by Courtney
Ronan
If you could create a
city from the ground up, what would your blueprint look like? What
types of amenities would the city have? What types of recreational
activities would be available for residents to enjoy? And how would the
city be laid out? Real estate developers posed the same questions
during the 1950s when a group of ambitious developers drew up the
blueprints for what would ultimately become Peachtree City, Georgia.
Their plan was to create on more than 12,000 acres a series of
adjacent, yet independent villages, each with its own elementary
school, retail shops and other amenities. Collectively, the villages
would accommodate approximately 80,000 residents.
Peachtree City was chartered in 1959 and grew to encompass four
villages - Braelinn, Kedron, Glenloch and Aberdeen - and by the
mid-1970s, city developers had revised their initial population
projections, reducing their estimate to about 50,000 residents. This
still relatively new city has experienced its share of growth since
1959 and, in fact, may add another village on an adjacent 1,200 parcel
of land; however, that earlier population projection has been decreased
yet again to 36,000 residents. The local population could increase in
the near future, however, if the addition of another village is
approved by the Peachtree City. Provided that annexation becomes
official, the final population should reach somewhere around 40,000
residents.
Peachtree City's current population - albeit somewhat small in number -
is a privileged lot. Residents reap the benefits of a master-planned
community located close enough (15 miles south) but not too close to
Atlanta, which is now experiencing several of the unpleasant side of
effects of dramatic job growth and population influx. Peachtree City
boasts a slew of recreational activities made possible by the
preservation of nearby lands and the development of parks, as well as
an extensive network of paths for walking and bicycling. Among the
city's recreational offerings are three golf courses, a modern swimming
complex and tennis center, even a 2,200-seat amphitheater. The
previously mentioned network of paths encompasses some 70 miles and
connects not just recreational areas but also retailers and other local
businesses, schools and residential areas. The network leads
underground or across bridges to accommodate busy streets without
interrupting the pathways.
One look at Peachtree City's residential real estate, and you'll see
first-hand that the city's small size and wealth of amenities is only
one aspect of its exclusivity. The city's housing inventory is
represented largely (no pun intended) by sprawling, spacious homes,
many of which are relatively new. It's almost astounding how large some
of the homes are here - some containing five or six bedrooms plus full
basement. Prices for homes of this size can range from $450,000 all the
way to $1 million plus. Most of them sit on sizeable pieces of
beautifully wooded property. New-home construction continues in
Peachtree City, including the development of single-family residences
in planned communities, as well as new multifamily housing.
Peachtree City's unemployment rate is extremely low; in 1998, the
average unemployment rate stood at just 2.5 percent, in great contrast
to 4.1 percent for the state of Georgia and 4.4 percent for the greater
United States for the same time period. This dramatic difference
certainly points to the affluence of Peachtree City's residents. Their
median annual income is comparatively higher than Georgia's and the
national average, as well. Industrial firms, including several
international firms, represent one of the largest segments of Peachtree
City's local economy. Other economic contributors include the
health-care, retail, finance and banking sectors.
Like many prosperous communities, Peachtree City has an excellent
public school system. Students in Peachtree City attend Fayette County
Schools, which are ranked among Georgia's best. Approximately 87
percent of high-school graduates proceed to higher education (including
four-year universities, community colleges and vocational schools).
Seventy-three percent of high-school graduates attend four-year
universities. In addition to its quality educational system, Peachtree
City also benefits from its proximity to Atlanta, which, as the
Southeast's leading city, continues to enjoy steady job growth, an
extremely active real estate market and an excellent economy. Atlanta
is close enough for Peachtree City residents to commute there daily for
work and take advantage of its world-class airport (Delta Airlines
maintains its hub in Atlanta).
As we head into the 21st century, there's no sign of slow-down for
Atlanta; the economy is only expected to continue growing and
diversifying as the city expands outward. Given that forecast,
Peachtree City is poised to catch the fever of this explosive growth
and prosperity. Although its residential real estate inventory isn't
expected to exhibit a dramatic increase, Peachtree City can bank on the
continued success of its economy, meaning that those projected 40,000
residents who are lucky enough to reside here will benefit from the
spoils and their status as the "select few" who can call one of the
Southeast's most unique cities their home.