Georgia County Government - February 2008 - (Page 18)

NORTHEAST GEORGIA continued from page 17 Hazell also notes that the kind of communities builders can create here are appealing because the types of developments that can take place here are more predictable than in other growth corridors in Georgia, such as the outlying metro region. Housing developments in the region largely reflect the jurisdictions in which they are built. Habersham remains a popular county for second-home developments and retirement homes, and the trend is expected to continue. Chairman Butterworth points out that while there is a wide diversity of housing available in the county and region for many income brackets, the upper-scale developments are expected to remain a definite trend here. One notable developer in Clarkesville will build condominiums there in the range of $350,000 to $500,000, according to current plans. And there are numerous upper-scale retirement neighborhoods established here, with many more planned. In Stephens County, the Currahee Club has to date been the most expensive development. The upscale residential community features a signature golf course and homes in excess of $1 million. These types of developments are largely marketed to people moving in from out of state, says Stephens County Finance Director Phyllis Ayers. “There is a niche for this kind of housing,” she agrees, adding that developers are in the region, looking to “help define the next niche.” In Rabun County, things are a little more lucrative when it comes to real estate. The size of mountain lakes within this especially scenic county’s borders has spurred some sought- after resort communities, as found in lake counties like Greene and Oconee. A development known as “Waterfall” here rivals mountain residential neighborhoods in Highlands and Cashiers, N.C., according to Administrator Bleckley. In Rabun, similar to areas outside the mountains, building lots on lakes are available here at some fairly astronomical prices. And there remains no shortage of buyers for this sought-after kind of property. However, there are limits to the resort and residential developments that can impede on this mountain jurisdiction. While the presence of lakes Burton, Rabun, Seed and Tallulah all guarantee rising property values and ongoing interest, 63 percent of the county’s land mass is federally protected and cannot be developed. This could be viewed as another factor driving rising property values in Rabun County, which pose benefits and challenges, officials concede. “But all in all, the higher property values are an asset,” Bleckley asserts. The real estate development market throughout the region is expected to continue to thrive. Of course, agriculture will remain a staple of the economy here, with poultry and dairy farming still quite dominant. Fieldale Farms is a longtime industrial citizen in the region. Service industries supporting local tourism and residential growth – hotels, bed-and-breakfast establishments, restaurants and banks – are also growing. Big box stores continue their infiltration into rural Georgia here, too, in step with the growing number of residents. Currently, Stephens County is slated to get a Home Depot in 2008 and has had a Super Wal-Mart 18 339981_Habersham.indd 1 GEORGIA COUNTY GOVERNMENT 8/14/07 11:27:57 PM http://www.co.habersham.ga.us

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government - February 2008

Georgia County Government - February 2008 Contents President's Message County Matters Regional Focus on the Georgia Mountains: Rabun, Habersham and Stephens Counties DNR Commissioner Noel Holcomb Solid Waste Management in Georgia: New Challenges Ahead Essential Elements of Negotiating Professional Service Firm Contracts The Walker County Courthouse at LaFayette Extension News: Partnerships are Key to Conservation Education Research Corner: Interns: An Asset to Every County NACo News: Counties and Climate Change FAQs Georgia Flag to Travel to All 159 Georgia Counties State Announces Regional Recycling Hub Grant Awards Abraham Joins ACCG Support Staff County Parade ACCG Launches e-Magazine Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - February 2008

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