Business
First Mixed-Use Project under the New Ordinances Appears Before the City Council
Development could bring housing, improvements to the area
A pending mixed-used project along the Peachtree Parkway commercial corridor promises to give a new look the area while bringing to vivid life the “live-work-play” concept undergirding such developments. More than 300 apartments and townhomes are planned, along with office and retail, said officials.
Project under review
On March 23, the Peachtree Corners City Council got the first official look at the proposed rezoning stretching from 5672 through 5720 Peachtree Parkway. It would convert a 9.25-acre swath from M-1 (light industry district) to Mixed Used Development (MUD) for the proposed multiple-use complex. The project’s housing stock is targeted to workers in the nearby Technology Park area.
City officials said the proposal will be back before the council for a public hearing and possible final approval April 27. The city planning commission signed off on it March 16.
The application from Alliance Realty Partners is the first to emerge since the council approved substantial revisions to the city’s existing multi-use ordinance in February. A couple of the key provisions provide that such developments have a minimum mix of three uses instead of the former two. The changes also allow developers to earn so-called “density bonuses” allowing them to increase the number of residential units per acre in return for pledging project enhancements drawn from a city-approved list.
The proposal falls nicely into line with both provisions.
With the revised ordinance in mind, “The developers have taken advantage of it, we believe, for the betterment of the entire project,” said City Manager Brian Johnson during the Prime Lunchtime city podcast. “Due to communication that happened prior to the project being submitted and some changes since, it actually has less units than the developer originally requested.”
Project improvements
Representative for Alliance and attorney Shaun Adams said the original proposal called for nearly 60 more units than the 295 multi-family apartments and 26-single-family attached townhomes ultimately settled on. He said the pullback will provide for a more “boulevard-like” entrance into the project from Peachtree Parkway and increase the development’s setback from the main road.
“A lot of it had to do with the changes in the MUD ordinance and because of feedback we received from the community,” he added.
The earlier ordinance change caps residential density at 32 units per acre. In this case, Alliance would be permitted to increase density to 34.69 by pledging to preserve 1.75 acres of green space, providing for underground stormwater detention, promising that highly visible public art will be incorporated and including the adaptive re-use of an existing building.
But the text of the zoning change points out that that the 321-unit configuration is not a done deal. The plan is contingent on on-site conditions, zoning compliance and whether fully-fleshed-out engineering plans meet regulations.
Now along Peachtree Parkway Rendering of proposed MUD Now, along Peachtree Parkway Rendering of proposed MUD Rendering of proposed MUD
Clean-up and makeover
The existing structure being retained is a three-story office building on the site that dates from the early 1980s. It will get a substantial makeover, said officials.
Johnson said the refurbished building will contain “something similar to ‘We Work’-type office space. There will be some amenities for the local residents like clubhouse amenities, and I think they have templated a coffee shop to go in there.”
Also currently on the property are a number of single-story commercial condos which are largely, as the manager put it, “in a very degraded condition” with many of them empty and plagued by break-ins. Those will be swept away.
A couple of other esthetic/environmental considerations also come into play, said Johnson. “All of the trees along Peachtree Parkway are remaining and at the end of project there will more trees because of replanting than they started with,” said the city manager. He said also worth noting is that existing impervious surface on the site will be reduced.
Potential retail
Johnson said the exact amount of retail space tucked into the multiple-building complex is a moving target with discussions ongoing between the developer, its representatives and the city.
Adams agreed, saying they’re working on a configuration of about 2,000 square feet for that aforementioned coffee outpost — but stay tuned.
“You and I could be like ‘it would be great to have a mini-shopping area there,’” said Johnson during the podcast. “But if the developer can’t fill it, nothing would be worse than a development that started off with too many square feet of retail that they can’t fill — and that has happened.”
Adams said that with plenty of retail nearby, the emphasis won’t be on competing with that existing landscape. Instead, he said, “Let’s bring the housing to the area to support the jobs within Technology Park. That will bring more people to support the surrounding commercial and retail.”
City officials have said that the multi-use approach brings several advantages, such as providing more housing types and choices while boosting walkability, thus decreasing automobile trips. They’re also seen as especially appealing to millennials and empty nesters.
As Mayor Mike Mason said in an earlier interview with Peachtree Corners Magazine, “those are two segments of our population that are not currently well-served with regard to housing options.”
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.
Leroy Hite, founder of Cutting Edge Firewood, was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Berry College in August
Berry College recently awarded its annual Distinguished Alumni Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit to Leroy Hite, founder of Cutting Edge Firewood (and Berry College graduate, class of 2008). The annual award recognizes and honors alumni who have demonstrated a range of positive entrepreneurial skills — including a commitment to turning a dream into a reality, the vision to create an enterprise, the courage to assume risks and the ability to make changes and take advantage of new opportunities.
“This award holds a special place in my heart, maybe more than any other I’ve ever received,” said Hite. “Being recognized by my alma mater is incredibly meaningful to me.
My entrepreneurial journey began at Berry College. It’s where that initial spark was ignited, and honestly, I’m not sure I’d be where I am today without it. Berry nurtured my curiosity, drive and resilience — the key ingredients to entrepreneurship.”
Innovative entrepreneurship
Berry College professor and leader of the school’s Entrepreneurship Program, Dr. Paula Englis, said that Hite took every class she offered. And when those ran out, he did directed studies with her.
“He always knew he wanted to run his own business, and the growth and success of his firewood enterprise has been a wonder to watch,” she said.
Hite was nominated by Berry alumni Alison Ritter, class of 1994. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also supported Hite’s nomination.
“As a small business owner myself, I have strong appreciation for and recognize the perseverance it takes to build a business from the ground up,” said Kemp. “Leroy’s innovative approach to the firewood industry, focusing on product quality and customer service, mirrors the entrepreneurial spirit that has long driven Georgia’s economic success.”
The company
When Hite founded Cutting Edge Firewood in 2013, he created the world’s first luxury firewood and cooking wood company. He reinvented everything about the firewood industry, from how firewood is dried and stored to how it’s packaged, shipped and delivered. When the company began, it was just Leroy with a one truck and a trailer. Now Cutting Edge Firewood employs 40, stocks enough inventory to fill its 40,000-square-foot Peachtree Corners warehouse and ships wood to all 50 states.
The wide variety of wood from Cutting Edge undergoes a special drying process to ensure that it’s free from unwanted pests, mold or fungus and provides an unmatched clean and bright burn with pleasant aroma. Their focus on process and the use of hardwoods such as oak, hickory, cherry, apple, pecan and maple ensures their customers receive the highest quality firewood, cooking wood and pizza wood possible.
For more information about Cutting Edge Firewood, visit cuttingedgefirewood.com.
To learn more about the Entrepreneurship Program at Berry College, visit berry.edu/academics/majors/entrepreneurship.
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