Cobb Real Estate Blog

A development group announced, today, that a $100 million mixed use development will be built in Marietta on a 20 acre build site along Powder Springs Street between Garrison Road and Sandtown Road. The development will consist of about 1/3 high end residential housing. Also included, will be a national grocery chain, although which national chain will reside their has not yet been determined.

I do not have the exact breakdown of what’s going to be built in the Marietta Mercantile Exchange. So far I have seen announcements for class A office space, high-end residential flats and townhomes and a “neighborhood retail mix”.

Technorati Tags: mixed use development, Marietta Mercantile Exchange

I often drive through neighborhoods, where my clients are thinking of buying a house, to get a feel the neighborhood. I like to look at traffic in the morning and evening, how residents keep their lawns and upkeep their homes. I will also, on occasion, get out and speak to a few of the home owners in the neighborhood. Do you want to know one of the complaints I hear a lot? “There’s always 8 cars parked outside.”, or “There are 10 people living in that house.”

When a home turns into a boarding house it can detract from the neighborhood in many ways. It can congest traffic, increase noise, cause a buyer to not choose your home that’s for sale and sometimes just flat out lower your property value. Well, the Cobb County Commissioners just voted to cut down on these crowded houses.

Under the new law, no more than 6 people can live under one roof. And more importantly, one one person per 390 square feet is allowed to live in any house. That means no more than 4 people could live in a 1,600 square foot house.

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners approved a plan to build two high rise towers overlooking I-75, near the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center.

“Planning is under way by Grove Street Partners LLC for an as-yet-unnamed office/residential/retail project on a tract bounded by Interstate 75, Akers Mill Road and Cobb Galleria Parkway.  Located adjacent to and just south of the $145 million Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, set to open in September, the project is envisioned to include a 15-story, 350-000-square-foot office tower; an 18-story combination 200-room hotel and 38-unit residential condominium tower; a roughly 1,000-space underground parking facility; and amenity retail stores and restaurants.”

Yesterday I spoke about how fast Kennesaw was growing. Not only are they growing fast, but Kennesaw, according to Family Circle Magazine, is a great place for families. In fact, Family Circle thinks Kennesaw is one of the top 10 towns in America for families.

“We set out to find communities across the country that combine big-city opportunities with suburban charm, locations that offer an ideal blend of affordable houses, good jobs, top-rated schools, wide-open spaces, and a lot less stress. Here are the results of Family Circle’s extensive research: Perfect places to call home.”

If you would like to start looking for a home or are interested in Kennesaw real estate at all, please give me a call.

Forbes Magazine just released their list of the fastest growing suburbs in America. Two Cobb County cities made the list. Kennesaw was ranked #57 in the country. And Acworth was ranked as the #85 fastest growing U.S. suburb.

Kennesaw
2000 Population - 21,362
2006 Population - 30,936
44.8% Growth

Acworth
2000 Population - 13,801
2006 Population - 18,790
36.1% Growth

One of the things that I have decided to do to enrich my every day life, is to live a “little more green”. You know what I am talking about. I want to conserve electricity, lower my energy bills and just simply help the environment in any way I can.

In the beginning portion of my research I came across a blog called, Living Green. The author, Aaron Doyle, is a fellow realtor and an EcoBroker. Her blog introduced me to 16 Ways To Green Your Home. The link is to a .pdf at the U.S. Green Building Council, which takes a more in-depth look at the 16 ways to lower the impact of everyday living. Check that out as well as hop on over and read the Living Green blog.

1. Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
2. Program Your Thermostat
3. Plug Air Leaks
4. Tune Up Your Heating and Cooling (HVAC) System
5. Choose ENERGY STAR® Appliances
6. Reduce Water Use
7. Switch to Green Power
8. Buy Local
9. Use Low-VOC Products
10. Use Wood Alternatives or FSC-certifi ed Wood Products
11. Use Rapidly Renewable Flooring Materials
12. Plant Trees to Provide Shade and Wind Protection for Your House
13. Use Native Plantings
14. Use Nontoxic Gardening Techniques
15. Carpool, Use Public Transportation, Walk or Bike When Possible
16. Buy a High-efficiency Car

I haven’t had the pleasure of trying this new Vinings oyster bar on Paces Mill and Cobb Parkway yet. Anyone have some feedback on C&S Oyster Bar for us?

There is a new infill community being built right next to Pope High School on Hembree Road. It’s called Ansley Creek and will consist of 20 luxury manor homes. The builder plans to combine old world designs influenced by French Country, English Manor and Traditional Southern architecture. The developer is going to create outdoor living spaces, nature trails and leave a good bit of the development as green space.

The homes will feature three car garages, custom kitchens and incredible master suites. The pricing will start in the $800,000’s. I will get some pictures up ASAP, but if you would like more information about this East Cobb neighborhood or information on East Cobb real estate in general, please call me.

Technorati Tags: infill community, Pope High School, Ansley Creek, East Cobb real estate