Janice Slaven, Suwanee Georgia Real Estate

When Money Magazine rated Suwanee, GA as the #10 best place to live in the United States, they had one objection. For those of us who live in Suwanee, you won't have any problem guessing what the one objection was...You got it! It is the commercial district along I-85.

But the city officials of Suwanee were already making plans to give this particular area a desperately needed face lift. As the project evolves, thanks to the continuing support of Suwanee residents, this area will exhibit a dynamic multi-purpose commercial development; thus, providing our city with a distinct gateway to the place we are all proud to call home...Suwanee!!

The city is prepared to put millions of dollars into this area. The money will be acquired as a result of the citizens saying, "YES" to the continued improvement of our city. As a Realtor, we are told, "Location, location, location!!" And, thanks to the tax allocation, we have "LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!!" This will help the city in its continued growth. And, as a result, homeowners can feel secure that, where the city is concerned, they are doing all they can to create the live, work and play environment we all take pride in.

The Suwanee Gateway plan will include the following:

• Improvement of transportation infrastructure
• Improvement to the streetscape making it more viable for pedestrians
• New office/commercial sites
• Infrastructure improvments
• Co-op branding and marketing
• Discontinuation of areas that no longer serve the community
• 148 acre site with 350,000 sq ft of retail/restaurant space
• 580,000 sq ft of office space and full service hotel
• 700 residential units

You will see the first buidling completed by the end of this year.

Suwanee has come a long way over the past several years. It is my opinion that the City of Suwanee has done an excellent job in creating a live, work and play environment for its residence. Among many of the improvements, is Suwanee Town Center. A focal point to our community and a "hot" spot for our community. If you have had the opportunity to enjoy any one of these merchants, I hope you will share your experience in the comments area provided below.

SUWANEE TOWN CENTER

Restaurants and Fine Shopping

Olde Towne Tavern & Grille - The tradition began in 1996 in Kennesaw, GA building a reputation on uncompromising standards and excellent food. The corner anchor to Suwanee Town Center shops and restaurants, this quaint eatery provides an exciting atmosphere and great food! The menu offeres a wide selection that will appeal to the taste buds of just about anyone! The cocktail bar is a focal point with its unique ability to literally open to the outside patio during warm months making this the place to be to enjoy the many free outdoor concerts that take place in the park throughout the summer....but come early for the best seat! (770-945-3737)

vboggs galleries fine art and wine - Bringing together the taste for fine wines and beautiful art. vboggs galleries is the signature gallery for nationally recognized and published artist, Linda Lindeborg, fine art colorist; and, Tiffani Taylor, mixed media artist and Magna Cum Laude graduate of SCAD. vboggs galleries also prides itself on being the liaison between artist and collector. And for wine lovers, come see what vboggs galleries is pouring in the Barrel Room. Providing wines produced by wine artisans most of the wine offered is limited case production, boutique wines. Fine wine and beautiful art! For the connoisseur of wine or art; or may be, beginning the exploration...come enjoy a walk through this unique and inviting gallery. (770-271-8448)

Five Guys Burgers and Fries - Originally started as a family business some 20 years ago in Arlington, VA by...yes, five brothers! Their goal? To sell burgers! But not just any kind of burger. The BEST burgers! As the signs in the store proudly proclaim: "100 percent American beef, lean, fresh, never frozen, no fillers, no preservatives." Come meet the friendly staff! Enjoy a fresh to order cooked burger and their yummy fries. The red and white checkerboard tiles add a bit of nostalgia to the restaurant; and, there is ample seating inside as well as outside. While you wait for your order, enjoy a bucket of freshly roasted peanuts which await you at each table. If you haven't had a burger from Five Guys Burgers and Fries then you haven't really had a burger. Come see for yourself. (770-945-4670)

Rita's -The first Rita's was opened in 1984. Rita's features all the things that make your mouth water: Ices, ice cream cones, shakes and many other tasty delights. Rita's Italian Ice's are made fresh each day and made in over 30 different flavors. The old-fashioned Frozen Custard comes in chocolate and vanilla with your choice of a cone or a cup. The famous Gelati is a frozen dessert with both layers of Italian Ice and Frozen Custard. And, don't forget the Misto (shakes). They are a blend of Italian Ice and creamy custard. YUM! Your choices are limitless! There is no better place to enjoy something cool during hot summer days than Rita's. Come see what everyone is talking about. (678-765-2889)

PJ's Coffee of New Orleans - This quaint coffee shoppe embodies a casual, yet sophisticated atmosphere, uniquely offering fine coffee and wine, along with Panini-pressed sandwiches, salads, tapas, freshly baked pastries and tempting desserts. Famous for its deliciously smooth New Orleans-styled iced coffees, signautre coffee drinks and granita, PJ's also offers blended velvet ice, Italilan sodas and all natural fruit smoothies. Join PJ"s for live jazz-based music on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Free Wi-Fi is always available. (678-373-13440)

Sweet Temptations Coffee & Desserts - Originally opened in 2002, privately owned Sweet Temptations offers coffee that is fair-trade, organic, shade-grown and roasted to order by Cafe' Campesino of Americus, GA where all their coffee is roasted upon order. Many of the pastries and cakes are baked by local commercial bakers. The menu also includes: Hand dipped Edy's Ice Cream, Fair Trade Coffee & Espresso, gourmet breakfast and lunch, delicious pastries and cakes. Catering is also available. Come experience the difference. (678-482-8241)

Ippolito's Italian Restaurant - Specializing in Italian cuisine for approximately 18 years. Ippolito's is a friendly place which is perfect for family dining and offers a casual, lively atmosphere. The menu includes endless pasta dishes, calzones, pizzas, sandwiches as well as veal and seafood entrees. The garlic rolls are mouth-watering and come with marinara sauce for dipping (upon request). Come hungry....the portions are generous!! Leave FULL!!! Great food, great fun...Ippolito's! (678-985-4377)

Sol Interiors - Sol Interiors is owned by Esperanza Koop. Relocating from New York she now calls Georgia home. A graduate of the Art Institute of Atlanta in interior design she brings her own natural talent, acquired skills and 10 years of experience to Sol Interiors. The shop is a collection of traditional classics and modern elements. Come take a leisurely stroll through the wonderland display of beautiful home furnishings. The shop is not limited to just home decor' but also offers one-on-one consultations to help bring all your ideas together. Consultations One lasts approximately one hour at a nominal fee fo $100. For more information on Consultations, contact Sol Interiors. (770-945-2171)

Hairllucinations - A Paul Mitchell Signature Salon, Hairllucinations is an upscale salon which offers personalilzed care for both mena nd women. The salon features Schwarzkopf hair color and Pureology products. Services of the salon include: haircuts, hair color services, starightening, waxing and tanning. (770-932-9999)

Executive Barber - Executive Barber prides itself on a highly trained and professional staff. Training is ongoing to enable them to master the latest in hairstyling for both men and children. For a real treat, relax and enjoy being pampered while you experience a hot lather neck shave! With over 25 years of experience, you will be glad you visited Executive Barber (678-546-2288)

Over my 20 years as a Suwanee resident I sure have seen A LOT of changes. I like what I am seeing, but it does give me pause to take a moment and look back... and, remember when? Here is what I remember. I hope all you Suwanee locals will share with me your "I remember when". Let's just see how far back our memories can take us:

1. Nobody even knew where Suwanee GA was - let alone have our city rated #10 best place to live in the U.S.
2. Suwanee Elementary was the only elementary school feeding into North Gwinnett High School
3. Peachtree Industrial was two lane and lined with nothing but trees
4. There were NO subdivisions, no retail, no restaurants to be found along Peachtree Industrial
5. There was No McGinnis Ferry in Gwinnett County
6. The only park was the county park - George Pierce Park
7. Lawrenceville-Suwanee bridge was two lane
8. No Super Wal-mart
9. Satellite Blvd. didn't come through Suwanee
10. There was no Publix
11. Kroger was our only grocery store
12. Pierce's Corner WAS an antique store
13. B&G Florist opened as the first floral shop in Suwanee
14. The USPS was on Buford Hwy
15. No corner drug stores
16. McDonald's was our only fast food restaurant (my kids loved it)
17. We could go every Christmas to the Christmas Tree Farm off Smithtown Road to diligently and methodically select THE perfect Christmas Tree and cut it down ourselves (those were the days!)
18. Suwanee Days Festival was held in Historic Suwanee
19. The antique store at the corner of Russell Rd and Buford Hwy...until it burned down...it had beautiful oak antique furniture
20. There were no city parks to take your kids to ride bikes or walk along the Suwanee Creek to enjoy the beauty and sounds of nature
21. There was no Suwanee Town Center with great restaurants and specialty shops

**I'm sure I am forgetting more than I am remembering. Scroll down and share your memories...if you don't see the comments section....Click on the "Comments on ActiveRain" and post your memories in the space provided. Let's just see how long our list can get! Thanks for sharing!

Come to my house
MySuwaneeHome.com

As a resident of Suwanee for....20 years, I have seen a lot of changes. The good news is the city officials have listened to their citizens and have created a very desireable live, work and play environment. With plenty of green space, three city parks (so far), beautiful trails winding along the Suwanee Creek it is no wonder it has been ranked as the #10 best place to live by Money Magazine.

As an avid visitor to the Suwanee Creek Park, I can attest to the fact it is a tranquil get-away where you can enjoy the wonderful sounds of nature, listen to birds sing, the look of a deer as it scrambles for cover back into the woods. You can't help but chuckle as the chipmunks and squirrels scurry for their next meal never pausing as you wander by. It is proof they have become accustomed to our intrusion. The Suwanee Creek Park is a place where parents bring kids to ride bikes, where pet owners enjoy a stroll with their dogs, where joggers smile as they pass you buy and many who enjoy a good stroll are daily visitors.

And, the children haven't been forgotten. They have their very own park! Playtown Suwanee - where kids can be kids. Totally dedicated to the enjoyment of children. Nestled in the trees, the park provides hours of enjoyment! Jungle gyms, slides, swings etc. You name it, it is there for them to climb on, slide down or scurry through. A pedestrian walk-way will be completed this spring providing a walk-way under the railroad tracks creating a pathway from the park and the historic area of Suwanee to Suwanee Town Center.

DeVry Nature Park is "under construction". But is sure to be just one more great park for the citizens of Suwanee to enjoy. Suwanee Town Center is the hub. Greenspace (the park) is the focal point. The ampitheater, situated on the edge of the park, is the attraction during the summer for all to come out on a warm summer's eve to enjoy FREE concerts. Jazz concerts can be enjoyed once a month on Friday nights. Specialty concerts are held throughout the summer; last year the park hosted a wonderful concert by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra which drew thousands. A fountain in the middle of the park is the main attraction for kids to cool off during hot summer days. Along the outer perimeter of the park are store fronts and restaurants for your enjoyment. A throw-back to yester-year, you will find high-end resdential loft condos atop the restaurants and retail shops. The condo balconies provide great seats when concerts are in full swing. On the outer edge of Suwanee Town Center is a residential development, Shadowbrook, which features craftsman style homes. Residents are within walking distance of all the activities at Suwanee Town Center, the restaurants andspecialty shops.

Suwanee has grown alot in 20 years. But I take my hat off to the efforts of our city! For me and my family it has been a job well done. Included in this article is a small video I put together to give you just a snapshot of what our small city looks like. Hope you enjoy it.

Click on image to view video

Want to know more about Suwanee, come to my house: MYSUWANEEHOME.com

Even in a wonderful city like Suwanee, we can see the real estate market has changed a lot from what we have experienced in the past. Like other parts of metro Atlanta, Suwanee homeowners are all trying to find "it" which will provide you the leading edge over your competition. With so much inventory to choose from how can you, as a Suwanee homeowner wanting to sell your home, differentiate yourself from the pact? How about a pre-listing inspection, pre-listing appraisal (and...even a home warranty)? You won't hear too many real estate companies and/or agents even suggest any of this. Many of you are already finding that the equity in your home wasn't what you had hoped. So when you do decide to sell, the idea of asking you to do a few things which may incur additional cost can sometimes be a bit chancie; and, sometimes costly! But in the Suwanee market (as well as the Atlanta market as a whole) there is one company leading the charge with their RIGHTChoice Program - Prudential GA Realty to help you beat out your competition.

Think about it this way. When you go to the car dealership to buy a car, you may not plan on buying a NEW car but it will be "new" to you. How do you choose? Many of us look to the "certified pre-owned" automobile, right? Why? Because we are trusting the dealer has done their job and really performed a thorough inspection of the car to classify it as "Certified Pre-Owned". Most dealers even provide an extended warranty. Come full circle. Why not use that same premise when it comes time to sell your home? In today's real estate market , with thousands of homes for sale, as the seller you want a valuable, competitive advantage to make your home stand out above the rest!

By doing a pre-listing inspection, you become aware of problems that could complicate (or potentially terminate) your sale. You are able to remedy the potential problems in a time frame less hectic than when problems arise out of a buyer's inspection thus making the home more desireable and attractive. As well, the pre-listing inspection will improve your buyer's impression of your home when comparing you to the competition. Additionally, when you, as the homeowner, provide inspection reports to your potential buyer before the offer is made, it creates an atmosphere of honesty and trust decreasing the chance the deal will fall through after the buyer's inspection.

What about benefits of a pre-appraisal? By doing an appraisal ahead of time, in today's confusing market with short sales and foreclsoures, the pre-appraisal will:

1. Establishes objective value
2. Establishes basis for comparison
3. Validates list price

What about home warranties? I am a BIG fan of home warranties I don't care what side of the transaction I am on. I know as a homeowner you do not want to make a committment to offer a warranty because of the additional cost. But the physical cost of the warranty may be a whole lot cheaper in the long run. According to National Home Warranty Association, homes which offer a warranty sell 60% faster.

Finally, what about staging? That is a new buzz word in our market. More and more agents are turning to professional stagers to help your market your home making it showcase ready. Do a little or a lot. But in the long run if it gives your property the running edge, it may be worth it.

This concept is proving successful with many of our agents....and their sellers. An innovative idea for real estate but old hat to other industries. Try it out!