Author Archives: jimgilvin

Thank you to the Alpharetta Neighbor

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This past Wednesday the local Alpharetta Neighbor published a profile of four local bloggers and they were kind enough to include me in the article. Over the years I have had my picture in newspapers a few times and every once in a while a local paper has quoted me on an issue. But this was the first time I had ever been the subject of an article and I want to thank the Neighbor for making it a wonderful experience.

The author of the article, Joan Durbin, has been writing for the Neighbor for as long as I can remember and now I know why she has been so successful. Ms. Durbin was incredibly kind to me and the other bloggers she wrote about. I’d also like to give a shout out to the Neighbor photographer, Erin (I hope I remember that right), for not taking a picture of me in my messy office. My heartfelt thanks go out to both of these ladies for helping bring GA Jim to an audience that may never have heard of me otherwise.

When I first started this blog 2 years ago it was partially because I couldn’t find any other local blogs providing content for Alpharetta and North Fulton County so it is great to see that there are others out there doing their thing. If you haven’t read the article about the local blogs please go check them out at the Neighbor here. And if you want to know more about my fellow bloggers you can check Lee out at rootsinalpharetta.com , Bob at liveinalpharetta.com , and Jennifer at northsidefood.blogspot.com

Georgia’s Senator Isakson speaks out

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Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson has been noticeably vocal this week.

Wednesday Senator Isakson once again proposed that the federal budgeting process should be done on a 2 year basis instead of the annual process which is the norm. It is not the first time he has raised this issue but given the current political climate it may actually get some traction now and I think it should.

There are several good reasons to go to biennial budgeting but the most significant is that it could reduce the pressure on congress to provide pork spending during election years. An article in the AJC explains it this way:

“under Isakson’s plan, lawmakers would work on spending bills on odd-numbered years — when they’re not up for reelection — and work on government oversight in even-numbered years, when they are up for reelection.

 “It changes the paradigm,” he said. “Instead of telling reporters about all the bacon you’re going to bring home, you’re telling them about all the savings you’re going to find so you can pay for things in the future.”

Of course the federal budgeting bears no resemblance to the type of financial planning that takes place in the private sector. In 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007 congress failed to agree on a budget and for 2011 the Democrats in control avoided even the appearance of drawing up a budget. So the reform of a budgeting process which is largely ignored may not have much of an impact but any semblance of fiscal sanity would be welcome.

There is also another statement from Senator Isakson on the website accessnorthga.com today. The headline says that the Georgia called on President Obama to respect the will of the people as expressed in the 2010 congressional elections. 

“They spoke loud and clear that they want congress to rein in spending, get control of spending, they didn’t want us to mortgage their children’s future,” Isakson said

I used to work for Northside Realty back when Johnny Isakson ran the place and I have a tremendous amount of respect for the man and the way he handles his business. His initial position on immigration reform and then his support for the bailout bill disappointed me but I am encouraged to see that he is stepping up his pressure on government spending.

Go get ’em Senator!

Abolish the State Roadway and Toll Authority?

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Now that is change I can believe in!

Apparently Georgia State Representative Bobby Franklin has introduced a bill, HB 18, which would eliminate the State Roadway and Toll Authority this summer. If you aren’t familiar with SRTA, it is the organization that recently extended the tolls on GA 400 to the chagrin of many North Fulton residents and elected officials.

I have no idea if this bill can pass in this session or if this would actually remove the tolls which were extended but it’s introduction is one of the first signs of sanity to come out of the gold dome this year.

You can read the bill here.

Like swallows returning to Capistrano…

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An article in yesterday’s Atlanta Journal reports:

“North Fulton legislators re-introduced a bill Monday that could lead to the re-creation of  Milton County, hoping this year is the turning point for a proposal that failed in previous sessions.”

I lived in unincorporated Fulton County before it was annexed into Alpharetta and when the topic of Milton County was first raised I was enthusiastic about the possibility. The thought of never having to witness the foolishness that occurs at Fulton County Commission meetings was incentive enough. 

If you haven’t watched one of the county commission meetings you really should. You won’t believe your eyes. 

But over the years my enthusiasm for Milton County has faded. Given my frustration with some of my elected officials here in Alpharetta I’m just not sure we would be any better off.

You can read the rest of the article here.

We are in a hole… Please stop digging!

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Last night the Alpharetta City Council reviewed an application from Met Life Insurance Company and apartment developer Lincoln Property Company which would rezone a parcel of land on Haynes Bridge road to high density mixed use from office and industrial. The council has already approved two of these massive projects in recent years and neither one has been economically viable but they still represent about 1000 condominiums which have yet to be built in an already saturated real estate market. I attended the public hearing and you can read my comments below:

I have come to voice my opposition to the Peridot project which is proposed by Met Life and Lincoln Property Company. I oppose this project for many reasons but to save time I will stick to the biggest reason of all: Peridot is bad for Alpharetta.

Will Rogers once said, “When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging”. So I stand here before you to point out that we are in a hole… please stop digging!

There are 282 condominiums listed for sale in Alpharetta today and last month only 14 of those actually sold. So as you decide whether to approve 500 more condos know that there is already two years’ worth of condominium inventory and that doesn’t include the 1200 condominiums this council has already approved but haven’t been built because the market is saturated. Prospect Park, Windward Mill and the Georgian downtown are already waiting for the demand to catch up with supply. In other words, we are in a hole… please stop digging!

The same thing goes for the commercial & retail space the applicants are requesting. There are brand new, vacant buildings across from the Best Buy on Haynes Bridge Road and all along Highway 9 near Windward Parkway. In fact there is empty space all over Alpharetta because supply already outstrips demand. When this council considered building more retail in the city center project downtown I pointed to the vacant storefronts across the street and asked you not to add more inventory to an over saturated market. You acted wisely in that case and now those storefronts are filled. You need to exercise restraint like that again. In other words, we are in a hole… please stop digging!

Prospect Park is an eyesore on our doorstep. Windward Mill is mothballed along with the Georgian townhomes and City Center project downtown. The collapse of the condo and commercial real estate market are not this council’s fault and I don’t mean to imply that you are the reason we are in a hole. But we do find ourselves in a hole and you can stop digging.

A few years ago someone that used to work with me on zonings ran for city council. The Alpharetta Neighbor profiled him and said that filling empty retail and commercial space was one of his top priorities. They reported that he would “like to see all empty retail and commercial space filled before more development and construction are approved”. That candidate understood that it is bad for the city of Alpharetta to keep adding supply when there is too little demand. The people of Alpharetta understood too and that’s why Councilman Kennedy is now sitting up there on the dais.

I ask all of you to heed what the people of Alpharetta voted for and what Councilman Kennedy understood when he ran for office. Adding the Peridot project to an oversaturated market will depress real estate prices even further in Alpharetta and cripple our chances of ever completing the other mixed use projects already begun. I ask that you not approve this project because Peridot is bad for Alpharetta. We are in a hole… please stop digging!

After hours of discussion the city council ended up tabling the mixed use application until next month and only approved the requested variance which would allow MetLife to proceed with the channeling of a stream. In what was the most stunning revelation for me the application actually said that they originally approached the Alpharetta Community Development department about a simple stream variance and it was the city’s staff that recommended they pursue this project now.

Are you kidding me? I love this city and have no interest in being negative but if we are not realistic we will continue to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Two restaurants have been torn down in the Northpoint area and one remains an empty lot. The retail center across from Best Buy was completely redone at our community development department’s urging and yet it still sits vacant. There are at least three new shopping centers on Highway 9 north of downtown that are either completely vacant or largely unfilled. As I mention above there are three major projects (City Center, Prospect Park and Windward Mill) which have either been approved or for which there is a great deal of support within the community.

And yet with this oversaturation of residential, commercial and retail real estate the Alpharetta Community Development department took it upon themselves to urge a developer seeking a stream variance to spend tens of thousands of dollars bringing another high density mixed use development before city council. Unbelievable.

What was the definition of insanity again?