Vinings Vision Plan
Posted by thunsicker in Living, Vinings on September 27, 2011
The area of study for the Vinings Vision Plan. Please click on the image to go to the full size version on the Cobb County website.
In March 2011, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners directed the Community Development Planning Division to create a master plan for Vinings.
The Vinings Vision Plan will look to address a variety of uses including land use, transportation and community character & improvement. The goal of the process will be to provide a plan with recommendations and implementation items that the county and community can support.
On September 20, 2011, there was a community meeting held (the second of three), where almost 100 people attended. Here are the notes from the meeting for the Vinings Vision Plan.
Vinings residents pore over a map of their community at the second meeting of the Vinings Vision Plan. Credit Hunt Archbold.
The Smyrna Patch did a great job covering the meeting….here’s an excerpt from their site. Click here to see the entire story on the Vinings Vision Plan from the Smyrna Patch.
“One of the things I could tell you is don’t worry right now as to what the boundary of the Vinings Village is or any of that,’’ said Cobb Commissioner Bob Ott. “That’s not the purpose of this whole study. This study and master plan that we’re going to come up with is for the whole Vinings area. Some of it’s the village, some of it’s the transition areas, some of it’s on Atlanta Road.”
What was discussed at the first Vinings Vision Meeting held last spring could be a listing of the community’s positive attributes including its location and accessibility, library, low-density residential areas, natural environment, sense of community, historic significance and walkability. He also discussed its negative attributes like traffic congestion, flow and speed, lack of parks and community center and lack of consistent sidewalks and crosswalks.
These attributes were categorized into common themes: transportation, history and community, land use, and community identity.
Some of the common concerns raised in these small groups included a proposal for a green space or park on Settlement Road and traffic congestion at the Paces Ferry Road/Paces Mill Road intersection.
There are planned modifications for the interchange as the project is in the FY2008-2013 Transportation Improvement Plan and is a component of the Cobb County 2005 1-percent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) program.
The modifications include replacing the existing sub-standard bridges, relocation and reconfiguring existing I-285 ramps, and adding additional lanes at the interchange.
“Right now we’re going through environmental studies,’’ Ott told Patch back in May. “I think we’re looking at construction in 2013 or 2014. We’re going with a state-design. The state said they’d pay for it, so it’s kind of a no-brainer, although we do have some monetary obligations. But we’re going through the process because we’re using state dollars.
“They call it an expanded diamond design that’s real similar to what’s there now. Instead of the on-off ramps being cloverleaf, they’re just kind of diagonal off from the interstate. The bridgework contemplates future expansion of 285, which is why you have to do the expanded diamond. It’s a tight spot and the road’s not designed to handle people coming on and off 285. Hopefully the design will help alleviate some of that.’’
It is estimated that about 65 trains travel through Vinings a day. When Plant McDonough makes the transition to natural gas in 2012, about 25 of the trains that would normally carry coal to the plant will no longer be needed.
While the second meeting was the “dream meeting,” Cobb officials plan to discuss how to put the proposed ideas into affect at a third meeting that is being scheduled for November.
One group that hopes to affect these changes in the community is the newly formed Vinings Community Conservation Alliance.
Cochise Club in Vinings
Posted by thunsicker in Living, Vinings on September 21, 2011
One of the best parts of living in Vinings is the inexpensive neighborhood club we have – The Cochise Club.
The Cochise Club is a neighborhood swim/tennis club with a fabulous playground and grounds for members. We also opened a new Club House this year that members can rent for parties and events.
The pool at Cochise Club.
The new club house at The Cochise Club in Vinings, with the children's pool in the foreground.
The playground at the Cochise Club in Vinings.
Most families with children belong and the swim team is very social and allows the children who all seem to go to different schools get to know each other and become friends. There is a very active ALTA tennis team as well which I’m not involved in but I know they are good and very social as well.
The pictures here are from the Labor Day Fish Fry (it wasn’t rained out but the attendance was sparse due to the weather). The weather didn’t stop my son from having fun and several of his friends that made rivers and lakes in the mud during the rain. Oh well, they had fun!
The Cochise Club in Vinings’ dues have changed recently so don’t take this for gospel but its under $3,000 to join and the quarterly dues are only $125. There has always been a wait list, so depending on the time you apply it may be a year or two to get in.You can find the definition for who is eligible on this website and it is truly for homeowners in Vinings Village…if you have less than a 1/2 acre and are not in 30339, don’t even bother to check the availability as you won’t be able to join.
* Since the Club flooded in 2009, the website pictures for the Club are outdated, as is much of the contact information.
Pool games at the Cochise Club...Chase's loot from the coin dive.
Getting ready for the Labor Day Fish Fry at the Cochise Club in Vinings.
The Cochise Club t-shirt shows the swim team sponsors in Vinings and part of what the kids get for participating in the swim team. They also get trophies, ribbons, towels, etc.
Muddy boys playing in the rain at The Cochise Club in Vinings.
At The Cochise Club for for Chase's end of the year party, we had a really fun inflatable water slide.
We had some field games for the kids during the the end of the year party too.
Arthur Blank’s Buckhead mansion sold
Posted by thunsicker in Buckhead, Famous People in Atlanta, State of Real Estate Market on September 20, 2011
The front elevation of 3639 Tuxedo Road, sold in September 2011, the former residence of Arthur Blank.
After over three years on the market, one of the most breathtaking lots in Buckhead has sold, the owner was Arthur Blank (one of the founders of Home Depot and owner of the Atlanta Falcons). This Buckhead mansion was originally listed at $10,900,000. The tax records state that the home is 7,352 sq ft.
Everyone will always remember the grounds of this property at 4.19 acres… it has the most beautiful gardens, lakes and paths in the heart of Buckhead I’ve ever seen.
This mansion on Tuxedo Road has been open to the public on many occasions. The home was upgraded and featured as the 2010 Atlanta Symphony Decorator Showhouse. The house itself isn’t the most special thing and I wonder if the Decorator Showhouse hadn’t updated many things if it wouldn’t have been torn down to make way for a new home with higher ceilings and larger rooms.
The gardens of the current home of Stephanie & Arthur Blank, located at 1080 West Paces Ferry Road. Photo by Thomas A. Wolfe.
In 2006, The Blanks purchased a home at 1080 West Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead. They apparently renovated the home over the course of two years and moved in during 2008, leaving the property at 3639 Tuxedo Road vacant since then. Their current home has over 15,000 square feet and was assessed by the City of Atlanta at $13,698,000.
Finally this in spring 2011, 3639 Tuxedo was reduced to under $5M and it just closed this past week for under $4M. I do believe the land alone is worth this price and I’m wondering if the new purchaser thinks the same thing and we’ll soon see a new structure there.
I’m sure there were some emotions involved in this sale; Stephanie and Arthur Blank’s divorce was announced on September 2nd of this year. The house was assessed by Fulton County at $4.8M and Arthur purchased it from Rex Fuqua in 1990 for $1.5M.
Here are some photos of the Arthur Blank’s Buckhead home that recently sold:
Among the most beautiful landscape in all of Buckhead, the previous home of Arthur Blank on Tuxedo Road has sold.
The elegant entry way at 3639 Tuxedo Road.
The updated kitchen featured at the 2010 Decorator's Showhouse at 3639 Tuxedo Road in Buckhead.
A memorable and glamorous dining room at 3639 Tuxedo Road, a home recently sold in Buckhead for under $4M.
The creative craft room at 3639 Tuxedo Road...Arthur Blank's home that was recently sold in Buckhead.
Most expensive home sold in Atlanta 2011 to the Al Hill III family
Posted by thunsicker in Buckhead, Famous People in Atlanta, State of Real Estate Market on September 15, 2011
I just happened to be looking at yahoo.com and the number #1 trending item was that Tyler Perry is now the highest paid man in the entertainment industry.
That got me thinking about all the famous people that live around metro Atlanta.
Of course Tyler is a neighbor and can be spotted at Canoe Restaurant regularly. I’ve been told that Janet Jackson stays at his home now versus her former residence on Mt. Paran that she had with Germaine Dupree.
As many of you know I’ve had Jane Fonda’s Atlanta residence listed and its currently leased but we’ll be putting it on the market again in the next few months. We’ve had the opportunity to show it to many famous people and their “front” people when they were filming here. Seems they all arrive with an entourage. Queen Latifah is one of the nicest that I’ve met.
We also have our share of professional athletes in the area with Hines Ward building his new house off of Riverside Drive and his ex-wife Simone and their son Jayden just purchased a townhouse at The Battery down behind Avignon and the Aberdeen in Vinings. I showed a house to Will Allen, a Safety with the Pittsburgh Steelers last week and he apparently has a contract on a home in Buckhead right now as well.
These instances of famous people and their recent real estate purchases in Buckhead made me take a look at how many homes over $4M traded in Atlanta this year….and the profile of the buyers and sellers. There have been only three homes sold over $4M in Atlanta in 2011 YTD:
One of the most expensive homes sold in Atlanta in 2011, 330 Argonne Drive in Buckhead is now home to author Emily Giffin Blaha.
330 Argonne Drive: This home was purchased by the author Emily Giffin (married name Blaha). Her previous home in Brookhaven is still for sale if you’re interested! She purchased her house for just under $5M in June of this year. Check out her most recent book, The Heart of the Matter.
1325 Monte Carlo in Buckhead was sold in 2011, in a property transfer/sale worth almost $7 million.
1325 Monte Carlo: This home was purchased via a swap with the owner’s previous home on Regency Court which is still on the market as well. The purchaser was a Darrell J. Mays and I can only find a Telecommunications Company which is foreign registration associated with him name on the internet. He paid almost $7M for the house including the trade value.
981 Davis Drive: This is the largest sale so far in 2011 at $9M. The previous owners of this home were Amanda and Walter Reames. Yahoo shows him as an investor and partner in Atlanta Capital Management.
The most expensive home sold in Atlanta year to date, 981 Davis Drive, former home to Walter Reames, now home to Texas oil family, Erin and Al Hill III. Click on the image for an interactive map of the property.
“Mr. Walter Fred Reames Jr. is a Managing Partner and Member of Executive Committee at Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC. His responsibilities include oversight of the marketing and sales as well as the finance and technology functions. Before joining Atlanta Capital in 1978, Mr. Reames was a Vice President at the Citizens & Southern National Bank, serving as a Manager of its National Division East. He was responsible for the bank’s relationships with major corporate clients headquartered in 17 eastern states and Canada. Mr. Reames was also a Business Advisor at The White Oak Group, Inc. He has received his Bachelor’s degree from Yale University and completed the Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management program from the Harvard Business School.”
More interesting to me is the purchaser. My son had a new girl in his class at Westminster at the beginning of the year and she hadn’t been on the new student list that was published a couple of weeks before, so now in hindsight I think it was a last minute addition based on the closing of this property. Turns out the new little girl now lives in this house!
The new family in Buckhead is the Hill Family. Pictured here are the father, Al Hill Jr., left, a grandson of billionaire H. L. Hunt, and his son (current Atlanta resident), Al III, right, known in Dallas as “Al Three.” Photographs by Danny Turner.
At first I didn’t make the connection, but upon receiving an email a week or so ago it dawned on me who the family was: Erin Nance Hill and Al Hill III.
Many years ago in the 1980’s I worked for Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh and my territory was Dallas, TX, so I became aware of many things “Dallas” and when I lived in Washington, D.C. in the early 90’s I was friends with T. Boone Pickens’ daughter there and knew of many of the oil families in Texas.
The Hunt family in Texas is one of the wealthiest families in America .
Erin Nance Hill is from Calhoun, GA and has family here and was 1993 Miss Georgia, so it’s not a surprise that she wants to raise her children here as well. Atlanta is a great town for many reasons and we are thrilled to welcome The Hill Family to Atlanta and to Westminster! Erin was a well-known socialite in Dallas and was single-handedly responsible for raising almost $1 million for charity during her time there.
Additional photos of the Atlanta mansion at 981 Davis Drive purchased by the Hill family….it will take your breath away!
Pizza Places in Vinings
Posted by thunsicker in Living, Restaurants, Vinings on September 14, 2011
There are many local pizza places to choose from and one thing I’ve learned is that everyone has their own preferences. Some like thick crusts, some thin, some like a lot of sauce, some prefer less.
It seems like everywhere we go with children’s functions they are serving pizza or chicken nuggets, so usually I’m leaning toward ANY other type of restaurant….but with a child their preferences rule in many cases, so I try to lean towards a pizza place with a more extensive menu where I can get something else and let my son choose where he wants to go.
Without a doubt Chase always chooses “my soccer coach’s place” – St. Angelo’s on the West Side of Vinings off of Log Cabin Drive at 4686 S. Atlanta Road. His other favorite pizza place is “pizza and a train” – New York Pizza Exchange on the train tracks in Vinings, at 2810 West Paces Ferry Road.
There are many other places including Mellow Mushroom (in Vinings Village) and Mulberry Street Pizza (across 41 from Kroger). I run by there for lunch quite a bit since it seems to be on my route going everywhere and has easy parking. They can get you a slice quickly while you sit and watch the news on their TV’s.
St. Angelo’s is owned by Vinings residents Cecilia and Sean Rowe and they are very involved in all things Vinings, so Chase knows them and likes to go there and feels like he knows the owner. They give him dough to play with and he can watch them make the pizza.
With my son making some of our dinner decisions, I love going to St. Angelo's in Vinings so he can eat pizza and I can have a salad.
St. Angelo’s has a very fun family night on Thursday where kids eat for $0.99 and that includes their fountain drink, carrot/celery and ranch dressing, a slice and gelato – can’t beat it. Then I can have a salad, cheese bread and even an adult beverage if I’m in the mood.
The breadsticks at St. Angelo's are also really good!
We’ve been going to “pizza and a train” (New York Pizza Exchange) since Chase was a baby (he’s still mad at his mom for helping to stop the whistle blowing as the train is passing thru Vinings). He still rushes to the window or insists we sit right next to the tracks.
I’ve heard that many people love the pizza at West Vinings Village; I think its called Blue Moon Pizza, but that’s not as much on my daily path.
I was addicted to Pero’s Pizza for years as my office use to be next door in the shopping center where Houston’s is and we still go to Pero’s quite a bit for other types of Italian food. The thing is they don’t have a children’s menu, so I’m thinking they don’t encourage kids? They’re always nice to us so I can’t imagine that’s it, but in this day and age I thought everyone had a children’s menu!
When Chase wants his “special mac and cheese” which is basically Alfredo sauce instead of cheddar and he wants to make Italian bread dipping sauce, which he is very good at making “our” special recipe, we go to Maggiano’s at Cumberland Mall and have regular Italian sans pizza.
I’d love to hear what your favorite pizza places are in Vinings as well!
Kenny Rogers’ Buckhead (Atlanta) Home Sold
Posted by thunsicker in Buckhead, Famous People in Atlanta, State of Real Estate Market on September 13, 2011
I usually just email my close friends with these types of things, but I think this is newsworthy enough to post on my blog.
Kenny Rogers put his Buckhead estate located at 10 Valley Road, back on the market a few months ago. This time, he listed it at approximately half the price of his initial listing price from several years ago, and did not offer to include the furnishings. Listed at $3,999,000 this time his home sold in just a couple of weeks and closed in a month for very close to asking price. There is good news in this market for sellers that price their home to the current market.
Kenny Rogers' Buckhead Home Sold in September, 2011. A striking property from the street and throughout the entire interior and landscape. Dramatic entry foyer makes quite a statement & leads to rooms that are both elegant & comfortable including formal living and dining rooms, study, great room with 20' ceiling open to large kitchen. Click on the photo to see a virtual tour of the property.
Unfortunately for Kenny, he started with a high price several years ago and was chasing the market down, and then he took the house off the market for about a year. His twin boys were in kindergarten last year and were about to enter first grade here in Atlanta, and I think he just preferred to raise them in his Athens home where he raised his other children.
I’m happy for the agent that the price was right this time and it happened very quickly for all of them.
As we all know it can be challenging to have your house on the market….the good news is that a home priced correctly will still sell even now. It may be painful to get there but it’s where the market is. If you want to (or have to) participate in this market you need to heed the current value to get a sale; he did and had a successful outcome.
Congratulations to the listing agent, Heather Steiner with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty!
Dog Walkers in Vinings – Loving the Cooler Temperatures!
Posted by thunsicker in Living, Vinings on September 12, 2011
Obie, our Portuguese Water Dog
I’m loving the cooler temperatures! With it brings out tons of walkers all over Vinings and Obie (my Portugese Water Dog) and I are among the crowd.
Vinings is only four square miles but it’s all sidewalks and you can pick your areas if you want flat or cardio challenges like the hill on Randall Farm, upper Cochise and N. Elizabeth!
I’ve walked them all and find the same people no matter what area of Vinings. I think we all explore the different streets and since I’ve been doing this for at least 10 years, there probably isn’t a single house that I haven’t looked at. Someone will say “I live on the xth house on Laramie” and I know which one it is.
I’m always surprised when I meet someone that I didn’t know lived in Vinings and they tell me which house is theirs and I remember five years ago when they did their last addition.
The other “destination” that many of us frequent with dogs is the Fire Station. If you didn’t know they have a bowl of water and biscuits for the dogs. My little boy likes to go there and watch them wash the fire engines.
I was disappointed as many were when we lost the Starbucks where we could go and get our coffee and sit outside with our dogs in the morning and read the paper. Well I guess now I’d read my iPad instead anyway!
Walkers, and a few four-legged friends on the streets of Vinings.
Local Three – I crave the organic burger on the Big Green Egg
Posted by thunsicker in Buckhead, Restaurants, Vinings on September 6, 2011
Two of my most favorite restaurants that I frequent often are Buckhead’s Local Three and Muss & Turners in Smynings.
I may not be a true food critic, but if you live in 30327 or 30339 and have not been to these restaurants you’re really missing something. I crave the organic burger cooked on the Big Green Egg smoker and just about every special they come up with.
I still haven’t been to one of the Sunday brunches at Local Three but its on my list of must do’s. They are usually booked a couple of weeks out, but you know everything will be “special”… they smoke their own bacon! Anyway, I highly recommend it and enjoyed this review so I thought you would too.
A Review of Local Three from Christina & The Kitchen
The owners of Atlanta's Local Three.
Local Three was opened by three locals … Ryan Turner, Todd Mussman and Chris Hall. Todd and Ryan are from Food Studio (and that pretty much explains why I LOVE this place, right there … FS was one of my all time faves!), and Chris was the chef at the Sundial Restaurant.
Todd and Ryan are the fathers of the famed Muss & Turners in Smyrna. I believe the three met at a charity event, and talked beer, wine and pig, and, while Chris was thinking about opening his own place, LOCAL THREE was born. It’s said that Todd & Chris = “Back o’ the House” and Ryan = “Front o’ the House”, but I’ll tell ya, they all three feel like the whole thing is their sole responsibility. For instance, Chris has welcomed me at my table a couple of times, and came out to greet patrons I’ve sent in, too. Good Folks, these guys.
They’ve got a great thing going, driven by an awesome philosophy, which is, plain as day, out there for everyone to see: People Matter Most. Local is Priority. Seasonal Makes Sense. Authenticity Rules. Quality Governs. Delicious Trumps. Pretense Stinks. Comfort Feels Good. Appreciation Tasted Better. Prudence Sustains It All.
Get it? WOW — that right there makes me want to hang out with them (and eat, of course)!
So … I decided that I’d let the rest of Atlanta have a taste of what I got and realize what a gem they have right there, on the northside of town, and wrote a review on YELP! And wouldn’t you know … Chef Chris wrote me a nice little note back!
Here’s my review of Local Three:
They had me at their Daily Operating Philosophy.
Chef Chris Hall and Todd and Ryan (of Muss & Turner’s) have this one NAILED! They’ve opened Local Three in the old Joel location – but don’t let that steer you away … Fortunate to have a fab kitchen, I don’t think they changed much there, but the decor was just so “last year”, as was the food. Local Three looks and feels not one bit like Joel, and I couldn’t have been more impressed.
I had the opportunity to visit Local Three last week and was completely blown away. I consider myself a bit of a foodie, and have a discerning palate for all types of food – boiled peanuts and popcorn included. Their bar “snacks” are fun, not fussy. (yes, I said “boiled peanuts” – YUM).
The bar was warm, inviting, yet a little elegant. PERFECT for a drop in drink, a drink before dinner and even dinner! The selection of beer was outrageous (I was warned) as was the bourbon and whiskey list. We chose a nice bottle of wine (I’m not too knowledgeable on the brown stuff), although, the cocktail list was also quite impressive. The service, even though they were pretty tight, was awesome – I felt like we were the only two in the place – we never had to ask for a thing.
Our lobster gnocchi, grilled flatiron, pan seared (Georgia) trout, salads – EVERYthing – was perfect.
Atlanta needs more places like this. The place is “just right” (which I think is what the boys want it to be). It’s a bit of a local place, a bit of a night out for dinner place, and even more so, a place you want to come back to soon.
Go. Now. Be prepared to “sit deep and stay long” – they live by their philosophy and they want to get to know you … I can attest to this.
Piece of Cake Open in Vinings
Posted by thunsicker in Living, Vinings on September 1, 2011
Piece of Cake open in Vinings at the corner of Paces Mill and Cobb Parkway.
Piece of Cake opened in Vinings yesterday!
Samples of all their cakes and some Farmers Market types of items. Stop by and see the manager, Cary Thorpe! This is definitely a wonderful addition to the Sweet Treats in Vinings options!
I have always loved Piece of Cake in Buckhead and have frequented there throughout the years when the occasion arises. I still think Piece of Cake has the freshest cakes as they bake them right there and the smell is to die for! I am so excited about them coming to Vinings!
They are located in the Kroger shopping center at the corner of Paces Mill and Cobb Parkway.
Piece of Cake Vinings
3220 Cobb Parkway #101 Atlanta, GA 30339
770-643-7770
M – F: 9AM – 5:30PM; Sat: 10AM – 2PM
Map and directions
A temporary sign hangs at the new location of Piece of Cake in Vinings.
Piece of Cake in Vinings is offering salads made by a company in Marietta. What a great idea!
Sweet Treats in Vinings
Posted by thunsicker in Living, Restaurants, Vinings on August 31, 2011
I want to keep people updated on all things Vinings….including places I have tried to avoid…. There are three sweet treat places in Vinings that we have intentionally passed by for caloric and financial reasons. Its at least $8 for my son and I to stop by at any of these places it seems.
ColdStone Creamery
Yoforia
CamiCakes Cupcakes
Cami Cakes is the newest sweet treat shop in Vinings, and they have wonderful combinations of flavors in their cupcakes.
The newest entrant is the CamiCakes Cupcakes at 4338 Paces Ferry Road. (There was a cupcake place there before but I went once and the cupcakes were too small for the price.)
CamiCakes are large cupcakes and approximately $2.65 each…. and I’ve become addicted.
I have told many friends how deadly the salted caramel chocolates at Costco are and now I’ve discovered this CamiCakes Salted Caramel Cupcake. They have many great combinations, the Pineapple Coconut is another one that I’m thinking about right now.
I have always loved Piece of Cake in Buckhead and have frequented there throughout the years when the occasion arises. I still think Piece of Cake has the freshest cakes as they bake them right there and the smell is to die for! But due to convenience CamiCakes may be stealing me away.
As of September 1, there’s a Piece of Cake store in Vinings!
Yoforia in Vinings is a healthy alternative to some of the other sweet treat places nearby.
I know Yoforia is the healthiest alternative, but I really don’t crave anything there and the three children I’ve polled don’t like it either. They usually prefer the Coldstone Creamery ice cream or Cami Cakes as well. But if you’re trying to eat healthy and still want a treat – Yoforia is probably the answer.
Most everyone loves a big bowl of ice cream on a hot day, especially the kids!
Now onto the ice cream, Coldstone Creamery has been here for awhile and most people know about it, but if you’re shopping in the Vinings Village or need a place to take the kids on a hot summer day, nothing is better than a refreshing scoop of your favorite flavors.
All of these sweet treat places are walkable in Vinings Village and I know many make the drive to Menchie’s (in Paces Ferry Plaza by Houston’s) for their yogurt as well.
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