Alpharetta

marks of a metropolitan city, Alpharetta is also a sought-after environment for raising a fam- ily and enjoying an enviable quality of life. In a recent interview, Community Development Director, Kathi Cook, and Assistant City Adminis- trator, James Drinkard, brought us into the loop with updates on current and planned projects for this dynamic community. One of the most impressive works in progress, the Alpha Loop, has a story all its own. Drinkard explains, “Like much of metro Atlan- ta, Alpharetta is progressing from a car culture to a walkable type of community. At the core of that is the Alpha Loop project; a multi-use trail designed to connect and accommodate pedes- trians and bicycles in a very interesting way. As our Mayor, David Belle Isle, likes to say, ‘We have a lot of great ‘stuff’ in Alpharetta, and we’re always looking for better ways to connect the people to the stuff.’” The vision includes public artwork and parks along the path and trail system, creating not just a transportation corridor, but a recreational corridor, as well. Leading the charge, Cook says, “We already have a one-mile section under development – from City Center to Avalon. The ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA city has leveraged impact fee credits to get that section built, and it should be finished by early 2018. A lot of investors are looking at the route. A great example: George Banks, part of the Krog Street development in Atlanta, chose a location along the Loop.” Alpharetta has more than one million square feet of office space under development; over 60 percent along the Alpha Loop. City Council also recently approved building plans for 360 Tech Village – a million-and-a-half-square-foot development around a large lake that will be dedicated and added to the Loop. “City center is roughly half of our downtown,” says Drinkard, “with 22 acres of new development now under construction, including retail, office, residen- tial, parks, a library and city hall. It’s connecting downtown to Avalon, which, itself, is a little over 200 acres and one of the premiere develop- ments in the southeast.” The massive Avalon project consists of over 500,000 sq. ft. of high-end retail and restaurants –brands not typically seen in suburban markets around Atlanta. Many are first locations for the southeast market.Within that scope is an Apple Experience store; a Tesla showroom operation; designer fashion labels; and chef-driven restau- rants. Also on tap is a hotel/conference center representing the top-tier Marriot Signature line. The third leg of the Alpha Loop is North- winds – the Georgia 400 interchange that ties the technology spine coming out of Atlanta to the northern suburbs and Haynes Bridge Road, and incorporates North Point Mall. The