Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2010
THE JACKSON HERALD
PAGE 7A
Bid proposals lower than expected on road project
Jurors selected for April 5
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
ONE OF the largest road
projects in Jackson County
may get a little cheaper than
initially estimated.
The Zion Church Road
project in Braselton will
include a new alignment and
widening of the roadway that
is considered the busiest in
Jackson County.
The project includes con
necting Zion Church Road
from Tom White Road on
Ga. Hwy. 124 to Jesse Cronic
Road. It also includes mov
ing the access to Zion Church
Road back from the 1-85
entrance and exit ramp to
tie in further south on Ga.
Hwy. 53.
Jackson County is spear
heading the estimated $23
million project, which
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
IF THERE’S a key prob
lem with revitalizing down
town Braselton it’s the lack
of building space for new ten
ants.
And without vacant space
to welcome the next restau
rant, retail shop or even coffee
shop, Braselton is facing a
challenge to draw new busi
nesses — and visitors — to its
downtown.
The newly-established
Braselton Downtown
Development Authority
(DDA) acknowledged some
of those issues during its half
day retreat on Tuesday at the
town’s public utilities build
ing.
Unlike many downtowns
dealing with vacant building
space, Braselton doesn’t have
existing buildings available to
rent. That’s not because leas
ing in downtown is at a high
demand, but simply because
of its lack of structures for
potential businesses.
“We don’t have any space
for the restaurants to follow
the antique businesses (in
downtown Braselton),” said
former mayor Pat Graham, a
member of the DDA.
For its first fiscal year bud
get — which starts on July 1
— the DDA hammered out
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
FOR THE second time in
two weeks, another compa
ny is making plans to bring
an additional 100 jobs to
Braselton.
Dayton Superior — a lead
ing North American provider
of specialized products for
the nonresidential concrete
construction market — is set
to move into the remainder
of a recently-vacant Braselton
industrial building.
The news follows a March
11 announcement by Safelite
Group — an industry leader
in vehicle glass repair and
replacement — to open a dis
tribution center in Braselton
with 92 new jobs.
Both Ohio-based compa
nies will occupy a building
at 1350 Braselton Parkway
in Duke Realty Corporation’s
“Park 85 at Braselton” devel
opment.
The building — locat-
includes engineering, con
struction and rights-of-way
acquisition costs.
The county recently opened
six submitted bids for the
project and proposed costs
are lower than engineers had
initially expected.
“We received good num
bers across the board,” said
Don Clerici, manager of
capital projects for Jackson
County. “We’re excited about
that.”
Clerici declined to provide
a dollar figure submitted in
the bids, but said engineers
will spend the next couple of
weeks reviewing the proposals
before making a recommen
dation to the Jackson County
Board of Commissioners
during its work session on
Monday, April 5.
goals for the following 12-18
months that could lead to new
businesses — and possibly
new structures for those busi
nesses — opening in down
town Braselton.
One of the key goals of the
DDA will be to support the
town’s streetscape and town
green projects in downtown.
The DDA will provide rec
ommendations to the town
council on those projects,
such as materials used in the
projects.
The streetscape project
— slated to begin this year
— will bring new sidewalks,
street lights, trees and benches
along Ga. Hwy. 53 from the
Braselton/Hoschton city lim
its at West Jackson Road to
the new intersection of Ga.
Hwy. 53 and Ga. Hwy. 124.
Braselton is also planning
to start its realignment of Ga.
Hwy. 124 at the intersection of
Ga. Hwy. 53 from the front of
the Braselton Brothers Store
(Braselton Antique Mall) to
the existing rear of the build
ing.
Once that project is com
pleted, it will allow Braselton
to move forward with its town
green project to provide a cen
tralized feature in downtown.
All of the infrastructure
changes on tap for downtown
ed near Jesse Cronic Road
— has 550,000 square feet
and could be expanded to
742,500 square feet, accord
ing to Duke Realty’s website.
Safelite Group said it plans to
occupy 357,000 square in the
facility.
Overall, both companies are
expected to bring an estimated
200 new jobs to Braselton.
Dayton Superior is already
advertising for an adminis
trative clerk, shipping clerk,
production supervisor and
quality control technician
at its Braselton facility on
monster.com, a job placement
website.
Jackson County Area
Chamber of Commerce presi
dent and CEO Shane Short
said Friday that both compa
nies plan to hold a job fair in
30-40 days.
Short also said at a chamber
board of directors meeting
that neither company received
The BOC is expected to
award the bid to a contractor
during its regular meeting on
Monday, April 19.
“Nothing can happen and
nothing can move forward
until they decide,” Clerici
said.
Jackson County Industrial
Development Authority (IDA)
member John Buchanan said
Friday that the bid savings
was a potential of more than
$5 million.
County officials are antici
pating a groundbreaking on
the project in the spring,
possibly in May, he added.
Public utilities in the area
may be relocated prior to the
start of road construction.
Meanwhile, Braselton
is slated to open bids on
Thursday for its realignment
Braselton are seen by town
officials as key to encouraging
private developers to invest in
the area to spark commercial
revitalization.
One of the unique challeng
es for Braselton is encourag
ing the estimated one million
tourists in the area visiting
Chateau Elan, Road Atlanta
and Mayfield Dairy to shop in
downtown.
“They’re already here, we
just can’t get them to come
a mile down the road,” said
Robbie Bettis, an antique store
owner and authority member.
Graham outlined how
Buford had a “20-year renais
sance” to revitalize its down
town.
The effort started by artists
moving into low-rent build
ings and making repairs to the
structures, thereby driving up
leasing rates over the years.
Eventually, the artists moved
to more affordable buildings
in Buford, while new restau
rants opened in the renovated
spaces.
Braselton DDA members
debated what projects or pro
grams could entice more busi
nesses to open in downtown.
Authority member Clay
Eubanks suggested focus
ing on an entertainment or
music venue to bring guests
incentives to move to Jackson
County.
Safelite Group said it
plans to be operational at
of Ga. Hwy. 124 at Ga. Hwy.
53 in downtown.
Officials from the county
and town have been working
to coordinate construction of
both projects — along with
the town’s streetscape project
— to occur simultaneously.
Braselton’s Ga. Hwy. 124
realignment project has a
12-18 month construction
timeline, while the streetscape
project has a six to eight-
month construction timeline.
The downtown Braselton
streetscape project will bring
new sidewalks, street light
ing, trees, benches and other
elements to the Ga. Hwy. 53
corridor - from the Braselton/
Hoschton boundary at West
Jackson Road to the new
intersection of Ga. Hwy. 53
and Ga. Hwy. 124.
to downtown Braselton after
shops close during the day.
He pointed to Mike’s Down
Under, a bar and music venue
in downtown Jefferson next to
Mike’s Grill.
“That’s how Mike’s Grill
has survived in Jefferson,
when the shelf life of most
restaurants is about a year to
a year and a half,” Eubanks
said.
Braselton is planning to
build a public amphitheater in
downtown, but the project is
at least three years away from
funding, according to town
manager Jennifer Dees.
Meanwhile, the author
ity — and most likely the
town council — will fund a
market analysis of downtown
Braselton as a tool to recruit
new businesses and invest
ments.
DDA members are also
expected to explore incentives
it can use to assist potential
new businesses considering a
move to downtown and visit
ing other cities with success
ful downtown development
authorities.
The DDA is expected to
adopt its 12-18 month plan
during its next meeting on
Thursday, April 8, at 11 a.m.,
at the Braselton Police and
Municipal Court Building.
Photo by Kerri Testement
the Braselton facility by
September 2010 and it has
the potential to grow from 92
to 120 new jobs.
THE FOLLOWING have
been selected to report for
jury duty on Monday, April
5:
Charles Danny Williams,
George Randall Creamer,
Catherine Ann Harris,
Christine M. McKenzie, Tara
Shedd Duck, Edwin Luther
Hunt, James William Parks,
Kristina Lee Bogel, Tonia
Lynn Standridge, Jamie
Carroll Yarbrough, Judy
Elaine Reddish, Amanda
Jene Cato, Walter Dennis
Williams, Rebecca Lynn
Skelton, David Barnett,
Mary Ann W. Turner, Regina
Ellen Hollis, Amy Shiree
Vaughan, Jackie Allen,
Todd Edwin Cornes, Emma
Alane Turner, Kiritkumar G.
Patel, Deanna Kay Jackson,
Jerry Thomas Smith and
William Dean Burford.
Amanda Grace Leake,
Craig David Roop,
Judy G. Brewer, Robert
Allen Faulkner, Thomas
Hardy Boyette, Jon Arles
Schramm, Amy Marie
Woods, Edwin Perez,
Emma Jean Lake, Caitlin
Rose Herron, Leland Lewis
Williams, Texys Virginia
Morris, Mary Elizabeth
Kaine, Matthew Eugene
Bentley, Bryan Kevin
Wimbs, Ronald Glenn
Goodson, Laurel M. Staub,
Patricia A. Jennings, Brian
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
BRASELTON IS one of
15 cities in Gwinnett County
that is no longer eligible to
receive state grants, financ
ing or permits.
But the designation by
the Georgia Department of
Community Affairs (DCA)
won’t affect the entire
town — just that portion in
Gwinnett County. Braselton
also spans into Jackson,
Barrow and Hall counties.
The issue centers on a
failure between Gwinnett
County and its cities to reach
an agreement on its service
delivery strategy — which is
required by House Bill 489.
The state law requires
counties and its cities to
determine which services
— such as police protection,
and water and sewer service
— are handled by which
governments to prevent a
duplication of services.
Gwinnett County and it
cities have been working on
a service delivery strategy
for more than two years,
with a key issue focusing on
Alan Carlson, Carroll Epps
Eddleman, David Edward
Larsen, Robert George
Hammond Jr., Teja Collins
Allen, Barbara Dixon
Streetman and Jonithan
Michael Baber.
Melanie Thomas, Susan
B. Strong, Trevis Grant
Richardson, Laura Michelle
Gooch, J.B. Wright, Chad
Lamar Grant, Martha Sue S.
Wier, Lionel Blakely Tory,
Thomas H. Blackstock, Lisa
Caryn Curry, Richard David
Dolbec II, Latanglia Nicole
Jones, Cynthia L. Fiorito,
Carl Shane Edmisten,
Eleanor Maleady Green,
Norma Louise Stancil,
Michael Christopher Rudio,
Emily Ann Freeland, Adam
Bradley Lipford, Vickie
Lee Chames, Dustin Jacob
Serpa, Mary Ann Smith,
Elizabeth Arnold Hubers,
Dennis Lee Keezer and
Jessica Turner Kepes.
David Bryan Danzis,
Ronald Wayne Sauber, Carol
Devlin Boozer, Shirley
Gelean Roberts, Linda
K. Lindsey, Julie Amille
Heess, Brenda F. Smith,
Lorene Upah Haynes, Mary
F. Thomas, Timothy Alan
Page, Barbara Ann Wood,
Michael William Sanders,
Donna Renea Lovell,
Latona S. McGinnis and
Myles Ray Brookshire Jr.
police services, according to
WXIA-TV (11 Alive).
Since the county and the
cities didn’t reach an agree
ment by a deadline, those
governments were named by
the DCA as no longer quali
fied to receive state-admin
istered financial assistance,
grants, loans or permits. The
negotiations have also been
the center of a lawsuit.
Braselton town manager
Jennifer Dees said the move
will have a limited effect on
the town.
“We do not have any proj
ects currently going on in
the Gwinnett County por
tion of town that would
be affected,” she said on
Thursday.
The debate between
Gwinnett County and its
cities has centered on ser
vices in the county and how
they’re funded, Dees said.
“Law enforcement has
certainly been one of the
issues,” she said. “Roads
have been one, but there
have been a whole lot of
issues raised.”
Pinebush is Open for Spring!
Thanks to the wonderful response
from our customers last summer
and fall, we were able to clean
up from the mess created by the
collapse of our greenhouses due to
the snowstorm on March 1,2009.
In fact, we decided to respond to
the overwhelming request that we
remain open, despite our liquida
tion sale. Thanks to all of our
customers!
We are fully stocked with a huge assortment of new,
fresh, lush trees, shrubs, and perennials. Most are
lower-priced than before!
Dogwoods, azaleas, flowering cherry trees.
Incredible assortment of common landscape plants.
Huge selection of HARD-TO-FIND plants, such as
Franklinia, sourwoods, smoketree, etc.
Several varieties of beautyberry, sweetshrub, etc.
Blueberry bushes and other fruits.
www.PinebushNursery.com
3332 Hwy. 106 between Neese & Ila • Madison County
15 minutes from downtown Athens
CHECK OUR WEB SITE for directions, hours, pics, etc.
OPEN Tues-Fri 9-5, Sat 9-4 • 706-789-2344
Bring in this ad and
receive 5% off your
purchase. (Does not
apply with any other
discounts. Offer good
thru April 3.)
| Apple Specialist
W
+
Introducing PeachPlus.
Our new premier training & support service.
Shopping at PeachMac just became more irresistible.
peachmac
macs* ipods • software • service • business solutions
1850 Epps Bridge Pkwy (across from Lowe's] • Athens
706-208-9990 • peachmac.com • also in Augusta & Macon
Call 706-367-5233
to subscribe to
The Jackson Herald
today!
SPORTS COMPLEX
8352 Jefferson Road • Athens, GA 30607
Private Instruction
(Baseball & Softball):
$40 1/2 Hour
$70 Hour
Cage Prices:
$20 1/2 Hour
$30 Hour
$50 2 Cages
We have FREE Wi-Fi!
Team Instruction and
Package Pricing Available
Mon. - Fri. 12 noon - 9 p.m.
Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sun. 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
|
1
Contact Us:
(706) 543-4567
atticasportscomplex@yahoo.com
: Appointments available upon request ;
I
¥
Authority tackles downtown development issues
Another company set to bring 100 new jobs to Braselton
BRASELTON INDUSTRIAL BUILDING
Two Ohio-based companies plan to occupy this build
ing in the “Park 85 at Braselton” development on
Braselton Parkway. Dayton Superior is expected to
bring an estimated 100 new jobs to Braselton, while
Safelite Group says it plans to offer 92 new jobs at the
facility.
Portion of Braselton ineligible
for state funding, permits