Vote set on plan for new city park in Alpharetta

The Alpharetta City Council will vote Monday night on plans proposed by Monarch Construction to build a new park on five acres on Cogburn Road north of Windward Parkway.

The park would feature a walking trail, trees, an open field and bathrooms.

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Construction costs zoom

Builders must raise home prices or see profits fall

The cost of concrete, lumber, PVC and other building materials has been on the rise for the past two years, however, many believe the impact of this year's hurricane season is still to be seen as demand continues to out weigh supply for building materials.

Many Atlanta area builders have not yet priced new phases of communities that will be built next year as they are taking a "wait and see" approach to consumer reactions at price increases.

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Cherokee Business Briefs

Patrick Malloy Communities was honored for home design at Harmony on the Lakes.

Prudential Georgia Realty will now market the Estates at Equest, a new home and equestrian community in Canton priced from the $700,000s.

Sivica homes is building single family homes in River Walk in Woodstock priced from the $150,000s to the $180,000s.

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Schools need millions more for diesel bus fuel

As school system transportation departments prepared their fuel budgets last December, most metro school systems are falling short on funds for fuel.

Gwinnett County and Dekalb County have sought more money for diesel fuel and more counties may have to follow suit.

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Pope & Land, Post to build twin Buckhead towers

Atlanta apartment builder, Post Properties, and local office builder, Pope & Land Enterprises, plan to build two towers on the corner of Peachtree Road and Peachtree Dunwoody Road in Buckhead.

The tallest building will hold 20 floors of office space with a couple floors of condominiums on top and the second building will be 25 stories of residential properties.

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Cracks, buckles close Forsyth road

Portions of Ronald Reagan Boulevard just south of Northside Hospital Forsyth and adjacent to the Lafarge Quarry has been closed as the road is cracking, buckling and appears to be sliding towards the quarry.

Two rental homes have been evacuated and a water tower has been drained.

The ground is shifting two to four inches per day and there is concern about a possible landslide.

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Brick sales pave way to better parks

Money from the sale of bricks will help build walkways and fund improvements at the Twin Creeks Softball Complex at J.J. Biello Park in Woodstock.

The bricks cost $50 and can be engraved with three lines, 20 characters per line.

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Grant to help build Holly Springs park

A $20,000 state grant matched by an equal contribution from the city will help build a park next to the train depot in Holly Springs.

The construction of the park will begin next year and will include a gazebo and a fountain.

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Northside Business Notes

Roberts Realty Investors plans to build 210 housing units on 36 acres it just purchased at GA 20 and Elm Street just north of downtown Cumming.

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State senator new chairman of village group

Thompson replaces Morsberger

Senator Curt Thompson (D-Norcross) was named the new chairman of the Southwest Gwinnett Village Community Improvement Association on Wednesday, December 7 ,2005.

The Association is trying to create a self-taxing business district around Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Indian Trail Road and Beaver Ruin Road that would raise funds to improve traffic, fight crime and beautify streets in the area.

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Northsiders favor city incorporation if taxes stay low

Residents of unincorporated North Fulton County have expressed they are most concerned about their property taxes with respect to forming a new city or joining Alpharetta or Roswell.

Most residents would favor the creation of a new city under the Sandy Springs model which freezes property taxes at the current millage level.

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County to allow high-rise condos

Zoning change permits 25-story developments

On Tuesday, December 6, 2005, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners voted 3 to 2 to allow high-rise condos up to 25 stories in parts of the county.

Areas affected include the Mall of Georgia, Gwinnett Place Mall, Sugarloaf and Jimmy Carter Boulevard between Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and I-85.

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River Club lets birdies fly, on and off course

The River Club, a private golf course in Suwanee, was declared a certified cooperative sanctuary by Audubon International in October.

The course has a very natural appearance and enhances the presence of wildlife.

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