Blogs
Sold on Johns Creek
http://www.soldonjohnscreek.com
Newly incorporated in December 2006, Johns Creek is a young, thriving city in northeast Fulton County. The city was created from the previously unincorporated eastern portion of northern Fulton County, with Roswell to the west and south, Gwinnett County to the east, Alpharetta to the northwest, and Forsyth County to the north. Named for the stream that runs through the area on its way to the Chattahoochee River, nearly 60,000 people call Johns Creek home. Ample parks and greens provide recreational opportunities for residents. Set on 46 forest acres, Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center is one of the city’s most-cherished public spaces and offers hiking trails, a nature center, and a collection of historic buildings, including a farmhouse, a chapel, a church, a barn, and an old country store. Additionally, The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area has several hiking trails, pavilions, and boat launch facilities in the Johns Creek area.
With a rapidly growing business and medical district at the crossroads of Highway 141 and McGinnis Ferry Road, John’s Creek has a vigorous economy and award-winning North Fulton County schools, making it a hot spot for growth. Already, it is Georgia’s 10th largest city. With convenience to I-285, GA 400, and I-85, as well as major roadways like GA 120, GA 141, and McGinnis Ferry Road, high-end communities and great neighborhoods are in the area, with a wide mix of housing choices.
Sold on Dunwoody
http://www.soldondunwoody.com
In the northern section of DeKalb County, the community of Dunwoody, with its sprawling homes on large lots, is one of Metro Atlanta’s most upscale areas. The unincorporated community of approximately 40,000 is named for Major Charles Dunwoody, a leader in the Civil War who established a petition for a post office as the first act of the new town.
But before Dunwoody’s arrival, the land was occupied by Cherokee and Creek Indians who used the area for hunting. When the land was redistributed in the lottery, pioneers turned it into a farm community until a wealthy family, the Spruills, bought up much of the area. Carrying on the name, The Spruill Center for the Arts is a major venue for visual and performing arts and continues the Spruill’s legacy.
Just 10 miles north of Atlanta, Dunwoody has its own exclusive shopping and dining opportunities. In addition to the local flavor of The Dunwoody Village, nearby Perimeter Mall offers specialty shops and restaurants, as well as popular anchor stores like Bloomingdales, Macy’s, and Dillard’s.
Like many of Atlanta’s wooded communities, Dunwoody also has some excellent parks and outdoor gathering spaces, such as Murphy Candler Park, Brook Run Park, and the Dunwoody Nature Center which features a wetland boardwalk, streams and trails, gardens, a picnic meadow, and a playground.
Today, Dunwoody is a residential mix of empty-nesters and young families. Old and new single family houses and town homes cluster around several top charter and city schools. There have been several studies and bids at incorporation; it is believed that Dunwoody will become its own city in 2008.
Sold on Alpharetta
http://www.soldonalpharetta.com
Nestled in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains, Alpharetta is known for its many horse enthusiasts. Upscale horse farms abound and are sprinkled among some of the most sought after homes and neighborhoods in all of Atlanta. Wills Park Equestrian Center hosts well-known horse shows and polo matches throughout the year attracting horse lovers from all across the country.
Greek for “first town”, Alpharetta, was originally the county seat of Milton County. Cobbled together from parts of neighboring counties – Cherokee, Cobb, Forsyth, DeKalb, and Gwinnett, Milton County struggled during the Great Depression and was eventually absorbed into Fulton County to avoid bankruptcy. Because the railroad didn’t travel as far north as Alpharetta, the city saw slow growth through the years until Georgia 400 was developed in the late 1980s. Since then, Alpharetta, 25 miles north of Atlanta, has grown substantially and is home to several major businesses, such as Verizon, Sun Microsystems, UPS Supply Chain Solutions, and IBM.
Alpharetta is planning a major rejuvenation of its historic downtown area to be called the Alpharetta City Center, as well as the addition of Encore Park, a 12,000 seat outdoor performing arts arena. These improvements, coupled with Alpharetta’s first-rate schools and high quality of life continues to attract families and businesses to the community.
Sold on Roswell
http://www.soldonroswell.com
Roswell was founded during the Georgia Gold Rush, when Roswell King realized that the area’s rivers and creeks would help forge considerable business opportunities. Specifically, he had a cotton mill in mind. So, King and several other influential families relocated to the area, built the largest textile mill in North Georgia, gorgeous mansions, a school, a Presbyterian Church, the town center, and a mill village - all sites that still draw historians and sightseers today.
Located 20 miles north of Atlanta on the beautiful Chattahoochee River and Vickery Creek, Roswell offers a small-town atmosphere with big-city amenities. With more than 100 listings on the National Historic Register, Roswell has successfully fused old and new. The historical city center has become a vibrant area with great shops, top-rated restaurants, thriving local businesses, art galleries, and antique sellers.
Side roads throughout Roswell lead to quiet idyllic neighborhoods and the Chattahoochee River and Trail system winds through the city with more than 16 miles of footpaths and trails. CNN has called Roswell one of the best places to live in America. Atlanta Magazine has named it the Best Place to Live in metro Atlanta, the Georgia Municipal Association calls Roswell a City of Excellence, and Money Magazine ranked it in the top 20 cities in the U.S.
Sold on Marietta
http://www.soldonmarietta.com
In 1832, the state of Georgia formed 10 counties from former Cherokee Indian land. One of the ten was Cobb County, named for Thomas Cobb, a U.S. Senator and Supreme Court Judge. Marietta, named for Thomas Cobb’s wife is the county seat of Cobb County. Convenient to I-75 and Highway 41 and just 15 miles northwest of the city, it is one of Metro Atlanta’s largest suburbs. Nearly 60,000 people make their home in Marietta and enjoy the mix of modern amenities and historic sites.
Marietta is well-known for its thriving town square, anchored by Glover Park. The Marietta Square features some of Marietta’s best restaurants and most eclectic shopping, as well as a Theater in the Square for live plays, a concert venue, and a prominent gazebo where many wedding and prom photos are taken each year. Interestingly, the Square’s designer, James Anderson, one of Marietta’s first residents, also designed the city of Savannah, with its beautiful squares and greens.
Marietta also boasts one of the country’s best-loved landmarks, The Big Chicken. On the corner of Hwy 120 and Hwy 41, one of the busiest intersections in town, The Big Chicken, part of a KFC franchise, is often used by locals when giving directions. For instance, The Marietta Square is six blocks west of the Big Chicken.
The city is rich with Civil War history. In fact, General Sherman used Marietta as a base camp and spared the city before he marched on to burn Atlanta. Two cemeteries, Marietta National Cemetery and The Confederate Cemetery and several battlefields attract locals and visitors throughout the year.
Marietta preserves the best of the south while progressing forward into the future. Great schools and neighborhood enclaves make Marietta a perfect place to call home.
