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Home Sweet Home: Does Northeast Georgia Realtor Frank Norton really have a crystal ball, or is he simply stating the obvious? In his 2006 version of Native Intelligence, an annual forecast about growth in Northeast Georgia, he likened Jackson County to “ground zero” for industrial business relocation. With strong economic growth, the housing boom is not far behind. Anyone driving through Jackson County can see the transformation as residential real estate developers carve new communities from former farmlands, pastures and hillsides. As Norton puts it, “Jackson County is no longer the undiscovered territory.” Thanks to its rural draw and lovely land, Jackson County is attracting creative developers who are building unique properties. Land Is Gold As growth moved outward from Gwinnett County in the 1990s, Jackson popped up on the radar screen of residential real estate developers. National developer Bluegreen Corporation was among the first to discover the uncharted rolling hills of Jackson County. “We did due diligence on about 100 properties 10 years ago when Bluegreen was looking to come into Georgia,” said Roy Batson, an executive with Braselton Land LLC. “The large tract that is now Traditions was one piece of land, not something that we had to put together, but we weren’t really prepared for what we found in our marketing study.” Batson said the company knew that residential growth was headed out I-85 from metro Atlanta. Gwinnett, which topped the nation as the fastest-growing county for several years in the 1980s and 1990s, was literally bursting at the seams. Towns like Grayson and Dacula became bedroom communities for the commute to jobs in metro Atlanta. “Bluegreen goes where the people are going, not where they’ve already been,” he said. “The land was gorgeous, but our marketing study showed that we wouldn’t be as successful as with our other projects. We found out otherwise.” The beautiful lay of the land likewise captivated the interest of Lisa Wytiaz, who envisioned Jefferson Equestrian Estates since she was a teenager. Now a reality in its first stages, this equestrian community is located in the heart of Jefferson, while offering property owners the feel of a rural area with privacy and seclusion. “I looked all over the state of Georgia and into other states for the perfect property for my dream,” Wytiaz, property vice president, said. “When I discovered this property, I knew it was precisely what I was looking for.” Jefferson Equestrian Estates, designed and developed specifically to accommodate the life of the equestrian, is the first of its kind in Jackson County. “We protected a lifestyle for a certain kind of person—that’s worth its weight in gold,” Wytiaz noted. Putting the cart in the right place The Mall of Georgia was just breaking ground when Bluegreen committed to the 1,140-acre tract and broke ground for the Traditions golf course and amenities. “We knew what the end user was looking for and set out to provide that,” Batson said. The community’s centerpiece 18-hole golf course was designed by Mike Dasher, an Arthur Hill protégé, who is known for his work in Atlanta at the Golf Club of Georgia and The Standard Club. Traditions also offers an owners’ clubhouse, a junior-Olympic swimming pool, six lighted tennis courts, a fishing pond and dock, plus picnic areas and 330 acres of green space with nature trails. “The infrastructure was developed in just 18 months and although the community is now only three-and-a-half years old, we have 250 homes already built and 100 families living here,” he said. There’s talk about adding pocket parks and another pool because of the community’s success. The centerpiece of Jefferson Equestrian Estates is the magnificently restored home that is now The Carriage House, a restaurant that offers fine European dining based around traditional southern fare. The home was built in the late 1800s by Mamie Foster, a native of Jackson County who was one of the movers and shakers of her time in Jefferson. “Although it was falling apart on the outside and our initial response was to tear it down, we were relieved to find it was architecturally sound,” Wytiaz explained. “It makes a nice accent piece and an excellent amenity for our homeowners, and restoring this lovely home tied in perfectly with our preservation of the land and property.” A new approach to home ownership There’s nothing traditional about the way Traditions sells homes. Purchasers can select their land without deadlines to build. Home sites vary in price and size. Residents can bring their own builder or use one from the Braselton Land custom builder team. “People can purchase their land at pre-construction prices directly from the developer,” Batson said. “We call it the ABCs of homeownership—acquire land directly from the developer, choose your own builder and then create your custom home. It’s ideal for people who are willing to take a small step toward owning their dream home.” The community is being developed in phases, typically offering home sites in various price ranges to give buyers a choice. Neighborhoods currently being marketed include The Sanctuary, a gated community of 50 home sites with one-of-a-kind custom plans, and Traditions Overlook, built on the second-highest elevation in the community. Several neighborhoods are already sold out. Homes that currently cost between $300,000 and $1.6 million comprise Traditions. There are golf course lots, home sites that back up to the nature preserve and other choices. When complete, it will have 1,500 homes, each with distinct styling. While purchasers can work with members of the Braselton Land Builders team to create their home, those who purchase in The Sanctuary gated section select from a package of unique plans. Braselton Land has contracted with Stephen Fuller, a well-known architect, to design custom plans. Home prices in The Sanctuary start at $900,000. “Once a plan is selected by a home owner in The Sanctuary, it will be retired,” Batson said. “Stephen will then replace the plan with another new design. Generally using an architect for homes of this size can cost between $20,000 and $50,000. These plans are included in the price.” Even in the lower-priced sections, Braselton Land is conscious of creating distinct signature neighborhoods. “In a community this large, we have to offer a variety of choices,” Batson said, noting that an Architectural Review Board views every plan. “Whether the homes are built with our builders or owners bring their own builder, we have very intensive design guidelines.” When creating neighborhoods within Traditions, developers looked locally. Names like Brassy Falls, for the Braselton Brothers, or Patriot’s Point, conjure images among long-time Jackson countians in an area rich with history and multi-generational families. “That’s part of Traditions’ embracing the history of Jackson County,” Batson said. A different kind of 'Nay-bor' Traditions’ approach to home ownership gives it a marketing edge. However, other communities coming on line in the county have their own niches. The rolling hillside lends itself to picturesque development. Perhaps one of the most outstanding communities, Jefferson Equestrian Estates, offers exclusive luxury living for horse lovers. Built around an equestrian center with stables and riding arenas, the community concept includes three types of homes—farmettes of 5 to nearly 9 acres, 1.5-acre lots for private home sites or, scheduled for the future, two- and three-bedroom town homes. The Community Riding Facility, completed in 2003, features covered and outdoor arenas, each 90 feet by 225 feet, a 20-stall clinician’s barn and wash rack. Three miles of trails offer another premium amenity to homeowners, as well as a buffer for the property. A perimeter trail runs along the 18,000 feet of horse- and dog-safe fence that enclose the property. Some 12,000 feet of the fence are complete. The Carriage House is part of the future Jefferson Equestrian Estates Village, a boutique shopping center that will offer cottage industry types of stores that will serve homeowners and area residents. The gated community with its private roads will offer the feel of the English countryside with its rolling hills and majestic hardwoods. Strict architectural standards apply to the homes, fencing and barns; there is a list of approved builders and, in addition to home plans, even what trees might be cut have to be approved. “We are preserving the trees and the lay of the land, and this gives a whole different feel to the lots,” Wytiaz noted. “You still have a feeling of a rural area and that really sets us apart. It seems very secluded, yet you still have the socialization.” Even the street names carry on the equestrian theme: Carriage Avenue, Canter Way and Pirouette Place. The appeal of Jackson County’s rural landscape has attracted another builder of a community for horse owners. Saddle Shoals is a gated, equestrian friendly community with 47 estate residences on lots ranging from four to seven acres. Its private roads features homes priced from the mid $600 thousands to $1 million. Among the amenities are a guard house, private roads, children’s playgrounds, two riding rings, soccer fields, barbecuing areas, lighted streets and creeks. Saddle Shoals offers all the benefits of country living with its gently rolling hills, heavily forested lots and winding creeks, yet it is just minutes from downtown Athens. Bounded by Jefferson River Road and Archer Grove School Road in Jackson County, a strong selling point for this particular development is its proximity to downtown Athens and the many options the town offers. Housing Brings Retail Jackson County is conveniently located with six interstate exchanges off I-85. This offers shopping accessibility from Commerce to south of the county. A bit closer to home, retail and office development is taking shape. Traditions Walk Shopping Center opens later this spring. The 48,000-square-foot facility will be home to boutique and family-owned businesses. “We’re looking for mom and pop stores and family restaurants,” said Andrew Depue, leasing agent for Traditions Walk. Developed by Tom Kitchin, the property is located off Hwy. 124 near Traditions of Braselton. It will be similar to Kitchin’s Mulberry Walk shopping center off Hwy. 211. Already the center has leases with Hometown Community Bank, Kim’s Dry Cleaners, Mystic Tans, Traditions Nail & Spa, Traditions Animal Hospital, Island Blends Café and T&T Floor and Décor. Depue said negotiations are underway with a couple of larger restaurants and a bank. “We’re looking for a fitness center, music store, dance studio or karate school.” Jefferson Equestrian Estates is including its own retail area as part of the property’s allure—The Village will feature 15-20 retail cottages, which will offer shopping convenience for homeowners as well as Jefferson area residents. With its wide range of communities, Jackson County has already established a distinct character that is all its own. From 2000 to 2005, more than 5,800 housing permits were issued. It’s obvious that people value the things that Jackson has to offer. Developers still place quality at the top of the list when building homes and communities. Providing unique services to residents, mixing retail with residential and offering a wide range of choices will keep Jackson County at the forefront of the growth curve.
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