Separate from the called council meeting, many of the council members, including myself, hung around to hear a presentation from Intresinc, a marketing firm, and McKim & Creed, an engineering firm specializing in planning and land development. Barbara Spohn from Intresinc and Mark Brock and Mark Smith of McKim & Creed presented several of our community leaders (mayor, city council, water board, Chamber of Commerce, etc..) with a conceptual plan for a residential development on a 76 acre piece of property adjacent to the Travel Inn Motel. The concept, which is a work in progress, would be a semi-gated community including homes of several different types and price ranges, tennis courts, pool(s), walking trails, a lake, and even limited retail within walking distance of the main development. The homes might include townhomes, mid-range houses, and/or even upscale type homes on larger lots, all of which could be phased in based on market conditions. Of course, this is all in the conceptual phase right now and is subject to change depending on community input. According to Miss Spohn, though, there are investors interested in this project, so the concept could become a reality sooner than later.
This concept is something that Guin sorely needs. Unfortunately, we have a shortage of mid-range to upscale type homes that many families are looking for when they move into our area. And ultimately, we end up losing these families to some of our neighboring communities who have these type homes available. This type of development would not only allow us to attract those families to our community and to our schools, it can also be a tremendous tool when we're recruiting industry to our area. Housing is a very important piece of a recruiting package we might present to an industry and one which we lack in currently.
Attached is a picture of the conceptual design. It's not a great picture, but hopefully you can get an idea of what the development might look like. I'm also attaching a second picture of a design, also from Intresinc, that is planned for the Healthtex property once the building is brought down. The plan is for a retail development located on the ground floor with loft apartments located above those businesses.
21 comments:
I think houseing is great.but will there be jobs for people to pay for them.The rumor i hear is BINO is trying to come to the old shopping center.That Websters owns.I AM 100% FOR THIS.MAYBE IT WILL BRING GUIN TO LIFE AGAIN.LIKE IT DID JASPER.LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
Part of recruiting big industry is the ability to house them. Currently, we are lacking in that area. This sort of project would allow us to phase in houses based on need, but the fact that it's planned and work is being done is a recruiting tool.
On the shopping center, it is my understanding that a local business owner wants to buy it, make improvements, and bring more retail businesses in, but I'm not sure of the status of those negotiations. I do believe this would be a positive.
Thank you for your interest and comment.
I always here if marion county is wet the industry will come.i do not drink but if that what we have to do why not do it.people in marion county drinks and spend there money in wet county.while not keep it in our county.
I agree Bingo and going wet are great ideas for Guin. The reason is we need anything to help keep buinesses in Guin and bring them to Guin because they are leaving faster than new businesses are arriving. Why would anyone want to invest in a new retail complex when the city can't even keep Dollar General in town yet it thrives in Winfield and Sulligent! They built a brand new building and was gone in less than a year. So why do we need a whole new complex to let sit empty in Guin. I believe the problem is not the city or the people, it is the small group of people, the so called click, that have hurt the city for many years and drive businesses and people away.
Please can anyone let me know when the bingo will open. I'm tired of spending my money driving to Jasper. After all it is suppose to make CENTS to buy in Guin!
Please elaborate on those in "the click" who are driving businesses away. I'm not aware of this group.
Retail is truly important to producing revenue for our city, but to be successful in a small town, businesses have to provide their communities with goods and services that are unique, are not already provided for locally, or produce healthy competition for like businesses.
In Dollar General's case, they provided a service which Fred's dominates. Unfortunately for Dollar General, they didn't take enough market share from Fred's to be successful.
There are many businesses that do very well in Guin and provide our area with needed goods and services. The recent opening of K & S Outdoors is a good example of providing goods and services which weren't already located in our community. They've had tremendous sucess early on and, as our neighboring communities discover the quality product K & S offers, they are primed for even greater success.
The products offered by K & S, McDonald Signs, Fred's, and all the other businesses in Guin make our city better. I appreciate your concern, but you might want to ask yourself how your suggestions would make our city and community better.
My comment is for the clicks. Many years ago your lady council woman of the past 4 years made the comment to my family. They did not want the town to grow they like it just the way it is. This was back in the late seventies and WOW she got what she wanted because it has certainly not shown any growth. Click number uno.... Do you need more? But you know these people will get older and hopefully young people will take over and push for the age in which we are living. When is the BINGO coming?????????
Bobby,
How do you know these are false statements? You might want to be sure before you jump to your oppion. You are a fairly new citizen to Guin........You do not fit in unless you founding fathers rode the train in like mine.
I seriously doubt a reputable business owner would anonymously post such an unprofessional comment on this blog! Of course, this is just my opinion, and as you know, it and dollar would buy you a soft drink!
As you may have determined by now, we have a user who chooses to make irresponsible and false claims about others through his or her comments on this blog. So, I've decided to delete those posts which have no substance or those which are blatantly false. His or her efforts are a sad testament to what some will do to discredit those who threaten them in any way.
Additionally, any further comments will be moderated before they'll be published on the site. I will continue to allow all comments which contain substance, ask a question, or provide information that might be prudent to anyone in our community. That includes those opinions that differ from mine. I just will not allow someone to continue to make ridiculously false claims with no factual information to back it up. If anyone feels I have deleted their comment in error, feel free to contact me a bobbybellew@gmail.com to discuss.
I've opened the comments section back up with no moderation. I want users to openly express their opinions and discuss the future of our city without interference from me. My goal has always been and remains to have an open discussion about the issues facing our city.
That being said, I will not allow anyone to make blatantly false claims about others in an attempt to discredit them. I will continue to delete any post which is considered irresponsible or which makes claims that cannot be backed up factually.
Bobby have you seen the new site on the blog.IT IS GUIN FREE SPEECH
htt:guinfreespeech.blogspot.com/
Bobby, I would like to address the comment made by the one so proud of his ancestory riding in on a train. That's one of the major problems with not only Guin, but many small minded rural towns that are not open to new ideas, let alone people who may know a thing or two about the world outside of their city limits. I was born and raised in Guin and am continually suprised and shocked at the attitudes, actions and opinions towards those who either move back or choose to make Guin their new home. We should welcome new or returning citizens with open arms and get to know them, we could learn something from them and they from us. Guin IS a "Community of Good Living" for those who grew up here and never left. Why do we complain about people not wanting to build here or start businesses? Because the majority of people feel unwelcomed. No wonder our neighboring cities are growing, they are more open to new ideas, regardless if you were a founding citizen and "what you rode in on". Bobby, I welcome and appreciate your professionalism and am glad you are a part of our community. Keep up the good work. I would also like to address the "free speech" issue. "Free speech" is a freedom and with that freedom comes a responsibility. I've always been taught that if you don't have anything to nice to say, don't say it. I believe we could take this one step further, don't say anything that you wouldn't say to that persons face. If you can't then that is a cowardly attitude. Guin can be great again but it will take work and attitudes to change. Go Big Red!!!!!
Thank you for your comment. I sincerely appreciate your support.
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