Oconee County Featured in the Wall Street Journal

The Georgia Club -- which I have long said is one of the best things Oconee County and this region have going for it -- is featured in today's Wall Street Journal. Since development began seven years ago, the Georgia Club has pioneered in a lot of ways -- with unique architecture, wonderful planning, greenspace preservation, mixing uses, etc. -- but it isn't featured for any of these things today. It's featured for something even better and near and dear to the hearts of many in this region: service.

The WSJ highlights the Georgia Club for giving back to the community. Last year, the Georgia Club started a community foundation that is now raising money for great causes across the region, and a percentage of the money on the sale of each home also goes back to charity. This year the foundation's efforts have already supported the Statham library and Statham Elementary. Its upcoming Christmas Tour of Homes, which is open to the public, will benefit several local charities and service organizations including Extra Special People (ESP), Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN), Peace Place, Project ADAM, Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D), Statham Library and The Tree House. This is a great opportunity for the community to visit and give back to a great cause. Now in the spirit of full disclosure, I will admit they are a client of ours at Jackson Spalding. But even if they weren't, I would be raving about this great asset to our region.

If you haven't visited the Georgia Club lately, you should. Just turn in on your next trip up 316 and visit the sales center, or take a quick spin around the community. If you haven't been lately, you'll be amazed by the changes. There are beautiful homes big and small. Lot sizes and price points are varied, accomodating a variety of lifestyles. There is a definite sense of community. The community's latest neighborhood, Oconee Springs, is almost all in Oconee County. Many future homes will be as well.

As Northeast Georgia is mired in a housing slump, homes at The Georgia Club are still selling. Developers, take notice: by doing things right and doing the right thing, you can still sell homes. If we're going to keep building residential in Oconee, I hope a lot more of the communities are like the Georgia Club.