Pete17

The 200 acre site that is mentioned is probably the property that extends from Lanier almost to Akins Blvd. I had heard a few months ago that problems with extending water and sewer to the site had killed the project and that developer optioned or bought the 60+ acre tract on the east side of Hwy 67, south of the Bypass. Someone looked at the Hwy 301 property about two years ago and the concept plan showed a Super Target and other stores. I doubt Target had signed a contract and may not have even known its name was on the plan. At that time the site was double the size of what is shown on the sales brochure and the development was oriented more towards 301. I believe that site already has water and sewer, so it is essentially ready to go. That's just one more example of a developer taking a look at Statesboro, believing a large commercial development will work, but not being able to put a deal together with the retailers. I'm happy to see the brochure provides the data on being underserved by groceries. Unfortunately other developers have gone after grocers in the past few years and the grocers have said they aren't interested. It will happen eventually. The listing of the Franklin Chevrolet property is news to me. The next question is where the dealership goes if the property sells. Robbie Franklin's property on Brannen Street and Commerce Drive would make some sense, because dealerships like to locate close to each other. However, there is no property left with frontage on the Bypass. It would seem more likely that the dealership would move to the property behind the current Chevrolet dealership which is larger and has lots of frontage on the Bypass. The problem is easy access to Northside Drive. As a side note, it's interesting that the drawing for the Franklin property shows a Starbuck's. I can't imagine one locating there when one was just built down the street. That's one reason not to get too excited about a particular brand name or type of business identified on a concept plan. The good news is that there are some outside real estate companies marketing commercial sites in Statesboro. They can usually do a better job than the locals.

The Shellhouse/Cedar River rumor seems to have made the rounds. It appeared on one of the Herald blogs last week. I just heard it is going to be a Millhouse Steak House. I'm not familiar with it, but was told there is one in Brunswick.

andre, I didn't hear the presentation at the Council meeting so I asked a city staffer if there was something in writing that was in the Council packet or handed out at the meeting. There was a long memo that listed a lot of projects, some completed two or three years ago. (I would have thought they would have just done a 2007 recap.) Listed under "Water & Sewer Projects to be started in the near future" is the Lanier and Bypass project with the words "status unknown". I was told a few months ago that the water and sewer would be too costly for that property (I don't know the reason) and that developer bought the Coleman property on the east side of 67, south of the Bypass. With Statesboro Crossing underway, I can only see one other commercial development of any size being undertaken in the near future. I don't believe people would be pursuing the Lanier development and 67 development at the same time. I don't think we can digest that much commercial development at once. Just my opinion. The Northbridge subdivision does have a strip of commercial land with lots along 301 North. The developer is focusing on the residential part at this time. I can't see much demand for commercial development in that particular area at this time, especially with what else is around there. The Lanier/Bird developer has left some property along Lanier out of the subdivision plat and designated it for future development. The city hasn't zoned that property for commercial use. He may have to sit on that until the single-family and multifamily developments are done. The city has been studying the Cawana/Burkhalter/Pretoria Rushing area for over a year. The Beasley family owns much of that land and is interested, over a number of years, in annexing that land and developing it for residential use. The city had a sewer study conducted and much of that land can be served by gravity sewers. The phase which will get the sewer under the Bypass and over to Cawana will start soon. Another phase will take it south, somewhere between Cawana and the Bypass, to the back of the Coleman property. That opens a lot of that land south of the borrow pit/pond for development. I'm sure the Bradford Place residents won't be happy and will make themselves known at the Council meetings, but that's the problem with having something good. Other people want to have a piece of it. I haven't been able to find out anything on the industrial prospects. They don't seem to tell many people and those who know, won't tell.

j, once again I agree and feel you made excellent points. andre, I appreciate your support for GSU and wish I felt as strongly about either of the schools I attended. When you finish your degree the administration should hire you.

j, I have to agree. The Sun Belt has made great strides in the past few years and I believe it would be a good match for Southern, especially based on geography and competition level. I'm on the fence on the idea of moving up, but if they do they need to be competitive. There's no use doing it just to take a check and be everybody's punching bag. If things go well there's the possibility of changing conferences sometime in the future.

andre, I think you are right about folks being busy. It's certainly true for me. Last week the city planning commission considered a rezoning request for the 66 acres on the east side of Highway 67, south of the bypass. It will still be a mixture of commercial and multifamily residential. This is just a request to move the commercial and multifamily areas around on the property. The developer who was behind the annexation and rezoning of that property about two years ago backed out of the deal before the annexation was complete, but the property owners moved ahead hoping it would help sell it. Heard Development out of Atlanta is now involved. I don't know anything about the company. The folks with the city said they have not been given a plan for the proposed development yet. Also on the agenda was a variance for wall signs at Statesboro Crossing. Some of the larger tennants want signs a little larger than what the city allows. I saw some preliminary work being done on the site last week. I heard they were ready to bring in the big equipment any time.

The BB&T branch has been in the works for a while. I heard they have a deal with Hull-Story to vacate the mall branch when the new one is built. It seems odd they would leave what would seem to be a very good location. But when H-S is involved, odd things sometimes happen. The other new bank, I believe it is Citizen's, is expected to begin work soon on its branch at Brannen and the Bypass -- next to Chili's which opened Monday.

When you don't have a Target it's easy to get excited about the prospect of one coming to town. It would be a refreshing change from Wal-Mart. I don't understand the people in town who get excited about the thought of a second Wal-Mart or our first Sam's Club. The downtown is one of the things that drew me here. Most of the buildings look good and most of the storefronts are rented. The city does not currently have downtown design guidelines and needs to put them in place before someone screws up a building. Statesboro has been lucky so far. I'm not aware of a new planner in town. The guys heading up both the city and county planning efforts have been here for a couple years or more. The city is currently advertising two planner positions. I think the county is up to full staff.

The idea is that as this area develops (about 900 acres of developable land - 2,000 residential units) it would keep some traffic off portions of Cawana, Brannen and Burkhalter. It's a long term idea, although people already complain about the amount of traffic on Cawana and backups that occur on Brannen at Cawana. I've never seen many cars when I have been out there. In ten years it will probably make a lot of sense. I have to give a pat on the back to whoever is thinking ahead for a change.

It was an interesting public hearing today (Aug 7) at the City Council meeting. The conditions were changed for the development across Cawana Road from Bradford Place to increase the number of houses from 45 to 63 and remove the brick exterior requirement. The changes were approved on a 3 to 2 vote. The mayor was very unhappy about it. Most people in the room, staff and visitors, were surprised by the outcome. There were no comments on the watered-down parking ordinance and it passed first reading. I guess the second reading will be in two weeks. Link to Statesboro Herald article: http://www.statesboroherald.com/news/article/4989/

andre, it's good to see you back on the boards. I agree with you on Bradford Place. I don't understand the people who move to a subdivision surrounded by undeveloped land and think no one else will want to develop. If their development is successful, more will come. It's a no-brainer. The parking issue is a tough one. It points to the bigger issue of people who don't take care of their property. There is some rental property close to my house. Some is well cared for. The house that is not is a thorn in my side since it has some effect on the enjoyment of my property now and on my investment when I get ready to sell later. I called the city once with some complaints and they did help. But the city shouldn't have to tell people to cut their grass, clean up their trash, and keep their dogs quiet. Whether they rent or own should not matter. Some people just don't care about the other people around them. It's because of those people that the city has to come up with regulations like the front yard parking ordinance. Will it help? Probably not.

There's a public hearing scheduled for August 7 for a zoning change request for the borrow pit property on Cawana Road across from Bradford Place. The same guy is back asking for almost the same thing he wanted when he asked for the property to be annexed. Back then, after the uproar from the neighbors he agreed to the conditions the city council wanted. The city's staff report for this latest request says nothing has changed to justify the rezoning. Maybe the guy just likes upsetting the Bradford Place people. The revised front yard parking ordinance is on the council agenda for the same meeting. It's a watered down version of the first one that isn't as tough on paving requirements and exempts the zoning districts with smaller lots. The majority of the residential zoning in the city is R-15 and R-20, two of the districts covered by the ordinance. I'm curious to see what happens this time.

The Zetterower Road property was divided into seven lots about two years ago, I think. Last year Tim Durden (the owner) and Andy Aldred asked to rezone it to allow 12 to 16 units aimed at senior citizens. They were designed as duplex or triplex structures, but the individual units would have been sold as condos. The neighbors fought it and the city council turned down the rezoning. I'm surprised Tim didn't go ahead with the seven houses. The property on 24 East is supposed to be a condo project. It will be two-story buildings with around 8 units in each. I haven't seen architectural drawings, but the early site plan looked like just another apartment devleopment.

It's not a "good ole boy" system, but it does seem that projects that involve local people have an easier time than those that don't. Despite what they may say, their actions seem to discourage development, or at least quality development. What they do encourage through zoning changes and variances is not always of the quality it should be. Statesboro has been lucky to get some development that was built to a higher quality than the city requires (primarily better landscaping and building exteriors). However we still have things like the golf cart and trailer sales business across from the mall and the self-service ice machine on Northside Drive West that should be prohibited at least from an appearance standpoint. But the elected officials don't seem to have a problem allowing those.

There is another lot beside the Advance site zoned for commercial development. I believe it is about the same size. I haven't heard of any prospects.

It's good to see the Boro has its own forum. I'm a newbie, having only been living here for a few years. I work in a construction and development related job. I can't describe myself too specifically because I come in contact with some of the local government employees and elected officials (city more than county) on a semi-regular basis. Statesboro has a lot going for it, but has a few drawbacks including some of those employees and officials I mentioned earlier. They and their rules make my job interesting, to say the least.

I would be surprised that Red Lobster would want to locate there. I would expect them around the Brannen/Bypass area. Why would they want to be anywhere but in a prime location and even worse, in a building that previously housed a failed seafood restaurant? It seems a big chain like that would rather spend a little more money for a better location and build a building exactly the way they want. The Old Navy rumor is too outlandish. The last I heard, which was very recently, was that the hotel with an upscale national franchise and adjoining convention center is still on track to locate there. Also, a bank already in town will build a new branch there to replace an existing location. Space is supposed to be set aside for a second hotel if the first one is successful. If Old Navy is coming, Brannen Crossing seems the most likely location. The Target rumor gets my vote for the most likely of the three. I continue to hear that they are scouting locations in conjunction with development companies. They were going to be part of a shopping center project last year that never happened. I haven't heard any specifics, but hope they will locate at the Brannen Crossing development that is supposed to announce some details soon.

Morgan, I get the feeling some of your wishes will come true. I've heard the rumblings about some big box retailers coming to town for the last few months, but apparently no one has signed a contract yet. Hopefully 2007 will be the year. If one or two big boxes come, that will be the impetus for some of the national restaurant chains to come. Instead of wishing for a second Wal-Mart, let's be bold and wish for a Target. We have the income in this area to support one, it would be proof to other retailers that we are "moving up in the world", and we deserve something better than a second Wal-Mart. Statesboro's downtown has impressed me since I first came. It is certainly healthier than most. I'm worried the city government and downtown association aren't concerned about historic preservation. The downtown association seems more interested in business attraction and retention along with overall promotion, which are very important, than preservation and appropriate renovations of the historic buildings. The South Main/Highway 301 gateway needs a lot of work -- from I-16 to downtown. For the most part, it is not an attractive entry for visitors. I'm afraid the county and the city are many years away from meaningful aesthetic and landscaping regulations. I don't know why construction hasn't started on the bypass. I guess the contractor feels it can be done in less time than GDOT gave him. I'm not sure that the two additional lanes are really justified 80% of the average day, but it will certainly help during that other 20%. Also, it will be another sign to visitors of the amount of activity in Statesboro. The Savannah Avenue project seems to be moving slowly, but I know there was a lot of underground work (drainage pipes I think) that had to be done first. That appears to be finished and the remainder of the work should appear to move much more quickly. Other things to add to the list? First of all, recognition that not all new growth and development is good (or bad). We need to have some controls to insure quality growth, like aesthetic and landscaping regulations. Second, even though it is not an election year, the city and county both need more progressive leadership. And it needs to be from people who are not one- or two-issue politicians. The county seems to waste a lot of time debating growth issues every month. It shouldn't be that difficult. The city has wasted a lot of time debating alcohol rules and making changes. Some of my criticism of leadership can go to the staffs as well. There are a few in various departments that are trying to move their personal agendas at the expense of the city or county as a whole. It does have a negative effect on the growth and development of Statesboro and Bulloch County.

Don't we have enough hotels on the drawing board? Why not bulldoze it and build something else?

I can't stand the people who think their subdivision in the middle of a farming area should be the only one and no one should develop next door because it will take their view of a farm field, trees, pond, whatever. The people complaining should have thought ahead and bought that property so it could be left undeveloped. The fact that Bradford Place is there means it is a desirable area for residential development. Why would you not expect more. Andre, I don't doubt that some of the Bradford Place houses are worth $300k, but of the sales so far this year, the range has been from $131k to $230k, with only one over $187k. It's nothing personal, but I have heard that argument in the county from people concerned that the houses proposed next door will be a few thousand dollars cheaper, especially if the lots will be smaller. Smaller lots don't always mean lower cost houses. In other cities I have seen very expensive houses in new developments with very small lots. No one (especially the county or city) can guarantee those neighbors the new houses will be less (or more) expensive than their's. Since this new development is asking for annexation, I assume it will have public sewer. That should make it more desirable.

The population projections were done as part of a project through Coastal GA RDC for the entire region. You can download the report from their website at http://www.coastalgeorgiardc.org/planning_regional.html The local officials are happy that the Study's 2005 estimate exceeds the 2004 Census estimate, but still feel it is an underestimation of the actual current population by a few thousand. They disagree strongly with the projections and feel they are off by a great amount. You can read about the methodology in the report. I was told the city and county government people are looking at other estimation and projection techniques. Of course there is always a problem with obtaining accurate population figures for cities with large college populations because many students or their parents claim on the Census form the place they came from as their home (permanent) address. They are supposed to list the place they live most of the year. The problem is that you don't know how many reported correctly.