Duke Land Group Releases Early Plans for Eco-driven Mixed-use Community
Duke Land Group has revealed preliminary plans for a 104-acre mixed use development in Roswell, Ga., that will aim to create new business, jobs and tax revenue for the city.
By Joshua Ayers, Senior Editor
Roswell, Ga.—Duke Land Group has revealed preliminary plans for a 104-acre mixed-use development in Roswell, Ga., that will aim to create new business, jobs and tax revenue for the city. The early plans call for the preservation of 43 percent of the ecologically-driven project’s land for open-space use, which will include a mix of parks, public space and pedestrian-oriented areas, as well as public running, biking and walking trails.
“In a location with existing ties to natural features like the Chattahoochee River, we wanted to embrace the topography and build on the substantial network of greenways and waterways that course through the Roswell and the immediate region,” says Kevin Sloan, principal land planner. “Our goal is to build a community-focused development with an ecological purpose.”
The preliminary plans for the development, Riverwalk Village, which will be located between Ga. 400 and Old Alabama Road, include about 1,500 residential units that would comprise single-family attached, multifamily and active adult housing. The commercial component would include retail, restaurant, entertainment and grocery venues and would total about 490,000 square feet, while office space would total about 1.7 million square feet. Additionally, the plans call for a 200-key hotel, 200,000 square feet of civic and institutional space that would include a Swift School for children with language-based learning difficulties. The plans conform to the City of Roswell’s Unified Development Code.
“Riverwalk Village is a key development for Roswell,” says Steve Stroud, executive director of Roswell Inc., a Roswell-based community organization that promotes sustainable economic development through public-private partnerships. “We have a strong need for Class A office and mixed use space that offers convenient access to Ga. 400. The focus on the connection to the natural environment within Riverwalk Village will truly reflect Roswell’s continued commitment to being eco-friendly and will be a true city centerpiece that echoes the spirit and authenticity of Roswell.”
In keeping with efforts to accentuate the natural land setting of the project, Duke Land Group tapped architects and land planners that focus extensively on land preservation and ecological developments. The plans have been filed and are awaiting review by the Atlanta Regional Commission. Construction is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2015, pending zoning and other permits.
“Riverwalk Village will be a seamless extension from the Chattahoochee National Parkway with the addition of nature trails and sustainable water features,” says Blair Schlossberg, founder and co-manager of Crown Holdings Group, an affiliate of Duke Land Group. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the City of Roswell and to enhancing a natural setting that residents, workers and visitors can all enjoy.”