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HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL ~ HHHHH * v - <^3> hM|H m f(w..-.....u .^-wi, V Ms V V r' f M ' J k r;^! 4k,-.v. V r, jjlfi * * \«sf * ■" 'JBBBBpI I 1 k gMayK&j GROWTH From page lA is coming, or another big drugstore will be built. “There’s going to be a Bank of Perry here,” Donny Free says at the intersection of Lake Joy and 96. His son, Scott, points out that a big retail floor cov ering business is planned for Cohen Walker Drive. Another Fillers is coming in that area. A doctor’s office strip is being built near the Lake Joy Publix. And in the meantime, new subdivisions are beginning to fill in the spaces where farmland and forests used to be between the mid-county growth and Perry’s perim eter. Donny Free predicts that the growth along Perry Parkway will be “as robust” as the growth on Ga. 96, because of the increase in homes and population. He notes that the whole state is growing, and that predic tions now are that Georgia’s population will increase by eight million by 2030. Perry’s perimeter area could boom, with businesses developing to serve a rapidly growing population, they say, “if Perry doesn’t kill it.” The Frees, father and son, are not too happy with the idea of subdivision impact fees which is being tossed around now by Perry City Council. They see the fees, if they are approved, as a cost that will just be passed along to those who are buying the new homes. In Perry, Lynward Barrett, owner of Landmark Realty, echoes that feeling. “No matter how you look at it,” he says, “the cost will just be passed on to the con sumer.” Barrett sees Perry as hav ing planned well for the future. “Because of the vision of city leaders,” he says, “We are ready for this growth. They’ve opened some corri dors for new growth.” He’s sentimental about seeing the farmlands disap pear, and says that many people he talks with are say ing the same thing, but he’s still expecting substantial residential growth south of Perry along U.S. 41 as farm ers sell to developers. “Once the bypass gets developed, we’ll see the whole area take off,” Barrett says. His concern now is “that with all the growth, we don’t overbuild and have a super abundance (of homes).” “We don’t want more houses than people coming,” he says. Barrett says that his recent experience has been that many homebuyers are retirees coming up from Florida, to escape high taxes and hurricanes. While the retirees often can afford the higher priced homes being built, Barrett would like to see more affordable housing in the sllO-$130,000 range. For Mayor Jim Worrall, who agrees that more of the housing being built should meet the needs of those with moderate incomes, the big issue is to manage the growth. Worrall is clearly feeling cautious about the predicted boom. He’s glad to see the development along the Perry Parkway, which was built for that purpose, but concerned that subdivision plans are being made without the essential infrastructure in place, and also sees the pos sibilities of overbuilding - of having empty homes if the housing market levels off. “I read the foreclosures in the paper every week,” the mayor notes. Adding that plenty of Houston County’s high-priced homes are sit ting empty now. “With over 200 homes for sale, why are we still creat ing subdivisions?” he asks. Also, the mayor takes a big view of the financial picture and is concerned that the current vigorous housing market could slump or that the growth of homes will outstrip the growth of jobs and tax-paying industries. “Our tax base can’t depend entirely on residen tial growth,” he says. “Every time you have 100-150 new SANTA-LIKE SPEED AT A JOLLY GOOD PRICE. 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Must be a Windstream wireline customer 2 Months Free Broadband: Must maintain one-year bundle including Connect Package and Broadband 1.5 Service Agreement to be eUgfcle Broadband SperKte: Wndetream cannot guarantee Broadband speeds or that Broadband seme will be unmtenupted or error-free Connect Unlimited: 53995. when bundled wXh Broadband and DISH Network. mc*jctes residential access ine. unlimitod hours of tong distance 4 certain calling features Unlimited Long Distance is for residential 1 -plus direct-dialed caSs tor voce use only UnSmrted Long Distance may not be used for Internet services, tax machines aoftpbones or data devices, transcription services, business (whether for-profn or nol-tor-profit). telemarketing. autadrakng. multi-party conference calls (including J-vrsy cals), party knes. cnat koe* adult entertainment knas. calls to 900 and 976 numbers and cals to aooess voice mat or information services. Additional charges may apply for directory assistance calling cards, ookect calls, operator services, intemakonsi ca*ng or toiLfree catting services If VMndstream detemvnes that usage as not consistent with residential voice sanaot, ndudes excessive usage or usage predominantly dumg business hours VMndstream may xnmediefely restnd use or change your long distance plan to the VMndstream 10 plan If any required component of toe service bundle s discontinued, toe account will convert to toe VMndstream 10 plan Additional Information: Credit approval required 4 pre-payment may be required. Taxes, fees 4 other charges, including Universal Sarvice Fund, apply VMndstreem reserves toe nght to cancel or tfcsconlmue this plan at any time If any inquired bundle component is disconnected, all remaining components convert to toe regular tariffed monthly rate Other restrictions may appfy Olfer* are Sitotect to toe VMndstream Terms 4 Conditions tor Communications Services available at any VWtdstieam store or at windstream com Contact a VMndstream representative lor details KCt *1 ■ mWSBmm yi» jjr j |» rf* r-j. i W » 74 .yJ’-'V I **’*** *. ■%***[#. Jk. |.-k ~rrr*- Tv™ is.**.. ‘ V ‘lt;** .. y "**- -■ • A?rr~:. ■IL y ..k i. ■ ’ ! Journal/Charlotte Perkin* LEFT: Donny Free and his son, Scott Free, of Coldwell Bankers Robbins and Free are major players in the growth of Houston’s mid-county area. ABOVE: A For Sale signs stands on Perry parkway. RIGHT: Lynward Barrett, Landmark Realty, is on the move as Perry grows. homes, you need a new industry. As for the impact fees, which are still under discus sion, Worrall doesn’t see why existing residents should bear the whole tax cost of building the infrastructure for new homes. Impact fees, if approved by the City Council, which is increasingly concerned about rapid growth and maintaining quality of life in Perry, would be part of the city’s financial strategy for dealing with a popula tion boom and keeping the city looking good. In the 1920 s it was the paving of U.S. 41 to Florida made Perry the “crossroads of Georgia” for tourists wending their way south. In the 19605, 1-75 came through, bringing still more business with it. In the early 1990 s , the Georgia National Fairgrounds was built, put ting Perry on the map as a LOCAL tourist destination. But still the small town remained, barely reaching a popula tion of 10,000 in the last few Please don’t forge TWO MONTHS FREE XAA DALTON 100 W Walnut, Suite 108 706.2797000 This Christmas season please help poor and suffering souls in our community. Your gift today will let someone in desperate need know they haven’t been forgotten. Remember to give. YES, I want to help provide food and shelter for needy people in our community: □ S2O to help feed a hungry person. □ $35 to help provide toys for needy children. □ SSO to help feed and shelter a hurting family. □ S __ to help as much as possible. NAMf. ~ _____ cm • i r / ” “ ' CUP AND MAIL WITH YOUR GIFT TODAY BROADBAND *2495 • per month WITH BUNDLE VISIT US IN GEORGIA Dawson 163 N Stonewall Street NE 229 995 5800 • WP w l JaRSIII ’Ssjjr 'i 1 ' fllk T y *- J \ V JLvt. V % \ i ■' E irrMßaL.... J years. Now the question isn’t whether growth will come, because it’s co/ning. M windstream 1.877. 312.W1ND | windstream.com i XM JASPEK 50 Mark Whitfield Street 706,692.4456 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2006 ♦ The question is how it will be managed to keep Perry from becoming part of one big urban sprawl. Doing the MOST GOOD Please send your las-deductible gift to: The Salvation Armv P.tt Box 2408 Warner Robins, GA .31003 To make a gift by credit card I ROO-SAL ARMY RELIABLE CONNECTIONS DOWNLOAD MOVIES AND MUSIC SHARE PHOTOS AND MORE WITH BUNDLE UNLIMITED LOCAL AND UNLIMITED LONG DISTANCE LAFAYETTE 502 Church Street 7066388000 I ' ' fgjjßgl PERRY 2031 Highway 41S. 4789872256 7A 41222