Business
The Makings of a Renovation Boom
If home is indeed where the heart is, then home improvements and proper maintenance must be the life blood. And as many homeowners in our community have had unprecedented extended time at home between social distancing and remote work, we have seen an uptick in families investing time and money into additions, landscaping and other enhancements to make their time at home that much more enjoyable.
“I researched our permit records and found that in 2020 there were 157 permits issued for residential remodeling. In 2019, that number was 101,” reported Peachtree Corners Community Development Director Diana Wheeler. “And five years prior, in 2015, there were 99 residential remodeling permits issued. These numbers indicate that in 2020, residential remodeling increased about 50% over previous years.”
For those of us looking to freshen things up this spring, there are numerous local businesses doing great work in the area. We have collected a sampling of those here.
My Secret Garden
My Secret Garden lets you dream about big plans for your next gardening or landscaping project. This boutique garden center services the Peachtree Corners and Norcross area with a variety of plants, trees, custom design services and more.
Owner Sonya Harrison’s love and loyalty to all things green is evident as she speaks about her work and the current increase in landscaping installations she has seen.
“It’s mostly people who want to enjoy their backyard, not as many front yards. People want to sit on their patio, enjoy their backyard or what they see out of their kitchen window, living room or screened-in porch. So, I would say it is definitely more focused on the backyard, so they can cook out and be with their family,” Harrison said.
For anyone wondering what to plant this year, My Secret Garden presents countless choices. They’ve completed their annual yard sale on March 13, but there are always plenty of lovely plants available for purchase.
“Being born and bred in Georgia, I am a firm believer that you can never have too many hydrangeas in your yard,” Harrison said. “I love hydrangeas, especially multi-blooming hydrangeas. The traditional hydrangeas only bloom once and then they’re done for the summer.”
Other favorites include azaleas, for their color, and gardenias, for their heavenly smell. But there is a little something for every gardener to keep their thumbs green. For more information, visit mysecretgardenga.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Premier HVAC
Heating and cooling are commodities that we might take for granted until the air goes out in the heat of summer and we need blessed relief.
Premier HVAC is a second-generation family-owned business located in Peachtree Corners and operated by Peachtree Corners residents. Jackie West serves as the Director of Operations, while her husband Steve West drives the professional expertise necessary to provide exceptional HVAC service.
“We have seen an uptick in people replacing their units and things like that because they have a more flexible schedule at home, and don’t have to take time off work to meet with the estimator, to see what they have in their homes, to suggest new products, new systems or options on what they might want,” Jackie West said.
“We actually did more service last year then we did replacements, because of the pandemic, because people didn’t have $3,000 to $6,000 to replace a unit unless absolutely necessary, because that is a big expense,” Jacki said.
Premier HVAC services most makes and models of HVAC systems. To learn more, call 770-696-4189 or visit premierhvaccorp.com.
Peachtree Corners Remodeling
Owner Todd Hudson has been in the interior remodeling business with Peachtree Corners Remodeling for a long time, and he has certainly noticed growth recently as kitchen and bathroom projects continue to fill up his schedule.
“This has been my best year by far, with 20+ years of doing this kind of work. I’m booked into June,” Hudson said. “I attribute it to people wanting to live in Peachtree Corners and there is no inventory of houses, so they improve what they already have.”
For more info about Peachtree Corners Remodeling, visit ptcornersremodeling.com or call 770-873-9245.
Renovation Solutions
Operating out of nearby Suwannee, Renovation Solutions covers all manner of renovation work related to home improvement, landscaping, handyman services, welding and fencing. Renovation Solutions Owner Mario Fuentes has been around the block a few times, even working on two televised HGTV projects over the course of his 15-year career (while he worked for other businesses).
“I have been busy, busy, busy. In January — when everybody is slow, and this year the most, but especially this January and February — I have seen more business,” Fuentes said.
Fuentes mentioned recent work in commercial spaces, working on lobbies in hospitals. He also mentioned patio work and room renovation, focusing on homeowners’ desires to drive up house values.
“People are mainly concerned about how much it is going to bring the house value up. There are some things that will definitely bring value,” Fuentes said.
More information on Renovations Solutions can be found at renovationsolutionsrs.com or by calling 770-376-5384.
EV Remodeling
EV Remodeling serves the Greater Atlanta area but has made Peachtree Corners its home base. The business’ primary service offerings are home additions and deck repair and construction, as well as kitchen and bathroom remodeling.
Owner Eli Vaknin noted an increase in calls about kitchen remodels, as well as patio and deck builds or improvements. He attributed this increase, in part, to more homeowners working in the home and noticing things they would like to change.
“I see a lot of outdoor living and also a lot of office additions, renovating existing space and turning it into an office or finishing part of a basement to turn it into an office,” he said.
Vaknin has noticed an “increase in volume” of kitchen and bathroom remodels “because people aren’t traveling as much, going out as much, so they are going to use that money on that ‘ugly’ kitchen they have been cooking in for a year because they couldn’t go to restaurants.”
EV Remodeling has received the “Best of Houzz” service award for the last five years, since 2016. For details, go to evremodelinginc.com or call 678-822-7573.
The Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) awarded a check for $500 to the United Way of Greater Atlanta (Gwinnett County) at their Business After Hours networking event in November.
The local organization was chosen by PCBA’s Outreach Committee because of their commitment to providing assistance and bettering the lives of children within the community.
United Way of Greater Atlanta
The mission of United Way of Greater Atlanta is to engage and bring together people and resources to drive sustainable and equitable improvements in the well-being of children, families and individuals in local communities.
“Greater Atlanta is one of the most vibrant regions in the country, but the region has significant barriers to realizing its potential in the future because of its continued ranking at the bottom of the list of metro areas in income mobility,” stated Vanessa Roussell, United Way senior director of corporate relations.
“Children born in low-income households have only a 4% chance of getting out of poverty in their lifetime,” she continued. “We at United Way of Greater Atlanta don’t like those odds. Our work is about changing them so that children — regardless of where they’re born — have the chance to realize their potential and build lives that sustain themselves, their families and their communities.
Assessing needs within the county
The organization’s goal is to help every child unlock their full potential, by improving education, healthcare, resources and economic mobility in the communities where they live. Their “every child program” includes every child in Gwinnett.
Based on the 2023 census track for Gwinnett County, 94,308 people living in Gwinnett County are at risk, particularly in and around Sugar Hill/Buford, Duluth, Norcross, Lawrenceville, Lilburn and Snellville. The highest-need residents are located in the I-85 corridor, mainly around Duluth, Norcross and Lilburn.
Giving back to support the community
“The PCBA is proud to donate a check for $500 to United Way of Greater Atlanta (Gwinnett County),” said PCBA President, Lisa Proctor. “Our outreach committee and board are committed to supporting our community, and investing in the well-being of the children in our community aligns with our core principles. We know that our dollars will be targeted to help those at highest risk … We are glad to have the local Gwinnett chapter located right in our community.”
Funds for the PCBA Community Outreach Program are raised throughout the year from PCBA membership, sponsorship and an annual charity event. Donations and scholarships are awarded at their monthly events so that members have the opportunity to learn more about the community organizations and their programs.
Over the past 12 years, the PCBA has awarded 19 scholarships to outstanding graduating high school seniors and donated in excess of $165,500 back into the community.
About Peachtree Corners Business Association
“Where businesses come to grow,” the Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) is a business membership organization that focuses on innovative approaches, programs, shared resources, community outreach and opportunities for member businesses and professionals to connect, develop, grow and prosper.
The PCBA is made up of businesses of all sizes and types who want to expand their reach and grow their business within Peachtree Corners and the greater metro Atlanta area.
For more information visit peachtreecornersba.com.
The strategic acquisition strengthens TransPak’s Southeast presence and expands their capabilities in custom packaging for military, aerospace and high-value equipment.
TransPak, a global leader in logistics, packaging and crating services, recently announced the acquisition of Reid Packaging, a long-standing provider of custom packaging solutions based in Peachtree Corners. Both family-owned and operated companies share a deep-rooted commitment to quality craftsmanship, reliability and customer service, making the acquisition a natural fit.
Reid Packaging, founded in 1982, has distinguished itself as the go-to customer industrial packager in the metro Atlanta region, providing corrugated, foam and custom-engineered crating solutions, particularly in the military and aerospace industries.
Under the ownership of Ward Phillips since 2008, the company has grown to become one of the largest packaging facilities in the region, with a 60,000-square-foot site.
The acquisition will allow TransPak to expand its local manufacturing capabilities in the Southeast, while leveraging Reid Packaging’s expertise in specialized and heavy-duty custom crates.
Strategic Atlanta location and enhanced capabilities
The acquisition is part of TransPak’s strategic expansion into the Atlanta market, a critical logistics hub for both the renewable energy and semiconductor industries.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Reid Packaging into the TransPak family,” said Tomas Molet, executive vice president of East and Midwest Operations, TransPak. “With Reid Packaging’s prime location in Peachtree Corners, we are now able to serve customers throughout the Southeast, including direct routes to the Carolinas and beyond. This acquisition strengthens our ability to meet the needs of existing clients, especially those in the semiconductor and renewable energy sectors.”
In addition to the strategic location, the acquisition brings new manufacturing capabilities to TransPak’s East Coast operations. Reid Packaging’s facility is now the largest of TransPak’s locations in the region. Its offerings include enhanced services, such as heavy-duty and triple-wall corrugated packaging, which will enable TransPak to meet the growing demand for custom-designed packaging solutions for fragile, high-value equipment.
Commitment to employees and leadership appointments
A key focus of the acquisition was ensuring a smooth transition for Reid Packaging’s employees.
“We made a commitment to Ward Phillips to take care of the staff, and we’ve delivered on that promise,” said Molet. “All employees were retained, and we’ve introduced benefits they previously didn’t have as part of our commitment to making this a positive transition for everyone involved.”
Amanda Gautney, a longtime member of TransPak’s leadership team, has been appointed as the operations manager for the Peachtree Corners facility. “I’m excited to work with the team at Reid and continue the legacy of this respected company,” said Gautney.
Looking forward in Atlanta
TransPak plans to continue operating under the Reid Packaging name for the immediate future. However, the facility will gradually transition to full integration under the TransPak brand, reflecting the shared values and commitment to quality of both companies.
About TransPak
Headquartered in Silicon Valley, TransPak has been providing innovative and cost-effective design, crating, packaging and global logistics for over 70 years.
As a customer-focused, women- and family-owned company, TransPak combines the agility of a small business with the reliability of a global powerhouse. TransPak lives by the slogan, “We make it happen,” ensuring that high-value, fragile, and oversized goods reach their destinations safely and efficiently.
For more information about TransPak, visit transpak.com.
Final Restaurants Announced for New Politan Row Food Hall at The Forum
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