Chuck Warbington
Executive Director
Gwinnett Village Improvement District

Gwinnett Village CID, Gwinnett Place CID and City of Suwanee Receive Grants to Fund Revitalization Efforts

Norcross, GA (March 30, 2009) --- The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) recently awarded $150,000 in grants to aid three Gwinnett County groups in their revitalization efforts. Grants were awarded to the City of Suwanee, Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District (CID) and Gwinnett Place CID. All three grants will be used for improvements surrounding active Interstate-85 interchanges with redevelopment potential. 

"These three projects were selected to receive Georgia Department of Transportation Roadside Enhancement and Beautification GATEway Grants based on review and recommendation of our Roadside Enhancement and Beautification Council members," said Davie Biagi, landscape architect for the Georgia Department of Transportation. " A primary goal of the GATEway Grant program is to fund enduring enhancement of the roadsides for the traveling public, so evidence the groups have solid plans for quality maintenance of their beautification projects was key. The Georgia DOT appreciates the fine examples and enthusiastic participation of these local government entities in beautifying Georgia's public rights of way. " 

The Gwinnett Place CID project centers around continued landscape improvements at the Interstate-85, Pleasant Hill Road interchange and includes enhanced landscaping for the northeast and southeast quadrants of that exit. The CID has already undertaken and completed a similar project for the Steve Reynolds Boulevard interchange and part of the Pleasant Hill Road exits. 

"These interchanges serve as a welcome mat for Gwinnett County," said Joe Allen, executive director for Gwinnett Place CID. "The investments made set the standard and send a message that these areas remain successful and are poised to continue thriving in the future.  Landscaping is just one step in promoting quality redevelopment throughout the area." 

The $50,000 grant that Suwanee received will be used for landscape enhancements around the GA-317 (Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road), Interstate-85 interchange. The beautification project is part of the City's overall redevelopment plan that includes infrastructure, streetscape and transportation improvements as well as marketing and branding for the area. The landscaping improvements that will be partially funded through the grant are an integral part of the overall plan for the area.  

"Suwanee Gateway is in good company with the CID areas," said Denise Brinson, director of economic and community development for the City of Suwanee. "The fact that so many communities are working to redevelop and make these types of improvements does nothing but cement the notion that great things are happening in Gwinnett."  

Gwinnett Village CID will be using their grant to help fund a $125,000 aesthetic improvement project centering around the southwest corner of Interstate-85 and Jimmy Carter Boulevard. The newly landscaped plot will serve as an extension of the previous $825,000 beautification project that the CID has undertaken including the landscaping of the interchanges at Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Indian Trail Road and Beaver Ruin Road. Similar to these previous projects, the Jimmy Carter Boulevard, I-85 Gateway project will utilize an undulating pattern of primarily native and drought resistant plant materials.  

"It's more than just landscaping, the aesthetic improvements promote a sense of security, pride and community," said Chuck Warbington, executive director for Gwinnett Village CID. "It helps create an environment that is appealing to residents and businesses in the district."

•  This article is being posted with the express consent of the author, Chuck Warbington
  
  

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Time is very short.  Below is an Open Letter to Gwinnett Taxpayers which the Gwinnett Daily Post printed yesterday.  I hope you will read it and pass this email along to as many Gwinnett residents and businesses as you can.   Also, please call the commissioners and express your outrage at their failure to reduce county government

OPEN LETTER TO GWINNETT TAXPAYERS                      MAY 22, 2009

As mayor of Suwanee, I can attest firsthand that local governments are profoundly affected by these challenging economic times. I can also promise that the Suwanee City Council is doing everything in its power to hold the line on taxes.

People are hurting. Many have lost jobs or taken pay cuts. Businesses are facing unprecedented challenges. Nonprofits are trying to survive. Everyone seems to be doing whatever they can keep costs down. Well, not everyone.

Earlier this week, our Gwinnett County Commissioners announced their plan to raise your property taxes by more than 25 percent - 30 percent if you live in a city - so they can expand their 2009 budget by about 10 percent over their 2008 budget. We don't have the exact figures because they still won't publish the budget they adopted March 3.

You see, even though we're nearly halfway into the fiscal year, without their budget document, the public is being kept in the dark. Our commissioners are ballooning county government in the worst economy anyone can remember.

Forty-three million of this enormous $87 million property tax increase isn't even planned to be spent in 2009 - they're socking it away in something called "working capital reserve." Our commissioners have decided it's better to overtax you and hoard those dollars than for you to pay your mortgage, health care or for your kids' education.

Under the guise of public safety, our commissioners have hatched a curious plan to hire 170 more officers to start patrolling inside cities that are already policed effectively by the cities. This wasteful and dangerous duplication will require another $17 to 20 million of your money in new taxes - can't know for certain without the budget. Sheriff Butch Conway calls their scheme a "terrible mistake."

Growing the size of government in these economic times is exactly the wrong thing for any elected body. It's quite obvious that our commissioners are oblivious to the reality that the rest of us face. We're cutting back, yet they're expanding their county largesse and sending us the bill. And it's going to be a whopper.

State law requires our commissioners hold three public hearings at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center before they set these new tax rates. Two are scheduled for Tuesday, the day after Memorial Day. The third is June 2, after which the county will vote on the new tax rate.

I plan to attend all of them, and hope you will, too.

Have we learned anything from the county's recent "trash plan" episode? This time, will we make our voices heard to our elected commissioners before they take action on this outrageous tax hike?

If not, brace yourself for a doozie of a county tax bill.

Dave Williams, Mayor
City of Suwanee, GA

http://gwinnettdailypost.com/main.asp?SectionID=17&SubSectionID=116&ArticleID=60158&TM=43811.45 

This letter is posted with the permission of the writer.

Those with the crystal ball continue to say the bottom is near. How long have we heard that? In a recent "reading of the crystal ball, chief economist, Mark Zandi with Moody's Economy, Inc. targeted December 15, 2009 for the bottom (Realtor.org/April 28, 2009-Source: Wall Street Journal. June Fletcher, April 24, 2009). Hmm.....One has to surmize it will all depend on your market location.

Steve Palm with Smart Numbers shows the inventory for single family homes in Atlanta declined the end of April compared to March. He noted, "...we are now approaching 2006 inventory levels." (May 21, 2009). Contrast this to a recent news cast predicting the Atlanta market might be in this a bit longer than December 15, 2009. However, it still doesn't mean you can't sell your home or that you have to give your house away. As I have mentioned in previous post, Tips on Selling Your Home, you can be very successful in selling your home, if you PREPARE and EDUCATE yourself!

Recapping April, 2009 is outlined below. Units and average sales price is down. However, if appreciable housing inventory levels continue to decline as Steve Palm noted then it may be "safe" to assume we may begin to see a SLOW upswing in home values. Time will tell....

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NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY!!!

NOW is the time!!! If you have been sitting on the fence waiting
to buy a new home....NOW IS THE TIME!!! And, time is of
the essence. Two credits are now available for home buyers
in the state of Georgia. The Federal First Time Home Buyer
Tax Credit and the Georgia Home Buyer Tax Credit (House
Bill 261).

• The tax credit is for first time home buyers only. For the
  tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home
  buyer as someone who has not owned a principal
  residence during the three year period prior to the
  purchase.
• The tax credit does not have to be repaid.
• The tax credit is equal to the 10 percent of the home's
  purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
• The credit is available for homes purchased on or after
  January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.
• Single tax payers with incomes up to $75,000 and
  married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify
  for the full tax credit.

• Governor of GA signs May 11 House Bill 261 providing
  for $1800 State of Georgia Tax Credit (1.2% up to $1800).
• Homes under $150,000 would qualify for the full $1800 tax
  credit.
• Qualifying homes must have been listed prior to May 11.
• Tax credit is spread over three years.
• No purchase restrictions.
• Program ends November 20, 2009.

Interest rates are at an historical low - 4.5%, making this opportunity
even sweeter. And, these low rates won't last forever! Like the
tax credits, all good things will come to an end....NOW IS THE TIME!

Click to learn more about Federal 
Home Buyer Tax Credit

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NEW NEWS...IS GOOD NEWS...

As I had mentioned in a previous post, the $8,000 First Time
Homebuyer Tax Credit is great but how do first time home
buyers make the purchase if their funds are limited. The new
down payment guidelines under FHA is 3.5% and Conventional
is 10% (up from 5% earlier this year).  
No one disputes financing guide lines needed to be tightened.
But if you are going to throw out a carrot to this segment of the
home buying community to help stiumulate the housing market,
it only makes sense (if you have worked in real estate long enough)
to know these buyers are usually young  and have limited funds.
On Tuesday, the Federal Housing Assocation (FHA) came to realize
the same thing!
FHA is going to allow home buyers to use the $8,000 First Time
Home Buyer Tax Credit  as a down payment.  With the assistance of
an approved, lender, buyers will be able to access these funds through
a short term "bridge loan."  According to Shaun Donovan, Secretary of
the U. S. Treasury, "We all want to enable FHA consumers to access the
home buyer tax credit funds when they close on their home loans so
that the cash can be used as a down payment."  This new change, in
my opinion,  should have an exponential effect going forward on the
number of first time home buyers seeking to be home owners vs. what
we were seeing previously.
Additionally, if you live in the state of Georgia, more good news!
The Governor has signed HB 261 an $1800 tax credit for first time
home buyers.  There are a couple of facts to be aware of:

• $1800 tax credit or 1.2%  of the purchase price
• Credit spread over a  period of three years
• The credit can be claimed one time per tax payer
• You must close on the home between June 1 and November
  30, 2009.

Great opportunities abound for the first time home buyer: Historically
low interest rates, selection AND the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer
Tax Credit.....It doesn't get much better than this!!!

More articles by Janice

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CONGRATULATIONS SUWANEE!!! You did it again!

The City of Suwanee has added one more to their treasure
chest of awards!  On February 17, 2009, the city was
presented with the Kaleidoscope Award from the Southeast
Festivals and Events Association for its 2008 events.

Among the awards presented to the City of Suwanee were
two gold and two bronze awards. In the annual competition,
there were 140 entries from 22 different organizations.

The GOLD award was presented to the City for:  "Best
Event within an Event" category for Body Plex's "World's
Largest Outdoor Spin Class"  which took place
as part of  the Tour de Georgia. The second GOLD award
 went to Melissa Fernandez, Suwanee Day Chairperson
 in the "Best Volunteer" category (events under $75K).

The notorious "Suwanee Day Festival"  and the 2008
25th Suwanee Day commemorative poster by Melody Orr
brought home the BRONZE.

No wonder so many take pride in calling
Suwanee "HOME!"

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It's a sure sign of summer when you drive by Town Center Park and see pet owners throwing
a frisbee to their dog, Dad's playing catch with their kids; or people lounging on blankets
taking in the warmth of the sun's warm rays! And by all indications, it's that time of year!
                         SUMMER IN THE SOUTH!
The sun is warm, the sky is blue (most of the time) and the water is flowing....
From the fountain at Suwanee's Town Center Park that is!

The fountain is open for all to enjoy from 10:30 am to 9:30 pm daily through October 31.  

When you are having so much fun with your friends it is hard to remember the rules,
so for the safety of all the "kids" here are just a few reminders:

1. No food, gum or beverages are allowed in the fountain area (but there is
   plenty of green space to spread your blanket arount the fountain
   area to enjoy something to eat)
2. No pets
3. No toys inlcuding water balloons and water guns
4. No skates, skate boards, scooters or bicylcles
5. Toddlers must wear swim diapers
6. An accompanying adult must be present
7. No running or rough play
8. No jumping from wall  
   
   

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The vote is in and it appears the residents of Suwanee consider their city a great place to live!

 This comes after Suwanee held its first National Citizen Survey late last year. Surveys were sent out to approximately 1200 residents and received a 32 percent response rate.  According to City Manager, Marty Allen, the purpose of the survey was to assist city officials in setting priorities for the city and improve areas of weakness.

The survey was conducted in November and covered eight areas:

1. Community quality
2. Community design
3. Public safety
4. Environmental sustainability
5. Recreation and wellness
6. Community inclusiveness
7. Civic engagement
8. Public trust

• Ranked quality of life as good or excellent - 95% 
• Ranked Suwanee as a good or excellent place to live - 97%
• Those who plan to live in Suwanee for the next 5 years - 91%
• Ranked the city parks as good - 21%; Ranked the city parks excellent - 76%
• Residents who felt a strong sense of community - 90%
• Ranked Suwanee as a good/excellent place to raise children - 97%

As a resident of Suwanee for over 21 years and a regular visitor to the Suwanee Creek Park, the results are not a surprise! What was a surprise...Only 78% of those who responded rated the services for taxes paid as excellent or good - For me personally, I think every city tax dollar we have paid has been well worth it because the improvement in our quality of life has improved exponentially!!!           

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