Cherokee Real Estate Blog

The Sembler Company, developers of a new Canton mixed use development, got a permit from the Army Corp of Engineers that will allow them to pipe 5,380 feet of small streams and fill half an acre of wetlands on property at I-575 and Ga. 20. This will allow them to begin development of 400 acres and create Canton Marketplace, an 88 acre shopping center including discount department stores, big box retailers, shop space and outparcels. For the rest of the 400 acres, plans call for homes and commercial development, including a proposed site for Northside Hospital-Cherokee.

This decision by the Army Corp of Engineers isn’t without controversy. A local environmental group, has and continues to fight this development as they say the streams from the proposed Canton Marketplace site feed Canton Creek, which is home to a federally protected fish called the Cherokee Darter. Development of this site would create lots of silt which would cover the gravel of Canton Creek, which is used by the Darter for breeding and hunting.

Developers are working with the state and nearby land owners towards a solution. Sembler proposes buying 10 acres of nearby land in the Canton Creek watershed to set aside as green space, it will restore and stabilize banks on Brewton Creek in Forsyth County to mitigate damage of piping over the small feeder streams on the Canton property.

Sembler hopes to have the 800,000 square foot shopping center open for business in the fall of 2008.

The Canton West story broke last week, and now I wanted to give you a few more details on this projected mixed use development. Here are a few tidbits I’ve dug up since last week:

• Approximately 4,000 residential units are planned for Canton West being made up of single family homes, townhomes and condos.
• There will be 449,100 square feet of retail space.
• There will be 149,700 square feet of office space.
• Prices of the residential units will range from the $100,000’s to the $800,000’s.
• A 7 mile parkway will run through the property connecting Ga 5 and Ga 108.
• Included in the master plan is a new regional water and sewer treatment plant that is planned to serve the entire development and the surrounding area.
• Developers are working with the Cherokee School Board to find sites in the area for 4 new schools.

With 43 scenic wooded homesites, Millstone Creek offers easy access to Highway 140, shopping and excellent Cherokee County schools. Homeowners will be able to select from one of eight plans available within Millstone Creek and customize their homes to fit their needs. All of the homes will feature basements, side entry garages and master on the main plans are available.

The developers have worked hard to preserve the surrounding area, approximately 28 acres of Millstone Creek are dedicated to greenspace. Homeowners will enjoy the community walking trails along Mill Creek, and the central park with rustic outdoor fireplace, called Chimney Rest.

Millstone Creek students will attend:

• Hickory Flat Elementary
• Rusk Middle
• Sequoyah High

If you would like more information about Millstone Creek or would like to ask specific questions about Cherokee County real estate, please look at the contact form to find many ways to reach me.

Last week I spoke about Canton West, and now there is another sizeable development in Canton’s future.

This new one is going to sit on 1,300 acres along the Etowah River near Ga. 369. It could have up to 1,800 homes and development could start in 2007 with the first homes being ready in 2008. I’ll post more information about this new real estate development in Canton as soon as I get it.

It’s in the very early stages as developers just submitted preliminary plans to Atlanta Regional Commission, but it looks as if huge is the word. Rising up on 2,341 acres near Ga. 108 and Ga. 140 will be a mixture of thousands of homes, office space, commercial and retail. It will be called Canton West and we’ll keep you updated as it progresses through more planning and zoning hearings.

Thanks to Brad over at Atlanta 575 Real Estate for bringing this new Cherokee County mixed use development to my attention.

There is a new golf course community in the works in Canton called Laurel Canyon. This 18 hole golf course will be surrounded by two different styles of neighborhoods. The first will be a typical family neighborhood designed for active families called Longleaf. The other will be a 55 and over active lifestyle community called Seasons.

The city of Holly Springs just annexed 39 acres of the northwest corner of the intersection at Sixes Road and I-575. Going into that spot will be a 130,000 square foot Home Depot. In addition to the hardware superstore, 70,000 square feet of other retail stores will be present with 5 different outparcels and a multi story medical building.

Ground breaking will be soon and developers feel the project will be completed in Fall of 2007.

Located right next to the very popular Woodstock golf course community Bradshaw Farm, Bradshaw Glen will feature 32 homes priced from the high $300,000s to the $500,000s, situated in this site plan layout.

With a location convenient to Roswell and Alpharetta, Bradshaw Glen offers 11 home designs to choose from. Homes offer four or five bedrooms with many of the features buyers desire, including two-story family rooms, first floor master suites, study options, and two or three car front or side entry garages. All of the homes will sit on large, widely spaced homesites, providing a sense of privacy and additional room for private swimming pools.

Bradshaw Glen students will attend the following Cherokee County Schools:

• Arnold Mill Elementary
• Rusk Middle
• Sequoyah High School

If you would like more information on Bradshaw Glen or have any other Cherokee County real estate questions, please use the contact form to find many ways to reach me.

Knox Bardeen
(678) 471-7612

Presales now are being accepted at Water’s Lake, a gated lake community in Cherokee County. When complete, Water’s Lake will consist of just 43 homes priced from the $400,000s to the $600,000s.

The two-story custom homes at Water’s Lake will range in size from 2,800 to 3,800 square feet. Built by custom home builders, the homes incorporate many details usually found in million dollar homes.

Homeowners at Water’s Lake can choose from a variety of home plans, all of which offer impressive architectural styles. Many of the homes will offer basements and three-car garages. Homesites range in size from one-third to three-fourths of an acre.

Taking full advantage of the private lake on the community, amenities will include a fishing dock and gazebo.

Children attend Arnold Mill, Rusk Middle and the popular Sequoyah High.

If you would like more information on Water’s Lake or have any other Cherokee County real estate questions, please use the contact form to find many ways to reach me.

Knox Bardeen
(678) 471-7612

Mortgage rates have fallen three straight weeks and five of the last six weeks. The benchmark 30 year fixed rate sits at 6.57%. This recent trend is seeing a rise in mortgage applications, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.