Newsletter of the Settles Bridge Homeowner’s Association, Inc.
Post Office Box 837 Suwanee, GA 30024
Suwanee Old Town District
Recently, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs named Suwanee as one of 15 Better Hometown Communities. This is a community-based initiative designed to assist small cities with revitalizing their downtowns and center city areas. Resources will be made available to assist our city from various companies and organizations. This is a major step in your city council's commitment to the revitalization of our "Historic Old Town district".
If you have not traveled down Mainstreet in the Old Town district lately, you could be in for a pleasant surprise. A new park and pavilion have been created. The focal point of Suwanee Days and other future events such as concerts will be held here. Several new buildings have also been constructed.
Toby Blackwell's Allstate office, which was located on Highway 317, will be the first tenant in one of the buildings. It would be nice to have a restaurant or ice cream parlor, or even both in this area. Plans are for a very unique subdivision within walking distance of the "Old Town district" connected by sidewalks. A library will be constructed on the vacant property next to the old post office building.
This is just the beginning for the area. Soon, this Old Town district will hopefully become an even more important part of our community. Drive down occasionally and take a look. In the interim, I will try to keep you informed of what is in store for the area.
On Tuesday, February 8, from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Suwanee will hold the initial planning step in the "Old Town" Revitalization Effort. Held at North Gwinnett High School, in the Commons Area (Cafeteria), all community members are welcome, and Dinner/Sandwiches will be provided.
Representatives form the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) will be facilitating the process that is designed to identify the issues related to the revitalization of "Old Town" as seen by the citizens/community. They will also discuss the formation of the four main committees for the Better Hometown Program:
Organization: Provides a forum for many different groups to work together for the shared goal of a vital city center.
Design: Promotes rehabilitation of existing buildings and works to create an attractive and pedestrian-friendly downtown.
Economic Restructuring: Enhances the existing business mix of downtown through retention, expansion and recruitment.
Promotion: Works to make downtown the center of activity through events, image building and cooperative marketing.
This is a one-time meeting. Please R.S.V.P. to Denise Brinson at 770-945-8996 (ext. 232) or e-mail her at denise@suwanee.com by Feb 4. She will also be happy to answer any questions about the meeting.
I mainly use the Settles Bridge web site (www.settlesbridge.com) site to get the phone numbers of neighbors - it seems that I am always loosing the printed list. If you click on the 'Directory' link, you will be taken to a password-protected page that is a copy of the directory handed out a few months ago. Nobody is able to see the directory unless they can enter the correct User Name and Password. The User Name and Password are both "sbha", and the letters must be typed in lower case. We didn't want all those addresses, names and phone numbers available to anyone. If you feel uncomfortable about having your information online, please let us know and we will remove any part that you want (for instance, you might want to keep your name and address and just remove your phone number). Either send an e-mail at the web site, or call David Hancock at home at 770-932-8163.
I would like to let everyone know that the Suwanee Police Department received the Georgia Certification Award on January 9, 2000. All of us are very proud to be a part of such an elite group of police departments.
On Sunday, January 23, 2000, snow and ice found a place to land in the City of Suwanee. Due to the severe weather the police department lost phone and power for a short period of time. Thank goodness we had auxiliary power and a plan of action regarding phone service. Should anyone need the police department in an emergency and not get an answer, please call (911). The Gwinnett County E911 has direct radio contact with us, as well as a phone line connection that does not go through a computer server. We are always trying to have repetitive ways to complete an emergency task and these steps are a part of the back up operation. We hope all of you made it through the ice storm without any serious problems.
The police department was very busy that Sunday responding to vehicle accidents and assisting our public works department with removal of debris in the roadway. We also had calls and complaints about traffic lights not working. Please, should you approach an intersection with the lights not working, treat the intersection like a 4-way stop. This will help all of us have safer roadways during times of crisis.
Again, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your community.
Chief Michael S. Jones Suwanee Police Department
"SEE IT, HEAR IT, REPORT IT!!!"
Spotting the Planets
Without a telescope, it is actually possible to see many of the planets in our solar system. Night is the best time for finding them (except for Earth, of course), and this month the moon will provide an easy way to locate four of them just after sunset.
About 40 minutes after the sun goes down on February 6th, the crescent moon will be just visible in the west. Barely to the right, you should be able to spot a bright point of light. This is Mercury, and is one of the most difficult planets to see without a telescope. On the 8th, Mars will be just to the right of the moon. Then, on the 10th, look once again just to the right of the moon to find Jupiter, the easiest planet to spot. Finally, on the 11th, Saturn will take its place.
Of course, you don't have to wait for the moon to point the way. Once you find Mercury on the 6th, look up and to the left - you will see the other planets all in a line.
Venus, usually the brightest planet in the sky, is still easily visible in the early morning just before sunrise, but by the middle of the month it will be very difficult to spot.
New Moon February 5, 8:03 AM. Full Moon February 19, 11:27 AM.
Don't you hate this time of year? Just think, somewhere growers are working like crazy starting seeds for your tomato plants, growing plants for all the hanging baskets you will need and puttering around in heated greenhouses wearing shorts and short sleeved T-Shirts. While we're having such fun, here's your "honey do" list for those good days where you can get outside:
1. Cut back Liriope, Pampas and other grasses
2. Move any overgrown shrubs or trees
3. Plant some blueberry bushes
4. Sharpen your lawnmower blade and service the engine
5. Lime your Bermuda lawn
6. Reseed - overseed Fescue
7. Fertilize Fescue lawns
8. Plant a rose garden
9. Build a raised bed to grow vegetables
10. Make a patio planter: Fill a large pot with a good quality potting soil. Plant a small evergreen shrub, some pansies and a few ivy sprigs.
11. Pick some Daffodils
12. Think spring!
Remember, February 14 is special. Don't buy your sweetheart a bunch of roses to fade and die. Buy her a rose bush, plant in a sunny spot, and give her roses every day to enjoy.
Visit your local garden center to check out what's new for spring. Enter Northside Garden Center's "Last Frost Contest" - if you guess the date of the last frost this spring, you will win a gift certificate.
It's almost time to get growing!
These plant tips are brought to you each month for our subdivision by Northside Garden Center. They are located just a few miles north at 950 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., in Buford.
The only way to determine the true value of your home is to get an actual appraisal. However, you can learn at least something by comparing your home with recent home sales in the area.
Take a look at these homes that sold in our subdivision in 1999:
4790 Settles Point Road Closed December 8th for the asking price of $185,000, this 3 bedroom, 2 ˝ bath 2,311 square foot house, built in 1988, was on the market for 50 days. It has two fireplaces and a 1,168 square foot basement that is 85% finished and has another bathroom. It sits on a .67 acre lot.
4575 Settles Point Road Listed for $159,900, sold on October 26 for $164,000 after 20 days on the market. This 7 room, 2 story house has 3 bedrooms, 2 ˝ baths, 2,177 square feet, with a 1,175 square foot unfinished basement, and sits on .78 acres. It was originally purchased in 1987 for $123, 700.
450 Surveyor's Point Asking $169,900, this 2,532 square foot house without a basement sold on May 14th for $168,000 after being on the market for 59 days. It has 8 rooms, with 4 bedrooms and 2 ˝ baths, and was build in 1986. To give you an idea of how home prices have changed, this same house sold in February of 1992 for $120,900.
4735 Settles Point Road After only 14 days on the market, this 1,679 square foot house with a 30% finished basement sold for $147,900 on April 29th. It sits on just over ˝ acre, and has 6 rooms with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
This information was provided by Bob Hutchins, who owns a real estate appraisal company here in Suwanee and lives in our subdivision. Bob is an approved appraiser for all of the regional lending institutions, and will be happy to give you a quick printout with information about your property (square feet, lot size, etc.). Give him a call at his home number - 770-932-0585.
OK, so it's February. Month of hearts, candy, and all that other good stuff. But you also gotta decide what to get the guy next to ya. And a whole buhca kids are gett'n their best buds Valentines like teddys and etc. But of course, like some people, they get Poke'mon. Poke'mon, Poke'mon, and more Poke'mon. You'd think people could get enough. So, what do you think you get when you put Valentines Day with Poke'mon? Poke'mon Valentines!
Happy Valentines Day!
Kid's Korner is written and illustrated by Ann Hancock, a 9 year old girl who lives in our subdivision and attends Riverside Elementary.
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