, man made steps that allow you to get
all the way into the river. You know, there's talk
(18:41):
about maybe should there be some sort of a little
pier or elevated walkway for a period. That's gonna be
more of the conversation. Then should it be a massive
pickleball complex or should there be sure soccer fields put in?
So those are already started, so it's it's good, but people,
(19:03):
I mean, we're months away from there being even a recommendation.
The city's keeping an eye on it, We have representation.
The city's intent is for the park to maintain. Again,
it's passive nature. But what can we do to improve
the passive nature of the park. You know, should the
(19:25):
restrooms be redude, should they be made bigger? Should there
be more you know, rural camping, you know, aspects of it.
Those are kind of the things that you're going.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
To get into.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
But there's just definitely a lot of people who are like,
oh my god, it's.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Going to get you know, you know, everybody, it's going.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
To be okay, Yeah, I can see that because of
a few things. Right, So, I know, the boy Scouts
have been using symptomic part to camp, so that's a natural.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Thing, right.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Bathrooms are really that could use improvement expanding, probably just
because it was old and at the time there it
was for a different use, right, so there's a little
bit more community activity there, so it should be made bigger.
I can see that. I can see trails at least
one trail maybe that's paved because this way it's all access,
(20:22):
meaning that anyone can can go there.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Yeah, if you were in a wheelchair right now, you
wouldn't be able to get down. That's very easily do
the water, is it? And so yes, that's that's a
conversation about do we make one of them that way
and then do we leave? What do we do to
maintain the unimproved trails and a little bit better. You
have a little bit of creek tributaries that maybe need
(20:44):
to be you know, shored up in stream bank, you.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Know, stabilization. Those types of.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Things are what I think you're going to see the
eight million dollars of money that Gwinnett County has. I
think I think it's going to ultimately be for the
most part, make most people happy about what the improvements are.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
And maybe one other.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Important point is I don't think there's going to be
anything in there. I don't believe that the at least
the committee is going to recommend that would significantly, you know,
increase vehicular traffic to the park.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Are they still looking to add more parking space there.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Necessarily? Really?
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Because I mean I don't think there's enough parking space,
you know, for the normal use of it from our community.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
There there might be some you know, reasonable number of
additional spaces. You know, I am talking a little bit
in the eaches, you know, I'm talking about there's not
talk about a significant number of additional parking right now.
(22:03):
They're trying to keep away from adding a lot of
additional impervious surface, right sure, you know a third of
the park is a conservation easement anyway, I want to
say half of the park is restricted because it's in
the river corridor. So this isn't wide open for the
(22:25):
Gwinnette to be able to, you know, do anything they
want anyway, it's got restrictions. But you know, there might
be some move There could even be some movement of it.
Like for instance, there's an open air picnic pavilion there
right now, maybe there's an additional one, or maybe that
(22:45):
one is not in a great location. They're going to
move it to another area of the park, they'll demo
the current one and make a better, slightly bigger one.
Those are kind of the conversations being going on. But
the overall nature of that park is all indications are
(23:06):
that it's going to maintain. Again, it's passive, you know, hey,
I want to enjoy nature type of orientation, and that
Gwenette County's Parks and rec departments.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Very receptive to that.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
So I do think that it's it's you know, it's
headed in a good direction if that's the type of
park you wanted to meet, you know.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
And I'm sure the citizens, i mean the community would
love that. I know this comes at a difficult time,
right because Jones Bridge Park is having some issues and stuff.
So I can understand I think why some people might
look at that and say, well, if we allow more
people to come because of these improved facts, that we're
going to have that same issue.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
But and you know next Door, like you said, it
serves a purpose. I mean, the first meeting, you know,
next Door helped get more people out there, got more
people interested in being on the comdie.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
You know.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
The frustration on some of this is not that it's
a communication vehicle for the residents to talk. It's that
people then end up posting or making wild accusations about
certain things, and that gets people all worked up about
something that doesn't even exist. You know, right now, nobody
should be weighing in on Simpson Wood Park being anything
(24:25):
more than a better version of what it currently is,
because there's no indication that it won't be merely a
better version of what it currently is. You know, wait,
before you know, people are you know, wringing their hands,
they sharpening their pitchforks and lighting their talk.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
I think I think people just forget that that was
a Simpson a Methodist retreat with is actually a resort
hotel there and a pool and ground pool and some
other exterior buildings for dormitories. A lot of stuff going
on there. Maybe towards the tail end of it, not
as much, but that definitely was more traffic going in
(25:08):
there before and I mean all all of that was removed.
I mean I don't know how much that cost, but
quite a bit. I'm sure north of they're a minion
of that, not more to remove everything, So, yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
You know, it was.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
It was one of also the first things that the
city did after it was incorporated is the United Methodist
Church decided.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
To close that you know camp if you will.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
Retreat, And there was a developer who was prepared, maybe
even as far as had a letter of intent to
buy it and put in another you know, subdivision of
single family houses, you know, and and you know, I
think you were talking one hundred and fifty or so
(26:03):
houses that they were.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Able to I think with the zoning that was there
even right, I don't even correct, it would have been
right they bought it and done similar homes to what
was there.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
We would have had another you know, you know Revington
or you know Riverfield or Neely Farm or you know.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
I.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Think it was. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
So, but then Gwenett County and the city jointly came
to an agreement to buy it and turn it into
a park.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
And the city threw in a couple.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
Of million, and then the county threw in the rest
made it a county park. And that's why it's a
park to begin with and open to the public, and
it's a great amenity. But you know, the city does
have skin in the game, both because you know, the
city was part of the purchase to prevent it from
being another subdivision, and the city is protecting the interests
(27:05):
of the greater community. And you know, the message is
pretty clear from the community, which is, let's not have
this thing become the significant amenity that it currently is not.
Let's just try to make what was currently there better.
But you know, keep the nature, and you know, the
(27:26):
city will will keep its eyes on it and make
sure that it's not something it shouldn't be.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Yeah, and and and it's good because this is what
the improvements set down by the county through splost or
through yeah, through the spot So the city doesn't even
have to they just have to help guide and influence
what's going to be done.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
So that's good. Where we're at, you know, the beginning
of New Year and stuff. There's a lot of improvements
going on at the gateway of the city. Do you
want to just tell us quickly a little bit about
where some of these gateway entrances will be in signage?
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Yeah, So, you know, gateway signage is you know, those
unique branded signs at gateways too cities to kind of
let you know, oh, I'm entering this new city, you know,
or a different city that I'm you know, coming from,
and we have a master plan or these gateway signs
(28:32):
to go essentially to every major you know ingress point
into Peachtree Corners. You know, some of them are really major,
like State Route one for one, and some of them
could be somewhat minor, like a you know, like a
Medlock Bridge, although that's not really minor, but you know,
(28:55):
you know less you know, not state routes.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
So we have these going in.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
There's a couple of locations in which they're not necessarily
at the city limits with another city, but they form
a natural location for you to kind of say, hey,
you're in P Street Corners. A good example that would
be the Paul Duke you know sign coming in from
the south right, you know, one that's not at our
(29:24):
city limits. Our city limits is down at you know Amweiler,
you know that area of the city. But we we
have gateways going in right now on the split of
Medlock East Jones Bridge right in P Street Parkway. That one,
(29:49):
you know is going in. That's kind of a major
call it little unimproved peninsula or not. Yeah, the kind
of that triangle island. So it offered us an opportunity
to put a unique branded sign there, like the Paul
Duke one right there at the split. Uh, the Paul
(30:12):
Duke one will be upgraded. That one's been hit by
a lot of cars. It's getting older. It's gonna get
a facelift. That one will be next. But we have
two going in right now. The one at the north
end of that section of one that we just talked
about were Medlocke.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
East Jones Bridge.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
And then we've got one coming in from the Dunwoody
Sandy Springs area where uh, Spalding and Welcome Bridge. No
Spalding in what's the one that runs along our city
limits and Dunwoody.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
Oh so went to Chapel though Winter's Chapel just had
a senior moment there.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Yeah, Winter's Chapel, Spaulding.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Coming into the city either from Dunwoodie off of Winter's Chapel.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Or they did the improvement of that brand.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
That's correct. So if you were on Spaulding coming in
from Sandy Springs on the right, you know you got
Winter's Chapel coming in. You've got a church there right
at the corner. Right there, we've got a monument sign
and we have you know, the master plan has them
slated to go all over the city like that. We
(31:33):
just you know, we're pacing ourselves. It costs money. We
have to acquire property in some cases because there's not
enough room in the public right of way or there's
some utility constraint or something. So it's not quite as
easy as just planting a flag. But the branding of
these things will look like the top lanterns.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
Of the Peed Bridge ended. Yeah, that's some branded so
that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
So talking about acquisition land and stuff like that as well,
I know that part, and we've discussed this before. I
don't know if there's any more news on it, but
going down Ptree Corner Circles towards after west of Falcon
Bridge Road, you know, I think there was going to
(32:24):
be some pocket parks created in those areas or spaces
for playgrounds and such as there have been any more.
Speaker 3 (32:34):
News on that or oh yeah, so Pree Corner Circle
in between yeah, p Tree and I guess now just
p Tree Boulevard, not Industrial Boulevard, but.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
P Stree Boulevard and Hulcombridge Road.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
There's that section excuse me of road kind of got
a long stretch where it's four lanes right there and
their crooked creek goes underneath p Street Corner Circle there
we're acquiring and we're finalizing the acquisition of the north
(33:14):
side of that stretch, and we're.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
Putting in a.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
Trail hub for our multi use trail which is going
to be running along Crooked Creek. We're going to be
putting in a trail hub there where you can drive there,
park your car at a parking lot. There'll be you know,
bricks and mortar restroom, some playground amenities, maybe some picnicking,
(33:42):
you know, pavilion type of stuff, and then the trail
will end up going right along there, so you could
park your car there and walk the trail ultimately, or
just go there to use the facilities. It will help
serve all those apartments that are in that outer P
Street Corner Circle area. So it's serving multiple purposes. But
(34:06):
that money has been appropriated and is ready. You know,
we're in acquisition and design right now.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
Are there part of the other construction thing going on?
I know there was budget approved for what was called
or is called Mobility Hub and Technology Park, so there
was I think there was was it a first read
or maybe it was proved the budget for that? Is
there any timeline it was?
Speaker 3 (34:33):
That's where let's see, is it right Tech Park South
and Research Court, Yes, I believe.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
No, Yeah, it is Research Court.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Just the right star where Bright Star is.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
Yes, and the Curiosity Lab and really the city are
jointly putting a couple things there. We're making that a
hub for all eight things zv so the bus to
charging stations, to e bikes, e scooters, and then we're
(35:16):
putting in a gathering space for people who work in
Tech Park to go.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
There'll be.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
Three five G wireless hotspot there. We're putting in a
food truck court so that you know, again there's an
opportunity for people who work in Tech Park to maybe
at certain days not have to go out into that
river of cars that are Pree Parkway or p Stree Boulevard.
(35:49):
And then it's it's part of Tech Park. It's a
way to gather people together and you know, get them
to the you know, the create the energy and the
synergy of employees that are working in like industry. And
that's the whole purpose of creating a technology park to
begin with.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
Yeah, I love that idea. Well there, I know the
city's working on some new events and stuff anything new
there though I know there was the was it the
there was a five k race at one point by
with Wervin I think the company was and but you
(36:29):
know there was a company run five k race and
we talked I think we talked a little bit about
that about how that was good, a good testing to
see if something similar can be done. But anything new
that you're that you can share that event wise, that's
coming well.
Speaker 3 (36:48):
We do have two additional concerts that are going to
be added to the calendar. I believe the there's potentially
going to be a joint Peachtree Corners Festival and one
of our big concerts to be on the same weekend
(37:08):
to create, right, create some synergy there. Your publication itself
will be coming up with our VIC calendar.
Speaker 1 (37:17):
Correct, Correct, We're going to have a special issue I believe,
not sure what month it is, but it'll be some
time in the spring talking about everything that's gonna be
upcoming through the rest of the year, and then we'll
have another one I think in the fall about Fall
of Danson and stuff.
Speaker 3 (37:37):
The events. I know that my communication director Louis Vela
and his staff work hard on the group musical groups
that they've got to really kind of get something for everybody,
you know, types of music for everybody, and right, and
(38:01):
and so we're looking forward to you know, with your
help getting that special event calendar out, We've got a
lot of you know, cooler stuff we're still in talk
to maybe do you know another version of the sci
Fi Festival? We got the Criteria or may may be
a running race, let's jointly with the Criteria, right.
Speaker 2 (38:26):
Things like that.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
Criterion's coming back. Yeah, that's coming back. I guess Criterion
and the Atlanta sci Fi Film Festival it's coming back.
Speaker 2 (38:37):
Well it looks like it. So yeah, a lot of
a lot of events.
Speaker 3 (38:41):
I mean that's the whole purpose of having community gathering
space and the ability to do certain things is to
provide things for the community.
Speaker 2 (38:49):
The Forum also is doing some unique stuff.
Speaker 1 (38:52):
Yes, yeah, got a calendar from them, and we're going
to be promoting some of that stuff through that special
edition as well.
Speaker 3 (39:00):
And you know, we've also made sure that there's no
overlap that we're filling in. So really, you know, we're
starting to get to where if you didn't want to,
if you want to keep your world pretty tight to
p Street corners, there's going to be something every weekend
or you know.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
Somebody to do.
Speaker 3 (39:20):
So yeah, I mean we look forward to you know,
twenty twenty five and continue to expand our community offerings.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
Yeah, there's going to be a lot more stuff coming in.
I think all the private companies are doing some things
that are coming up this year as well. So okay,
this this was It's good to have you back. It's
been a while since we've had you. But Sean Adams
has been filling the space a little bit talking about
development and stuff with us, so we're gonna be doing
(39:47):
some more with them as well. But Brian, I appreciate
you coming out and you know, giving us all this
information setting us straight on some things. I always appreciate
the work you do. You and city council people in
the mayor. I mean it's you know, you could always
have a good discussion about pros and cons on things,
(40:09):
and you know, I think you all are doing a
great job overall so well.
Speaker 3 (40:16):
And and again I say I thank you every time.
But you know, you provide a great vehicle to do that.
One other thing of note is here, within the next
four to six months will be done building from scratch
a really good city app that's right, So that'll be
(40:36):
another resource for people in the community to use to,
you know, get accurate information, communicate with the city, learn
things you know.
Speaker 1 (40:48):
So and this is a whole new app from scratch
versus they have to.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
That's correct. The old app was done from a cookie cutter.
We're building this one from scratch with some of our
partners in Curiosity Lab that have some innovative approaches to
communicating with residents that really didn't exist if it hadn't
been for the innovative ecosystem we've created here.
Speaker 1 (41:16):
Again to once that's out to be able to talk
about that too. But what people can use it for,
I'm sure there's a lot of interactiveness on that, but
all right, cool, Well, thank you, Brian, appreciate you being
with me. Everyone, thank you for joining us. Don't forget
our corporate sponsors, ev Remodeling and vox Popular. Check them out.
(41:38):
I'll have their links in the show notes and you'll
probably see the logos below here and depending where you
are and might want to subscribe to these podcasts, whether
it's on YouTube or follow us on Facebook and Instagram
or even Spotify or iHeartRadio. So thanks for being with us, Brian,
(41:58):
hanging there for a second. Everyone, thanks again, enjoyed the
new year,
Hi, everyone, This is Rico Figliolini hosts The Piece Corner's
Life and Today Prime Lunchtime with city manager Brian Johnson.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hey Brian, Rigo, how are you good?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Happy new year to you and same to you for
starting twenty twenty five. There's lots going on this year.
I'm sure we've finished up a year with a lot
of things. The city's about twelve years old, twelve and
a half years old, and there's always growing pains to
a degree, right, and things that you find out that
needs to be done. Before we get into that, I
(00:37):
just want to mention two sponsors we have Ivy Remodeling.
Eli lives here in peacerecorner Is with his family and
ev Remodeling is a is a remodeling company that does
from design to build expansions home adding home rooms and
renovating homes here at one isn't throughout the metro area.
(01:00):
You can find out a bit more about Eli's company
at ev remodeling ink dot com. Also, box Populi is
a new sponsor of ours. They here also in Peace
Recorners and they do for businesses and organizations anything that
you need and printed on. It's just amazing that you
(01:21):
give them something they can go and print on it
and engrave it and do whatever they need to do.
It's whether it's embroidered shirts like we got for Piece
Recorners magazine, or its large vehicle wraps, or its banners
of any sort, or imprints on a mini baseball bat,
and they could do anything from one to however many
(01:42):
you need. So check them out box Popular and we
welcome them as a new sponsor. So another I've gotten
that that out of the way. It's good to see you, Brian.
We were talking before this pre show before we start
about what the topics stuff that we want to talk about,
(02:02):
and it's interesting you mentioned stuff on next Door Neighbor,
some inaccuracies something, so I thought, I want to start
there because that's how Peatreecorner's Life podcast actually started back
six years ago, six plus years ago. There were so
many inaccuracies on next Door that even if I make
comments on it and people will come back at me
(02:23):
saying what do you know and stuff, I was like,
you know what, I'm not going to comment on there anymore. Rather,
I started a podcast and you came on at that
point too, somewhere around there, I think, and we started
talking about what was going on and putting out real
facts and stuff. So, so, what have you found on
(02:43):
next Door that you want to help clarify?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Well, you know, I will say that Rico that again,
the podcast even the magazine are two great resources for
factual information to come out and because you know, it's
great for there to be a communication vehicle for residents
(03:08):
to have. You know, it's always be able and nice
to throw out an observation or whatever. The concept behind
next Door, you know, theoretically is good. It's the application
of it that can get frustrating if you're in the
public sector because read so many things on there. You know,
(03:31):
somebody will throw out, you know, either an observation accurate
or not, or a question and then people just start
weighing in it. You know, with so much actually inaccurate
incorrect information, the city you know, it's not going to
dive into that scrum. And so this podcast and and
(03:58):
also the magazine provide a great view you for you know,
facts to get out there. So you know, again the
city very much appreciates you helping to facilitate this. We
were talking prior to the show about a couple of
things that have come up of late that you know,
somebody will throw out an observation or you know, something
(04:23):
they don't like and be like, yeah, I can't believe.
I think the latest one was, I can't believe the
Forum or the owners of the Forum.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Are going to start charging for parking. And you know
it's some of this.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I wouldn't expect everybody to know the difference, but you know,
it would be nice if somebody was.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Like, hey, here's an observation.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Is this accurate or is this instead? What has what
has happened on this particular issue is is if you
consider what we think of as the Forum is is
a long north south running retail you know hub, the
(05:07):
south end which would be on P Street corner Circle
by Trader Joe's, that would be the south end, and
then it runs up along you know, one P forty one,
and the north end of the entire you want to
call it, developed area is certainly East Jones Bridge. However,
(05:29):
one very important fact, and that is the company that
bought the Forum on P Street Parkway, which is the
retail part, was North American Properties, which is now Jamestown.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Their ownership stopped where.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Iumi's and Jason's Deli is. That's the extent of the
northern end of what they owe, right.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
So the building, the office building that continues is really
not part of.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
The Forum, that's correct.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
And so for those who know, I believe that's I
think it's three stories or is it four?
Speaker 2 (06:10):
I think it's four, It might be four.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
So then that four story commercial building and then the
out parcel of what is it Vice Star Credit Union
by Star correct, those two are not owned by Jamestown.
It's owned by a separate well. V Star is owned
by vy Starr. And then the commercial building is owned
by a real estate investment trust. I think somewhere up
(06:34):
in northeast they ain't got of Boston.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
The building and the parking lot around.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
The parking lot, that's correct.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
So that big parking lot that's in between the commercial
building and East Jones Bridge itself, that parking lot recently
in the city wasn't informed, and Jamestown and the property
manager of the Forum wasn't In four but there was
a decision made that they put out signs that said
(07:05):
at a certain point, starting in twenty I think it's
starting now in twenty twenty five, that they're going to
charge for parking of anything longer than thirty minutes, and
there's a QR code, and I think they're using some app.
We haven't at the city, have no idea what prompted
(07:27):
them to do this, you know, But.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
I mean it's a large too, it's a large parking lot.
I mean, I can't imagine them filling up with just
the people that have at the building, but maybe it does.
And I know I've parked there off to the side
that is on their property, just to go to Jason
Stelli or Ammi And even before any of that construction's
(07:52):
been going on, you know, before they put the jewel
boxes in and stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Sometimes you know, we get.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Crowded and I parked it. It's just easier. So I
can imagine they're probably using those parking apps similar to
what you see in other cities where if you're parking
a lot, then you have to put your code or
scan a code that you're going to be there, and
then automatically charges that. They're getting service like that to
(08:19):
do it, to do it right.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Yes, And that's what excuse me.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
It appears that they're doing you know, they're a private entity,
they can they have every right to do this. I
you know, again, it's longer than thirty minutes, So if
you were going to pick up something at Jason's Deli,
does not look like this would affect you anymore than
it did before. But you know, it's just interesting how
(08:47):
people like on the next door thread where this came up,
getting all worked up accusing the owners of the forum
retail space of you know, doing all sorts of things,
or the city you or the you know, You're just like, look,
you know, it's it's a private property owner's right to
(09:07):
do it. You know, thirty minutes. If you're just picking
up something, you know, it's still gonna be okay. Or
if not, just you know, use the app part there
and you know you're good.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
I mean, it's you know.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
It's not uncommon, like you said, other cities do this
in their downtown's. Yeah, you know, I mean the fact
that they're doing it and that that there's traffic to
a degree is usually an indication that there's enough interest
in the shops and everything that there's a bunch of
people going. It's a it's a good problem to have,
(09:43):
if you will.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
I mean, it is a problem.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Sometimes it can get a little bit tight in there,
but you know, I.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Mean, I yeah, there are definitely downtown areas that do this. Savannah, Charleston, sure,
Downtown out avalon ros the.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Right, or downtown Alpha Reta Red. But yeah, downtown Red.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
I mean that that happens and when there's more traffic
or when there's more density of people coming to the location,
that's going to happen. I know that probably some people
will say, well, you know, the Forum took away parking
and this is frustrating part of that as a byproduct,
but eventually, you know, I mean, it's better than having
(10:25):
seventeen stores empty when they originally took it. So I
always look at the bright side of it that you know,
there's good reason for this to be happening, and eventually
they're going to have more parking, right because I don't
know what the timeline is, but the idea is instead
of putting the parking deck behind belks, it's going to
(10:47):
come forward to P Street Parkway.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
But it's going to be part of to your point,
it's going to be part of the dedicated parking that
would be a associated with the multifamily or the hotel
when they go in. So you know, for those who
are like oh, when the multifamily goes in and parking
is going to even get worse. No, the multifamily will
(11:13):
have dedicated structured or parking deck parking right, same with
the hotel. But as part of the construction of it,
there will be additional I would say floors of the
parking deck that will be open to the public. So
that is part of that construction when it happens.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
And that should make up the difference almost of the
parking that was removed out of there. But yeah, I
think you know everything takes time, right did it also
park across the street and walk over to the pedestrian bridge,
But that's you know, depending what you're doing. If you
going to dinner for two or three hours, that's not
a bad thing, right, But that you know, you're right,
(11:56):
I mean next door people come in, they make comments.
Sometimes it's sigroni sir, and then other people will pylon
so let's just keep going. So there's like a hundred comments.
But you know, I mean, but it is a good
place to find out how the community feels about certain things.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Yeah, it serves a purpose.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
It's just you know, it's frustrating and then then you'll
end up having somebody who will put factual.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Stuff on there.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Yes, you know, I know, Counselman Christ is an example
of somebody who's on there who does spend some time
putting some factual stuff. Sometimes he'll you know, he'll end
up communicating with me or other members of staff to
make sure the information is good, and then it'll put
it there.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
And then but yet people won't.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
They'll they'll they won't even read the comments before they
put their comment. Yes, yes, and you're just like, oh
my god, it's been answered, it's been factually established or corrected.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
And you know.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Another one of late is the Simpson would Park master
plan update. That's right, you know, that's another one that's
going on where people are getting worked up about the
process and there hasn't been anything other than if you're
a fan of Simpson would Park maintaining more of a
(13:24):
passive nature, I would say that if you're a fan
of that, then all indications right now are that there's good.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
News if you will.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Gwenett County when they announced to the public that they
were going to update the master plan, yeah, they didn't
do a great job of allaying the fears of some
of the people who thought Oh my god, it could
be you know, anything from you know, Gwinnett County decides
(14:03):
to put the state's biggest pickleball complex or or you know,
other things.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
So they didn't do a.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Great job initially of kind of being like, hold on,
we're not looking to do that.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
They wouldn't commit and still haven't.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Necessarily committed to this whole Oh we're gonna, in totality
maintain a passive park posture.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
But there has now been one.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Official meeting of the advisory committee. That is, I can't
there's probably twenty five people on this committee. Half of
them were members of the original committee.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
That helped Guennette do the master plan. The other half
are new members.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
There are two people associated with the city that are
on this committee keeping an eye on it. I'm representing
the city and then Councilman Christ was asked to be
on it because he was a member of the original committee.
That was actually before he was even elected to city council.
(15:20):
So we're both on there, and you know, I can
report that the you know, County's consultant has ended up
started the process of all right, what would the committee
like to recommend to Gwenette County officially and some of
the charette.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Excuse me, some of.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
The conversation amongst the committee was all oriented to maintaining
a less developed, you know, passive nature to the park,
to include Gwinette's already move certain things from consideration that
(16:05):
for those again who wanted to maintain you know, the
passivity should be happy, like there's not going to be
things like activities that require lights at night, you know,
like those kind of things. Mountain bike trails and complex
have already been eliminated from consideration.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
So there have been certain specific things.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
That have been but right now all indications are that
it's merely going to be a discussion about what types
of improvements to make the passive park better.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
And go ahead.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
No, so I'm you know, I know that there was
a big contingent of mountain bikers at one of the meetings.
You know, well, the public meetings are really supposed to
look at what the.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Community wants, yep.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
I you know, these are bikers that actually are are
using the park that way. They just want better trails
to be able to continue using it that way. So
they're not even being you know, they came out and said,
let's we're using it that way, but you know, it
would be great for you all could create a trail
for us to use it more effectively, safely, whatever. And
(17:19):
I know that the rest of the community didn't like that,
but there was quite a few people that apparently came
out for that.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
I don't know how it was, which is why I
mentioned it, is you know, there are some people who
have been taking their bikes out there and just kind
of you know, it's not there's no official mountain bike trails,
but there have been a few places that they've but
Gwennette County has been like, we're not going to invest
(17:48):
in creating a mountain bike complex.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Yeah, it's a very expensive process.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Yes, and it takes a lot of maintenance.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
And you know, so now what you're you're going to
be seeing are the conversations around things like, hey, are
should some of the trails be improved such that they're like,
you know, paved versus you know, unimproved.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Should there be some you know, man made.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Improvements right at the river's edge that would allow people
to get close or even over top of the water,
almost like at Jonesbridge Park, just a road you have,
you know, man made steps that allow you to get
all the way into the river. You know, there's talk
(18:41):
about maybe should there be some sort of a little
pier or elevated walkway for a period. That's gonna be
more of the conversation. Then should it be a massive
pickleball complex or should there be sure soccer fields put in?
So those are already started, so it's it's good, but people,
(19:03):
I mean, we're months away from there being even a recommendation.
The city's keeping an eye on it, We have representation.
The city's intent is for the park to maintain. Again,
it's passive nature. But what can we do to improve
the passive nature of the park. You know, should the
(19:25):
restrooms be redude, should they be made bigger? Should there
be more you know, rural camping, you know, aspects of it.
Those are kind of the things that you're going.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
To get into.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
But there's just definitely a lot of people who are like,
oh my god, it's.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Going to get you know, you know, everybody, it's going.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
To be okay, Yeah, I can see that because of
a few things. Right, So, I know, the boy Scouts
have been using symptomic part to camp, so that's a natural.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Thing, right.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Bathrooms are really that could use improvement expanding, probably just
because it was old and at the time there it
was for a different use, right, so there's a little
bit more community activity there, so it should be made bigger.
I can see that. I can see trails at least
one trail maybe that's paved because this way it's all access,
(20:22):
meaning that anyone can can go there.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Yeah, if you were in a wheelchair right now, you
wouldn't be able to get down. That's very easily do
the water, is it? And so yes, that's that's a
conversation about do we make one of them that way
and then do we leave? What do we do to
maintain the unimproved trails and a little bit better. You
have a little bit of creek tributaries that maybe need
(20:44):
to be you know, shored up in stream bank, you.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Know, stabilization. Those types of.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Things are what I think you're going to see the
eight million dollars of money that Gwinnett County has. I
think I think it's going to ultimately be for the
most part, make most people happy about what the improvements are.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
And maybe one other.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Important point is I don't think there's going to be
anything in there. I don't believe that the at least
the committee is going to recommend that would significantly, you know,
increase vehicular traffic to the park.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Are they still looking to add more parking space there.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Necessarily? Really?
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Because I mean I don't think there's enough parking space,
you know, for the normal use of it from our community.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
There there might be some you know, reasonable number of
additional spaces. You know, I am talking a little bit
in the eaches, you know, I'm talking about there's not
talk about a significant number of additional parking right now.
(22:03):
They're trying to keep away from adding a lot of
additional impervious surface, right sure, you know a third of
the park is a conservation easement anyway, I want to
say half of the park is restricted because it's in
the river corridor. So this isn't wide open for the
(22:25):
Gwinnette to be able to, you know, do anything they
want anyway, it's got restrictions. But you know, there might
be some move There could even be some movement of it.
Like for instance, there's an open air picnic pavilion there
right now, maybe there's an additional one, or maybe that
(22:45):
one is not in a great location. They're going to
move it to another area of the park, they'll demo
the current one and make a better, slightly bigger one.
Those are kind of the conversations being going on. But
the overall nature of that park is all indications are
(23:06):
that it's going to maintain. Again, it's passive, you know, hey,
I want to enjoy nature type of orientation, and that
Gwenette County's Parks and rec departments.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Very receptive to that.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
So I do think that it's it's you know, it's
headed in a good direction if that's the type of
park you wanted to meet, you know.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
And I'm sure the citizens, i mean the community would
love that. I know this comes at a difficult time,
right because Jones Bridge Park is having some issues and stuff.
So I can understand I think why some people might
look at that and say, well, if we allow more
people to come because of these improved facts, that we're
going to have that same issue.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
But and you know next Door, like you said, it
serves a purpose. I mean, the first meeting, you know,
next Door helped get more people out there, got more
people interested in being on the comdie.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
You know.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
The frustration on some of this is not that it's
a communication vehicle for the residents to talk. It's that
people then end up posting or making wild accusations about
certain things, and that gets people all worked up about
something that doesn't even exist. You know, right now, nobody
should be weighing in on Simpson Wood Park being anything
(24:25):
more than a better version of what it currently is,
because there's no indication that it won't be merely a
better version of what it currently is. You know, wait,
before you know, people are you know, wringing their hands,
they sharpening their pitchforks and lighting their talk.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
I think I think people just forget that that was
a Simpson a Methodist retreat with is actually a resort
hotel there and a pool and ground pool and some
other exterior buildings for dormitories. A lot of stuff going
on there. Maybe towards the tail end of it, not
as much, but that definitely was more traffic going in
(25:08):
there before and I mean all all of that was removed.
I mean I don't know how much that cost, but
quite a bit. I'm sure north of they're a minion
of that, not more to remove everything, So, yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
You know, it was.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
It was one of also the first things that the
city did after it was incorporated is the United Methodist
Church decided.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
To close that you know camp if you will.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
Retreat, And there was a developer who was prepared, maybe
even as far as had a letter of intent to
buy it and put in another you know, subdivision of
single family houses, you know, and and you know, I
think you were talking one hundred and fifty or so
(26:03):
houses that they were.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Able to I think with the zoning that was there
even right, I don't even correct, it would have been
right they bought it and done similar homes to what
was there.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
We would have had another you know, you know Revington
or you know Riverfield or Neely Farm or you know.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
I.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Think it was. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
So, but then Gwenett County and the city jointly came
to an agreement to buy it and turn it into
a park.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
And the city threw in a couple.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
Of million, and then the county threw in the rest
made it a county park. And that's why it's a
park to begin with and open to the public, and
it's a great amenity. But you know, the city does
have skin in the game, both because you know, the
city was part of the purchase to prevent it from
being another subdivision, and the city is protecting the interests
(27:05):
of the greater community. And you know, the message is
pretty clear from the community, which is, let's not have
this thing become the significant amenity that it currently is not.
Let's just try to make what was currently there better.
But you know, keep the nature, and you know, the
(27:26):
city will will keep its eyes on it and make
sure that it's not something it shouldn't be.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Yeah, and and and it's good because this is what
the improvements set down by the county through splost or
through yeah, through the spot So the city doesn't even
have to they just have to help guide and influence
what's going to be done.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
So that's good. Where we're at, you know, the beginning
of New Year and stuff. There's a lot of improvements
going on at the gateway of the city. Do you
want to just tell us quickly a little bit about
where some of these gateway entrances will be in signage?
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Yeah, So, you know, gateway signage is you know, those
unique branded signs at gateways too cities to kind of
let you know, oh, I'm entering this new city, you know,
or a different city that I'm you know, coming from,
and we have a master plan or these gateway signs
(28:32):
to go essentially to every major you know ingress point
into Peachtree Corners. You know, some of them are really major,
like State Route one for one, and some of them
could be somewhat minor, like a you know, like a
Medlock Bridge, although that's not really minor, but you know,
(28:55):
you know less you know, not state routes.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
So we have these going in.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
There's a couple of locations in which they're not necessarily
at the city limits with another city, but they form
a natural location for you to kind of say, hey,
you're in P Street Corners. A good example that would
be the Paul Duke you know sign coming in from
the south right, you know, one that's not at our
(29:24):
city limits. Our city limits is down at you know Amweiler,
you know that area of the city. But we we
have gateways going in right now on the split of
Medlock East Jones Bridge right in P Street Parkway. That one,
(29:49):
you know is going in. That's kind of a major
call it little unimproved peninsula or not. Yeah, the kind
of that triangle island. So it offered us an opportunity
to put a unique branded sign there, like the Paul
Duke one right there at the split. Uh, the Paul
(30:12):
Duke one will be upgraded. That one's been hit by
a lot of cars. It's getting older. It's gonna get
a facelift. That one will be next. But we have
two going in right now. The one at the north
end of that section of one that we just talked
about were Medlocke.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
East Jones Bridge.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
And then we've got one coming in from the Dunwoody
Sandy Springs area where uh, Spalding and Welcome Bridge. No
Spalding in what's the one that runs along our city
limits and Dunwoody.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
Oh so went to Chapel though Winter's Chapel just had
a senior moment there.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Yeah, Winter's Chapel, Spaulding.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Coming into the city either from Dunwoodie off of Winter's Chapel.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Or they did the improvement of that brand.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
That's correct. So if you were on Spaulding coming in
from Sandy Springs on the right, you know you got
Winter's Chapel coming in. You've got a church there right
at the corner. Right there, we've got a monument sign
and we have you know, the master plan has them
slated to go all over the city like that. We
(31:33):
just you know, we're pacing ourselves. It costs money. We
have to acquire property in some cases because there's not
enough room in the public right of way or there's
some utility constraint or something. So it's not quite as
easy as just planting a flag. But the branding of
these things will look like the top lanterns.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
Of the Peed Bridge ended. Yeah, that's some branded so
that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
So talking about acquisition land and stuff like that as well,
I know that part, and we've discussed this before. I
don't know if there's any more news on it, but
going down Ptree Corner Circles towards after west of Falcon
Bridge Road, you know, I think there was going to
(32:24):
be some pocket parks created in those areas or spaces
for playgrounds and such as there have been any more.
Speaker 3 (32:34):
News on that or oh yeah, so Pree Corner Circle
in between yeah, p Tree and I guess now just
p Tree Boulevard, not Industrial Boulevard, but.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
P Stree Boulevard and Hulcombridge Road.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
There's that section excuse me of road kind of got
a long stretch where it's four lanes right there and
their crooked creek goes underneath p Street Corner Circle there
we're acquiring and we're finalizing the acquisition of the north
(33:14):
side of that stretch, and we're.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
Putting in a.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
Trail hub for our multi use trail which is going
to be running along Crooked Creek. We're going to be
putting in a trail hub there where you can drive there,
park your car at a parking lot. There'll be you know,
bricks and mortar restroom, some playground amenities, maybe some picnicking,
(33:42):
you know, pavilion type of stuff, and then the trail
will end up going right along there, so you could
park your car there and walk the trail ultimately, or
just go there to use the facilities. It will help
serve all those apartments that are in that outer P
Street Corner Circle area. So it's serving multiple purposes. But
(34:06):
that money has been appropriated and is ready. You know,
we're in acquisition and design right now.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
Are there part of the other construction thing going on?
I know there was budget approved for what was called
or is called Mobility Hub and Technology Park, so there
was I think there was was it a first read
or maybe it was proved the budget for that? Is
there any timeline it was?
Speaker 3 (34:33):
That's where let's see, is it right Tech Park South
and Research Court, Yes, I believe.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
No, Yeah, it is Research Court.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Just the right star where Bright Star is.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
Yes, and the Curiosity Lab and really the city are
jointly putting a couple things there. We're making that a
hub for all eight things zv so the bus to
charging stations, to e bikes, e scooters, and then we're
(35:16):
putting in a gathering space for people who work in
Tech Park to go.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
There'll be.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
Three five G wireless hotspot there. We're putting in a
food truck court so that you know, again there's an
opportunity for people who work in Tech Park to maybe
at certain days not have to go out into that
river of cars that are Pree Parkway or p Stree Boulevard.
(35:49):
And then it's it's part of Tech Park. It's a
way to gather people together and you know, get them
to the you know, the create the energy and the
synergy of employees that are working in like industry. And
that's the whole purpose of creating a technology park to
begin with.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
Yeah, I love that idea. Well there, I know the
city's working on some new events and stuff anything new
there though I know there was the was it the
there was a five k race at one point by
with Wervin I think the company was and but you
(36:29):
know there was a company run five k race and
we talked I think we talked a little bit about
that about how that was good, a good testing to
see if something similar can be done. But anything new
that you're that you can share that event wise, that's
coming well.
Speaker 3 (36:48):
We do have two additional concerts that are going to
be added to the calendar. I believe the there's potentially
going to be a joint Peachtree Corners Festival and one
of our big concerts to be on the same weekend
(37:08):
to create, right, create some synergy there. Your publication itself
will be coming up with our VIC calendar.
Speaker 1 (37:17):
Correct, Correct, We're going to have a special issue I believe,
not sure what month it is, but it'll be some
time in the spring talking about everything that's gonna be
upcoming through the rest of the year, and then we'll
have another one I think in the fall about Fall
of Danson and stuff.
Speaker 3 (37:37):
The events. I know that my communication director Louis Vela
and his staff work hard on the group musical groups
that they've got to really kind of get something for everybody,
you know, types of music for everybody, and right, and
(38:01):
and so we're looking forward to you know, with your
help getting that special event calendar out, We've got a
lot of you know, cooler stuff we're still in talk
to maybe do you know another version of the sci
Fi Festival? We got the Criteria or may may be
a running race, let's jointly with the Criteria, right.
Speaker 2 (38:26):
Things like that.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
Criterion's coming back. Yeah, that's coming back. I guess Criterion
and the Atlanta sci Fi Film Festival it's coming back.
Speaker 2 (38:37):
Well it looks like it. So yeah, a lot of
a lot of events.
Speaker 3 (38:41):
I mean that's the whole purpose of having community gathering
space and the ability to do certain things is to
provide things for the community.
Speaker 2 (38:49):
The Forum also is doing some unique stuff.
Speaker 1 (38:52):
Yes, yeah, got a calendar from them, and we're going
to be promoting some of that stuff through that special
edition as well.
Speaker 3 (39:00):
And you know, we've also made sure that there's no
overlap that we're filling in. So really, you know, we're
starting to get to where if you didn't want to,
if you want to keep your world pretty tight to
p Street corners, there's going to be something every weekend
or you know.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
Somebody to do.
Speaker 3 (39:20):
So yeah, I mean we look forward to you know,
twenty twenty five and continue to expand our community offerings.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
Yeah, there's going to be a lot more stuff coming in.
I think all the private companies are doing some things
that are coming up this year as well. So okay,
this this was It's good to have you back. It's
been a while since we've had you. But Sean Adams
has been filling the space a little bit talking about
development and stuff with us, so we're gonna be doing
(39:47):
some more with them as well. But Brian, I appreciate
you coming out and you know, giving us all this
information setting us straight on some things. I always appreciate
the work you do. You and city council people in
the mayor. I mean it's you know, you could always
have a good discussion about pros and cons on things,
(40:09):
and you know, I think you all are doing a
great job overall so well.
Speaker 3 (40:16):
And and again I say I thank you every time.
But you know, you provide a great vehicle to do that.
One other thing of note is here, within the next
four to six months will be done building from scratch
a really good city app that's right, So that'll be
(40:36):
another resource for people in the community to use to,
you know, get accurate information, communicate with the city, learn
things you know.
Speaker 1 (40:48):
So and this is a whole new app from scratch
versus they have to.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
That's correct. The old app was done from a cookie cutter.
We're building this one from scratch with some of our
partners in Curiosity Lab that have some innovative approaches to
communicating with residents that really didn't exist if it hadn't
been for the innovative ecosystem we've created here.
Speaker 1 (41:16):
Again to once that's out to be able to talk
about that too. But what people can use it for,
I'm sure there's a lot of interactiveness on that, but
all right, cool, Well, thank you, Brian, appreciate you being
with me. Everyone, thank you for joining us. Don't forget
our corporate sponsors, ev Remodeling and vox Popular. Check them out.
(41:38):
I'll have their links in the show notes and you'll
probably see the logos below here and depending where you
are and might want to subscribe to these podcasts, whether
it's on YouTube or follow us on Facebook and Instagram
or even Spotify or iHeartRadio. So thanks for being with us, Brian,
(41:58):
hanging there for a second. Everyone, thanks again, enjoyed the
new year,
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