By Lynne DeWilde | The City of Suwanee Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has taken initial steps to enter a public-private partnership with developer Terwilliger-Pappas that will create a mixed-use multifamily/retail building at Chicago Street and Buford Highway adjacent to Town Center. The proposed development, on a 3.5-acre tract currently owned by the DDA, is expected to feature a five-story structure with 10,000 square feet of street-level commercial/retail/restaurant space and 235 high-end apartments. The project also is expected to include a parking garage around which the mixed-use structure will be built. The City Council will consider a re-zoning to allow such a project at its September 8 meeting.
Anticipated view of new Suwanee project.
Mayor Jimmy Burnette says: “The City of Suwanee DDA is pursuing an exciting public-private partnership that will extend our incredible Town Center. This project would bring more residents, commercial opportunities, and energy to Town Center’s vibrant ‘live, work, play’ lifestyle. This could be a win for all of us.”
The Suwanee DDA and Terwilliger-Pappas have executed a letter of intent and are currently negotiating details on the $46 million project. Under the terms of the letter of intent, Suwanee’s DDA would receive $600,000 in cash for the property plus ownership, at no additional cost, of the 10,000 square feet of commercial/retail space. The approximately 3.5-acre property being purchased by Terwilliger-Pappas was acquired by the City of Suwanee over time for $497,000.
The primarily one-and-two-bedroom residences that are part of the project are expected to appeal to professional millennials and empty-nesters and would further the City’s efforts to be a lifelong community. Suwanee’s Downtown Manager Adam Edge says: “We fully expect that these apartments will set the bar for quality in Gwinnett County and that rental rates will exceed those of any similar existing Gwinnett County development. Studies have shown that Town Center has some of the highest property values in the county. We believe that this project will not just contribute to, but enhance, Town Center’s value.”
The new development will have a similar look and feel to the current Town Center area and will offer top-quality amenities. City Manager Marty Allen notes that previous master plans, dating back to the 2002 Old Town Master Plan and including the recently completed 2015 Downtown Suwanee Master Plan Update, which provided several public input opportunities, have created a vision for this property that includes multifamily units and complements the existing Town Center.
Developed from 2003-2009, Suwanee Town Center has won numerous planning awards, including the prestigious Atlanta Regional Commission’s Development of Excellence Award in 2009.
Elements of the selected proposal include:
- a single, five-story, mixed-use building wrapped around structured parking
- 10,000 square feet of commercial/retail/restaurant space fronting Buford Highway
- compatibility with Town Center’s look and form
- about 520 structured public and private parking spaces, some of which may be used for community events
- 235 upscale apartments
- residential units are constructed in a manner that may allow for conversion to condominiums in the future
- predominantly one- and two-bedroom units
- anticipated monthly average residential rent of $1,568.
Allen says: “We have a proven track record with Town Center of master planning our vision and thenworking with the private sector to implement that vision. People are always asking when we’re going to extend Town Center. We’re confident that this project will add depth and energy that not only physically extends Town Center but also further enhances the Town Center experience. We’re pleased that Terwilliger-Pappas is as committed to quality development as is the City of Suwanee.”
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