Riverview Landing, Jamestown's $300 million mixed-use development on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, will be a carrot in the face of millennials who crave proximity to Atlanta and a suburban family atmosphere, according to at least one key player in Cobb County. In a story titled "Smyrna to get its own version of Ponce City Market," Smyrna councilmember Ron Fennel posited that his city is an ideal place for millennial housing; the Jamestown project will be 15 minutes from downtown Atlanta and other major employment centers, and people generally "are sick and tired of being stuck in traffic … They want to have a short trip to take advantage of city life," Fennel told the newspaper. As for the millennial magnet that is alternate transit, Fennel said city officials are engaged in "aggressive" and "robust" talks with Cobb Community Transit but couldn't be more specific.
Fennel's position on millennials contrasts that of some fellow Cobb Countians who lashed out against a proposed 280-unit apartment complex on Windy Ridge Parkway last year. Neighbors who supported that project claimed a contingent of locals was discriminating against millennial renters in favor of newcomers who would buy property.
Weeks later, a Cobb County Chamber of Commerce official attempted to set the record straight, saying the county covets millennials and their youthful energy and ideas, especially around the Cumberland District.
Whatever the case, it sounds like the Riverview Landing project, like Ponce City Market, could have unique appeal across the metro area by capitalizing on what's already there — in this case, a waterfront. Like a concrete timeline, the project's exact scope isn't yet clear, but it's safe to expect a mix of homes, shops, restaurants and green spaces on the former industrial site bordering southwest Smyrna. According to the AJC, a vital piece of the puzzle — the reconstruction of Riverview Road — began last month, and will connect the project to the Silver Comet Trail and the Beltline.
· Smyrna to get its own version of Ponce City Market [AJC]
· Is Cobb County Rife with Millennial Discrimination? [Curbed]
· Cobb Chamber of Commerce: We Really do Like Millennials [Curbed]
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