Gwinnett Buzz

As the new North Logan Commons bows today with the opening of Lowe’s, AccessLoganville.com is reporting that the Best Buy store in Loganville will not open until Spring 2009.  The store will replace the current Best Buy at Park Place in Lilburn.

Anchor Church on Ozora Rd. in Grayson will host its annual Fall Festival tomorrow night from 6:30 to 8:30.  There will be hamburgers and hot dogs for all as well as rides, games and treats for the kiddies.  More information can be found here.

Earlier this week a new blog dedicated to Loganville launched.  Gwinnett Buzz welcomes Access Loganville to the blogosphere and looks forward to keeping up with Loganville happenings on your site!

The Lowe’s store in North Logan Commons is slated to open on October 25.  Now those of us in the Loganville area who prefer Lowe’s don’t have to drive to Snellville for our home improvement needs!

The Bay Creek HOA has posted a blog entry alerting their members of a possible upcoming rezoning battle.  The interesting thing here is that the proposed hotel is over a mile from the entrance of their neighborhood and on the opposite side of GA Highway 20.  This is hardly a development that is in their backyard and would have any material impact on the use of their homes and property.  I can only see this as another likely case of NIMBYism.  While I cannot say until I further investigate this sitaution whether their opposition has any merit, as someone who lives close to the Bay Creek development, this is a zoning case on which I can offer my two cents as more than just a blogger.  I would remind readers that the Bay Creek HOA has a history of NIMBY activism.  The HOA was actively involved in an effort to oppose the Strawberry Field zoning case last year, a case that reared its head in the District 3 Commission race this summer.

For a few months now I have seen the sign that Loganville is getting a Lowe’s at US 78 and Brand Road. Early in the construction, I noticed that the building closest to US 78 was too small to be the home improvement center, but a few weeks later I noted the early stages of construction of a much larger building further back on the property which I took to be Lowe’s. I just assumed that the front building was an auto parts store or something similar. This morning I was passing by the site and noticed the new architectural touch to the building nearest the road - it looked suspiciously like the triangular shape on the front of a Best Buy! I then noticed a large sign I had not previously seen which announced that, indeed, the new development - North Logan Commons - would include a Best Buy! A little research back home revealed that the center, which is scheduled to open next spring, will also include a Dick’s Sporting Goods, PetsMart and Office Max. A companion development, South Logan Commons, is slated to open across US 78 by 2010. The developer, Faison Enterprises of Charlotte, NC, has a property summary page with a leasing brochure that provides more information on the complex.

First, even though I have lived near Loganville for eight years now, the growth of the area still amazes me. I find the transformation of the area absolutely fascinating. When I was in high school in the late 80s, Loganville seemed like such a far away place. It seemed like just a little town with nothing there. The most notable thing about Loganville was Maxie Price Chevrolet which, as long-time residents will remember, made famous the phrase “Whur’s Loganvile?!?” Now, we are getting a Best Buy! Setting aside the fact that I had never heard of Best Buy when I was in high school, had you told me back then this area would change like this, I would never have believed it.

The real point I want to make, however, is the convenience and amenities that development brings. With the addition of these stores in Loganville, residents of both Gwinnett and Walton in surrounding area no longer have to go to Snellville to visit these stores. This saves time and fuel as well reducing miles driven and, in turn, congestion. Aside from going to Barnes & Noble at the Avenue Webb Gin as well as some restaurants (Loganville’s restaurant line-up is still pitiful), I have little need to make trips to Snellville. I suspect that a buddy of mine who lives much closer to this new center than I, will love the convenience this brings. But wait! He was just emailing me this week that he is “anti-growth.” Hmmm…on second thought, John, you should just keep driving to Snellville since you are opposed to growth and development. I would hate for you to have to compromise your anti-growth stance. Same goes for Mike Beaudreau. Next time Mikes wants a CD or a DVD, he should make the drive to Snellville since it would just be wrong to patronize the businesses of a terrible, greedy developer. Sames goes for all the homeowner association activists in the area. They rail on development, so wouldn’t it be hypocritical to take advantage of the conveniences?

The next time you hear the tired and often inaccurate blanket characterization of real estate development as being a detriment to a community take a minute and consider a project such as North Logan Commons. Are the benefits such a development will bring to the Loganville community really a negative like the anti-growth crowd would have you believe? I say a resounding no. I firmly believe that having these conveniences close to home will only improve the quality of life in the southeast fringe of Gwinnett.
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The Gwinnett County Commission has approved the expansion of Bay Creek Park on Ozora Rd. in Loganville.  Tennis courts, basketball courts and a skate park will be added to the park.  Now, I am not too thrilled with tax dollars being spent on a skate park, but, to be fair, I don’t care much about tennis either but I have no problem with the new courts.  I guess I just do not see a skate park in the same vein as baseball and football fields and tennis and basketball courts.  I guess it could be worse - they could be installing……soccer fields.

If you are in the Loganville/Grayson area this weekend, the Bay Creek HOA will be hosting a community garage sale on Saturday, June 7.  If you love going to these types of sales, this sounds like an opportunity to see a sizable amount of merchandise!