7/13/10

AGAINST THE ODDS

Unincorporated south Fulton bucks national housing trend

By LaTria Garnigan
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From January to June 2009 until January to June 30, 2010 unincorporated south Fulton County saw an increase of housing permits from 21 to 85, according to Randy Beck, deputy director of Planning and Zoning for Environmental and Community Development.

“We’ve seen about a four-fold increase in our single-family housing permitting,” said Beck. “And actually for the month of July 2009 we only issued about six permits. As of July 9 this year we’ve issued 10 already — so we’re well ahead of the pace.”

Beck’s office, along with other county departments, recently moved to some leased space off of Fulton Industrial Boulevard in an effort to be closer to those they serve. He mentioned the permits have been spread out, as far as the housing development areas.

Fulton County Commission Vice Chairman William “Bill” Edwards is very pleased with the increase in the housing permits in unincorporated south Fulton County.

“It’s a positive sign,” said Edwards. “You have to realize in 2000 when I came into the office we had 58,000 plus people. And right now by preliminary census figures we have 117,000—so we’ve been growing over the years and adding more to the population and have seen a turn in housing.”

Edwards said that increase does a lot for unincorporated south Fulton in terms of adding additional residential, but also adding some additional commercial and retail.

In terms of relating the figures to recent years, Beck said 2009 was definitely better than 2008, but that the 2010 numbers are dramatically different than they were a year ago in the single-family housing arena.

Edwards added any time you can end the year or a month on a positive note, whether it’s just one house, then that puts you in a positive direction.

“We want to make sure that we stay on the positive end of development,” he said. “I think we’re trending in the right direction, and I think the economy is turning around and when it turns around — because of land cost and availability — south Fulton is the place to be.”

Edwards said the areas in and around South Fulton Parkway and Butner Road seem to be the most popular in terms of development.

He has been meeting with the mayors of south Fulton for the last three months in an effort to work together to collaborate on issues such as retail and housing.