Smart history. Smart history

Transcription

1

2

3 Smart history Smart history Although Dunwoody was not formally incorporated as a city until December 1, 2008, our history began when our first settlers arrived in the early 1800 s. Founded as one of Georgia s original railroad towns, transportation and access continue to drive Dunwoody s economy. The residents in this area have always identified themselves as living in Dunwoody, with a unique history separate from other areas and cities in DeKalb County. Modern Dunwoody began taking shape in 1969 when Michael Gearon, developer of Executive Park Atlanta s first suburban interstate oriented office park at I-85 and North Druid Hills Drive purchased 500 acres of farmland owned by the Spruill family for a new commercial development called Perimeter Center. Gearon purchased the property in anticipation of the growth that would occur once the I-285 perimeter highway opened. Residential communities had already been developed on all sides of Perimeter Center, paced by the affluent Dunwoody neighborhoods to the north and east. Perimeter Center was envisioned as an architecturally and density-controlled campus-like office park that would incorporate office and retail activity in a heavily wooded, rustic setting. Almost immediately, Gearon sold 70 acres to the Rouse Corporation to develop what would become Perimeter Mall in Old Buck Dunwoody railroad engine, circa 1903 Donaldson-Chesnut Farm, circa 1875 Gearon then sold his interest in the project to two associates, Harvey Mathis and Mack Taylor, triggering a new phase of growth for the area and creating one of Atlanta s venerable office developers, Taylor & Mathis. Taylor & Mathis developed over 30 single-tenant and multitenant office buildings over the next 25 years, including headquarters for the Southern Company, Gold Kist, and Cotton States Insurance. Two freeway fronting tracts of the original Spruill property remained farmland and under family control until 1980, when one was purchased by Houston developer Gerald D. Hines. The subsequent development of that tract into the Ravinia Office Park signaled a new growth phase of Perimeter Center, as densities increased along with dramatically escalating land values. The purchase of the last Spruill property cemented the future of Perimeter Center as a Class-A office market and ended many years of stewardship by the Spruill family. Dunwoody has a foundation that supports our expanding residential and business communities with vast resources for additional growth in manpower, technology, innovation, and industry. In short, Dunwoody is a smart location for business. The City of Dunwoody 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 250 Dunwoody, GA t: DunwoodyGA.gov

4 Smart people Creative, intelligent, highly-skilled people from all over the world have found Dunwoody to be a welcoming, small town with the added benefit of having direct access to one of the most dynamic business districts in the Southeast, the Perimeter Center. Our location at the center of the Metro Atlanta region provides companies with unmatched access to workers. Over the past few decades, new employment centers have emerged north from downtown Atlanta along the I-75, I-85, and GA-400 corridors. Dunwoody is perfectly positioned equidistant between I-75 and I-85 near the intersection of GA-400 and I-285 for easy access to and from all of these job centers. The Atlanta Regional Commission, the region s planning agency, forecasts that the area will add over 3 million people and 1.5 million new jobs in the next 30 years. Dunwoody is expected to add between 30,000 and 50,000 jobs during this period, especially in the highest paying job sectors. This job and population growth solidifies Dunwoody s position as a dominate job center in Metro Atlanta.

5 Smart people Talented Community of College Graduates According to a recent Metro Atlanta Chamber Young & Restless study, Atlanta ranks first in the nation for attracting highly educated year olds, and almost 36 percent of the region s population has at least a bachelor s degree. Combine that with Dunwoody s educated population where 40 percent hold bachelor s degrees and 21 percent hold master s, professional, or doctorate degrees, and your search for talent is over. Source: Census Bureau, On The Map (Salary Data from Q1, 2009, GA DOL) The map above shows where information workers live in Metro Atlanta. Information workers are engaged in the information and As an added benefit to business, Metro Atlanta ranks highly in share of population with business-oriented degrees. knowledge economy, which includes internet, telecommunications, and data processing professions. These workers, on average, According to the 2009 American Community Survey, approximately 27 percent of Metro Atlanta s population of adults are the highest paid in the region, averaging a monthly salary of almost $7,000. These workers are heavily concentrated in the aged 25+ have a bachelor s degree in a business-related field. Only Dallas, Texas has a higher percentage. Overall in City of Dunwoody and in North Fulton County along the GA-400 and I-285 corridors. Metro Atlanta, 41 percent of its educated population has a degree in science/engineering, 27 percent in business, 21 percent in the arts/humanities, and 11 percent in education. HOW ATLANTA RANKS AMONG MAJOR U.S. METRO AREAS FOR GRADUATES IN SELECT FIELDS Top Cities for New College Graduates 1. Houston, TX No. 3: Engineering 2. Washington, DC No. 5: Computer Sciences 3. Dallas, TX No. 7: Business Management and Marketing 4. Atlanta, GA No. 8: Health Professions 5. Austin, TX Source: Atlanta Regional Consortium for Higher Education (ARCHE) Source: BusinessWeek magazine, July 16, 2010 Source: Census Bureau, On The Map (Salary Data from Q1, 2009, GA DOL) The map above shows where professional, scientific, and technical workers live in Metro Atlanta. These workers require a high degree of expertise, education, and training. The sector includes legal, accounting, architectural, engineering, and computer service professions. The heaviest concentrations of these workers live along the GA-400 and I-285 corridors.

6 Source: Census Bureau, On The Map (Salary Data from Q1, 2009, GA DOL) The map above shows areas in Metro Atlanta that either import or export workers in one of the five highest-paying job sectors: information; finance and insurance; professional, scientific, and technical services; management of companies; educational services. The GA-400 and I-285 corridors are job-rich areas that have heavy concentrations of the highest-paying professions within the region. Atlanta Education Atlanta is a top higher education hub with nationally recognized institutions including Emory University, Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, Georgia Perimeter College, Mercer University s Atlanta Campus, and many technical colleges. In fact, the Metro Atlanta region is home to a total of 57 colleges and universities that enroll over 200,000 students annually. Dunwoody is home to Georgia Perimeter College, with an annual student population of over 9,000. Edward Glaeser, a Harvard University Economics Professor, has described Atlanta s strength as a result of its own myriad universities and Georgia s Hope Scholarship program, which provides free public tuition and some private tuition to any Georgia resident with decent grades. The program pays off by both educating Atlanta s children and attracting smart, education-oriented parents. The City of Dunwoody 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 250 Dunwoody, GA t: DunwoodyGA.gov

7 Smart location Finding the right location to grow or expand your business is both an art and a science a balance of cost of living and quality of life; business and family; amenities and price. For a company to be successful, exposure to workforce and markets has to be a top priority. Dunwoody fills both of those needs and more. Access to GA-400 and I-285 is quick and easy via multiple routes. Four MARTA stations complement highway access, making Dunwoody one of the most accessible business locations in Metro Atlanta. Dunwoody has always been known for its high-quality, single-family neighborhoods. In addition, it s also ideally located in a cradle of executive housing including the areas of Buckhead and Brookhaven to the south, Sandy Springs to the west, and Roswell and Johns Creek to the north.

8 N Smart location

9 The City of Dunwoody 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 250 Dunwoody, GA t: DunwoodyGA.gov

10 Smart business The City of Dunwoody has become a recognized hot spot for new business investment. With a large population base, an educated workforce, easy access to sought after executive housing, efficient transportation access to all parts of the Metro Atlanta region, and a diverse portfolio of real estate options, Dunwoody offers an unmatched combination of assets for business success. The Perimeter Center office market is Metro Atlanta s largest contiguous employment district with more than 100,000 employees, 28 million square feet of office space, and six million square feet of retail. Perimeter Center is home to many Fortune 1000 firms including UPS, Newell Rubbermaid, Georgia Gulf, Cox Communications, Popeye s, Global Payments, and First Data. An additional 125 companies each with 100+ employees call Perimeter Center home, including InterContinental Hotels Group, Access Insurance, Allscripts, and Doosan Infracore, to name a few.

11 Smart business Dunwoody: Leader in Industries That Drive Innovation The variety of industries headquartered in Dunwoody continues to widen, outpacing the expansion of business sectors in many other communities. The mainstay of Dunwoody s business sectors continues to be corporate and regional headquarters, information technology and software, financial services, and most recently, a growing healthcare IT segment. With a diversified and prosperous business community and an environment attractive to tomorrow s technology, Dunwoody enjoys sizeable employment concentrations in these high-wage business sectors. All of these industries benefit from conditions that support great businesses, including access to a highly capable workforce, efficient access to the global marketplace, and low costs of doing business. Top 5 Most Wired Cities in the U.S. 1 Raleigh 2 Atlanta 3 Seattle 4 San Francisco 5 Washington, D.C. Source: FORBES Magazine Four Reasons Why Georgia is Attracting New Business No. 2: Workforce No. 3: Transportation No. 4: Top States for Business (overall) No. 9: Costs of Living Source: CNBC.com Dunwoody Understands How Business Operates The City of Dunwoody understands how business operates because the majority of city staff are employed by private companies. Since its incorporation, the city has provided municipal services to its citizens and businesses in a unique and progressive manner through a public-private partnership with private firms. The split contract service model, pioneered by Dunwoody, uses specialized private-sector firms to provide key municipal services, while the city employs a skeleton management staff and the Police Department. This model adds value and flexibility to the city, promotes competition, and builds accountability for service providers. The pro-business attitude translates into higher levels of customer service to citizens and businesses. Dunwoody s concentrated community allows unparalleled access to municipal leaders and community decision makers, especially for an office market the size of Perimeter Center. This small size reduces the bureaucracy of the city government and improves the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, enhances collaborative culture, promotes an integrative approach to problem solving, and makes public-private partnerships easier to create. Our city partners include the Chamber of Commerce, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Perimeter Transportation Coalition, and the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts. In short, our doors are always open.

12 The City of Dunwoody 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 250 Dunwoody, GA t: DunwoodyGA.gov

13 Smart infrastructure The Perimeter Center Office District is undergoing rapid urbanization as it steadily transforms from a suburban office center into a mixed-use district. Market forces, large-scale infrastructure projects, and regional transportation investments are all contributing toward the continued growth of this market. For the past decade, the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCIDs) and the Perimeter Transportation Coalition have amassed a significant track record of expediting improvements in traffic flow, pedestrian safety, and the availability of alternate modes of transportation. The PCIDs is a model public-private partnership comprised of self-taxing commercial property owners. Their investment has leveraged over $100 million over the past ten years to accelerate critical infrastructure projects. Creative solutions make a difference Dunwoody thrives by partnering with organizations that share our mission to provide the highest quality of life for those who live, work, or play in our community and to foster an environment where businesses can prosper. This includes our unique partnership with the PCIDs to expedite improvements in transportation, pedestrian access, green space, and urban amenities that will improve the office markets long-term viability.

14 Smart infrastructure Ashford Dunwoody Diverging Diamond Interchange Ashford Dunwoody Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) The Ashford Dunwoody Diverging Diamond Interchange is a capacity and safety improvement project intended to assist in relieving the congestion along Ashford Dunwoody Road at I-285 without replacing the existing bridge. With an estimated 54,000 trips daily, this interchange is currently operating above capacity. The diverging diamond concept will use restriping, altered signal timing, improved turning conditions, and one reconstructed ramp to move traffic faster. This project will reduce congestion and accidents due to fewer traffic points of conflict, specifically left turns. The project will retain the existing Ashford Dunwoody bridge, saving significant costs while allowing for future interchange improvements. Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS) ATMS incorporates state-of-the-art technology upgrades to traffic signal control equipment and communications hardware that will allow for real-time coordination of signals, reducing congestion, and improving safety. The ATMS project includes correcting missing gaps in the fiber optic network, upgrading traffic signal hardware, and retiming traffic signals throughout the Perimeter Office District. However, this project goes above and beyond to provide an opportunity to link communication across jurisdictions. Once in place, traffic patterns can be seamlessly monitored via a new state-of-the-art Traffic Management Center. Dunwoody MARTA Station Pedestrian Improvements The Dunwoody MARTA Station is strategically situated at the intersection of Hammond Drive and Perimeter Center Parkway, directly adjacent to Perimeter Mall. Studies have shown a need to improve access and mobility in and out of the transit station. The PCIDs LCI Master Plan, updated in 2011, proposes a transit village around the station that will serve as a model for other MARTA Stations. These improvements will better integrate the transit station into nearby properties and create a town center for Perimeter Center, which would give a greater sense of place to the office market. Perimeter Inter-Circulator System Today, eleven private shuttles operate within the Perimeter Office District at a cost of over $1 million per year. These private shuttles are an important piece of the office districts transportation solution. However, the market needs a comprehensive circulator system that serves the entire Perimeter Office Market and can respond to destinations of choice for employees and visitors. The PCIDs is leading an effort to develop this circulator system to leverage the existing shuttle service.

15 I-285 Transit Corridor Project One of the most congested traffic corridors in Metro Atlanta is the area between I-85 and I-75 along the top end of I-285. To address this challenge, in 2006, the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority launched Revive 285 Top End to develop a solution to the traffic challenges along this vital corridor that links two of Atlanta s largest office markets, Perimeter Center and Cumberland Galleria. The project also connects two existing MARTA Stations, Dunwoody and Doraville, and three major highways, I-85, GA-400, and I-75. Revive 285 Top End is proposing a number of solutions that could include light rail transit or bus rapid transit, managed lanes, braided ramps, auxiliary lanes, and improved express bus services. This is a unique solution to mobility challenges in the context of edge-city land use patterns. As suburban employment centers morph into edge cities, they pose unanticipated transportation challenges due to their need for circumferential transportation connections (suburb to suburb), rather than traditional radial systems that connect downtowns to suburbs. Hammond Half Diamond When it opens in 2011, the Hammond Half Diamond interchange and bridge will add another gateway in and out of the Perimeter Center Office Market. The original fourlane overpass is being replaced with a nine-lane bridge with on/off ramps for GA-400 that will greatly improve traffic flow and safety at the Abernathy Road interchange. Perimeter Center Parkway Flyover Bridge The expansion of Perimeter Center Parkway south across I-285 has created a new access point to the Perimeter Office Market and provides an alternate route around the Ashford Dunwoody interchange. This 1,100 foot multimodal bridge features 4-foot wide bicycle lanes and 6-foot wide pedestrian lanes providing pedestrians and cyclists a safe commute alternative. Photos courtesy of the PCIDs The City of Dunwoody 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 250 Dunwoody, GA t: DunwoodyGA.gov

16 Smart living Smart living is what Dunwoody is all about. It s a well-situated, vibrant, fun place to live, work, and visit, and it s different from any other place in the Metro Atlanta region. There s something about this convenient lifestyle that draws young singles, established professionals, growing families, and empty-nesters to create a thriving community. To accommodate the future growth of Dunwoody, the city is working to incorporate the latest thinking on how the physical space of our community is created, focusing efforts on enhancements to livability and creating a unique sense of place. These concepts include mixed-use development, transit-oriented development, smart growth, and green building design.

17 Smart living Quality Residential Neighborhoods Dunwoody provides an alternative to the typical debate between dense urban development and dispersed suburban development. We are a blend of low density, single-family residential neighborhoods and urban amenities a balanced economy that provides access to upscale housing options, jobs, shopping, and other lifestyle amenities. During the first half of the 20th century, metropolitan growth was dominated by central cities and characterized by dense mixed-use development. This pattern shifted during the second half of the 20th century when metropolitan growth was dominated by suburbs and characterized by low density development. The next phase of metropolitan development is being led by communities like Dunwoody bridging these two styles of development districts with a new geographic form that is not central city nor suburban, but a mixture of the two. This evolving urban form will be a more balanced development pattern that leverages the strategic location of existing employment centers for continued job growth and investment. This new form of development includes connecting our residential neighborhoods to our existing commercial activity centers. Investments in sidewalks, parks, and transportation improvements will create a more liveable and sustainable community. Annual Celebrations Lemonade Days Dunwoody Arts Festival Fourth of July Parade Dunwoody Music Festival Soap Box Derby Light Up Dunwoody Something for Everyone Perimeter Mall Park Place Perimeter Place Dunwoody Village Dunwoody Nature Center Spruill Center for the Arts DeKalb Cultural Arts Center Brook Run Park Conceptual sketch of Dunwoody Village Park

18 Conceptual Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan Conceptual Brook Run Park Master Plan The City of Dunwoody 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 250 Dunwoody, GA t: DunwoodyGA.gov

19 Smart future A demographic wave is sweeping across our nation, and it will be a decisive force in shaping our economic destiny. In the years ahead, changes in demographics and consumer behavior will drive new real estate development patterns that reflect a trend toward communities focused on livability and sustainability. These communities will have town centers that act as focal points, offering green space, shopping amenities, entertainment opportunities, and close proximity to employment centers. As cities move increasingly into a knowledge-based economy, the kind of talented people each city attracts will determine whether it wins or loses in the campaign for future prosperity. The dominate demographic groups of the future, including aging Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y, all place high value on time, convenience, and amenities. This new localism places a high value on areas to gather and share ideas and opinions. The City of Dunwoody is focusing efforts on providing the types of residential communities that suit these changing tastes.

20 Commercial Villages Many economists and demographers, including Joel Kotkin an authority on global, economic, political, and social trends have observed that Americans seem to be strengthening their family and community ties, and centering their lives more closely around the places they live. This movement is driving communities to build new town centers, main streets, and village squares intended to foster a unique local identity and community focus. These villages are developing as self-contained places that provide walkable environments and urban style amenities such as entertainment, dining, and shopping. Smart future These districts tend to give residents a stronger sense of pride and loyalty to their neighborhoods, creating long-term residents and stable communities. Kotkin writes, the longer people stay in their homes and communities, the more they identify with those places, and the greater their commitment to helping local businesses and institutions thrive. The master plans for Dunwoody Village and Georgetown lay out a redevelopment framework to achieve these goals. Dunwoody Village Redevelopment Plan The Dunwoody Village Master Plan envisions a commercial activity district that is the center of Dunwoody s civic life, maintaining its existing charm and link to the area s history. This Village Center incorporates a significant open space surrounded by a mix of uses, including a modest number of high-end residential units to foster greater livability and activity during evening and weekend hours. Office Retail Restaurants Hotels Fitness Perimeter Center is a dominant Class-A office and retail market; the largest contiguous employment district in the Southeast with 100,000 employees, 4,000 businesses, 248 office buildings, and 18 million visitors to Perimeter Mall annually. The PCIDs recently completed a study of the Perimeter Office District to identify and address the most significant development challenges in the coming decade. As this market continues to grow, the transition from a suburban office market to a more urban form will accelerate. Three areas of focus for the future will be: Connectivity Between Activity Districts The future of Perimeter Center will include more walkable districts around major intersections and activity centers such as Perimeter Mall and office buildings. This will require new development patterns and retrofitting the large block suburban grid and underutilized surface parking lots. Development of Transit Villages Around MARTA Stations One major asset that is underutilized in Perimeter Center is the MARTA Transit System. High-density, transit-oriented development at these stations will allow for more transportation options for employees and residents, and improve the general mobility of the Perimeter Office District. Livability Enhancements Competition for residents and high-quality employers will require Perimeter Center to develop a more vibrant civic environment and sense of place. Investments will include new parks, enhanced green space and gathering places, improved pedestrian infrastructure, and wayfinding systems. Georgetown Redevelopment PLAN The Georgetown/North Shallowford Master Plan outlines targeted initiatives to improve the gateway appearance and create connectivity while encouraging high-quality retail and residential offerings. The Master Plan focuses on three key properties with great susceptibility to change: 1) the vacant and former DeKalb County School site, 2) the vacant and former Emory Medical Center site, 3) the 16-acre vacant property situated between Chamblee-Dunwoody Road and North Shallowford Road.

21 Poised for Future Growth Dunwoody is fortunate to enjoy a location and local economy that is an attractive destination for businesses and families alike. As of the 2010 Census, Dunwoody is home to 46,267 residents, an increase of 7,569 since 2000, representing a growth rate of 8.4 percent over the past ten years. These residents fill over 21,000 housing units located in the city, with an occupied rate of 92 percent. The largest age groups in Dunwoody are individuals and 35-44, those in the prime of their working and family lives. The median home value for the City of Dunwoody is $358,054, and once residents make Dunwoody their home, they tend to stay. Eighty-four percent of the population remains in the same household from one year to the next. PCIDs 3 MILES 6 MILES METRO Population 10,205 98, ,369 5,611,180 Households 5,568 45,045 98,082 2,025,678 Avg. Household Income $95,774 $108,134 $114,156 $85,998 Avg. Home Value $253,229 $297,987 $359,906 $189,450 Source: ESRI, Perimeter at The Center Future Focus Report, 2011 In Dunwoody, 81 percent of the residents make over $50,000 each year and 65 percent make over $75,000 each year. The PCIDs area is defined by the boundaries of the Perimeter Center Community Improvement Districts special taxing area Dunwoody has a highly educated population that places high value on educational attainment. Not only have 99 percent of residents over the age of 25 graduated from high school, but over 43 percent have earned a bachelor s degree and over 27 percent have earned a graduate or professional degree. Perimeter Center Office Market The Perimeter Center Office Market and its related residential markets have not been spared from the impact of the national recession that began in The recession still significantly affects the Metro Atlanta region and, to varying degrees, its various office sub-markets. However, the Perimeter Center office, retail, and residential markets have not been as negatively impacted as most other areas of Atlanta due to a number of basic demographic, income, and location strengths that the market enjoys over other sub-markets. TEN YEAR DEMAND FOR RETAIL, OFFICE, AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE PCIDs AREA Retail: 5 million square feet Local Office: 300,000 square feet Regional Office: 3.3 million square feet Residential: 6,000 units Source: Perimeter at The Center Future Focus Report, 2011 National and Regional Trends Impacting Dunwoody s Economic Development Metro Atlanta is expected to grow by 1 million people over the next decade Suburban growth of population and employment will continue Suburban in-fill with slightly higher density is the next wave of development Highest paying jobs tend to locate in existing core office markets Perimeter Center has 17 percent of Metro Atlanta s employment Back to basics: Generation Y starting families, emphasis on families and family-oriented amenities, and new localism with strong role for village-style shopping The City of Dunwoody 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 250 Dunwoody, GA t: DunwoodyGA.gov

22

23