Peachtree Corners, Georgia


Peachtree Corners is a city that is a suburb of Atlanta northeast of that city and located in western Gwinnett County, Georgia. It is the largest city in Gwinnett County with an estimated population of 43,509 in 2018. The city is bordered to the north and west by the Chattahoochee River and is located east of Dunwoody. Peachtree Corners is the only one of Atlanta's northern suburbs that was developed as a planned community. It has no city property tax, and has earned the designation as a top ten best suburb, and one of the best places to live, in the entire State of Georgia for its education quality, low crime rate, cost of living, employment, access to amenities, and overall livability.

History

Settlement

Prior to 1818, the western corner of what became Gwinnett County was Creek and Cherokee Indian Territory, and it was illegal for white families to settle there. Nevertheless, there were several families of white squatters in the area before settlement was legalized, including Isham Medlock, whose name is lent to Medlock Bridge Road. In the early 1800s a road was built along a Native American trail from what is now Buford, past what is now Peachtree Corners, to what is now Atlanta. A small farming community, known as "Pinckneyville," grew up along that road. By 1827, the community was home to the second school in Gwinnett County, the Washington Academy, founded on what is now Spalding Drive. The area was also home to a post office, saloon, blacksmith shop, carpenter shop and inn; however, the prosperity of Pinckneyville was to be short-lived.
In 1870, a railroad was built through neighboring Norcross, and due to the heavy trading that could be done via the railroad, all of the area's businesses and many residents moved from Pinckneyville to Norcross.

Urban development

For the next century, the area remained a rural farming community. In the late 1960s, Paul Duke developed the idea of creating Peachtree Corners, a planned community to be constructed in the area that was once known as Pinckneyville. In 1967, Duke initiated the planning of the office component of Peachtree Corners, Technology Park Atlanta, a campus for high technology industries that could benefit from employing engineers and business people graduating from the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Georgia, and other universities with technology and business schools. As a member of the Georgia Tech National Advisory Board, he raised $1.7 million to develop the business center. Initial residents of the technology park included GE, Scientific Atlanta, and Hayes Microcomputer Products. In 1968, Duke established Peachtree Corners, Inc., a development corporation for the residential parts of the community.
During the 1970s, Jim Cowart began to develop the neighborhoods that Duke had planned. Initial neighborhoods developed by Cowart included Peachtree Station, Chattahoochee Station, Spalding Corners, Revington, Linfield, and Amberfield. During this period, Cowart developed more upscale housing and laid more sewer pipes than the rest of Gwinnett County. Neely Farm was one of the last neighborhoods to be originally built in Peachtree Corners, and it is located on the former farm of Frank Neely that abuts the Chattahoochee River.

Incorporation

The United Peachtree Corners Civic Association, an umbrella group of neighborhood homeowners' associations, was formed in 1993 in response to land use and development concerns in the area. Despite the efforts of the UPCCA, some development opposed by the UPCCA continued in Peachtree Corners throughout the 1990s; therefore, in 1999, the idea of incorporating Peachtree Corners was first proposed. Nonetheless, due to the complexity of existing law, an incorporation movement did not then materialize. A city of Peachtree Corners was again proposed by the UPCCA in 2005, but efforts were abandoned after a straw survey of some residents seemed to indicate that the majority did not support incorporation.
In 2010 the UPCCA again pursued the incorporation of Peachtree Corners after a failed attempt by the city of Norcross to annex a portion of Technology Park Atlanta. In a referendum held on November 8, 2011, residents of Peachtree Corners voted to incorporate as Gwinnett County's 16th city, and, with a population of 43,059, it became the county's largest. Municipal operations began on July 1, 2012.

Geography

Peachtree Corners is located in the western corner of Gwinnett County at , 21 miles, and approximately 30 minutes by car, from downtown Atlanta. Seven miles of the Chattahoochee River define the northern and western border of Peachtree Corners, and it is bordered by the cities of Dunwoody, Doraville, and Sandy Springs on the west, Buford Highway and Norcross city limits on the south, Roswell and Johns Creek across the Chattahoochee River on the north, and the city limits of Berkeley Lake and Duluth on the east.

Demographics

Since Peachtree Corners was not a city or a census-designated place at the time, no demographic data is available for the city from the 2010 U.S. Census. However, the city contains ZIP code 30092, which in 2017 had an average adjusted gross income of $69,905 per household. The median home price in 2017 for Peachtree Corners was $325,000. As of 2017, Peachtree Corners was 60.2% White American, 23.3% African American, 9.6% Asian American, and 2.5% two or more races. Hispanic Americans of any race made up 14% of the population. Those living in the same house more than one year were 86.9% of the population, an average of 2.62 persons lived in each household, of the population 94.1% had a high school diploma or higher, 52.6% had a Bachelor's degree or higher with 19% of the population having a Master's degree or higher, and, not counting library or school supplied computers, 96.5% of the population or above had home computers. ZIP Code 30092 had a population of 38,008 at the 2010 census; however, with parts of ZIP Codes 30071, 30096, 30097, and 30360 being within the city limits of Peachtree Corners, the estimated population of the city was 43,509 in 2017 with a population increase of 14.5% from 2010.

Government

The City of Peachtree Corners was incorporated on July 1, 2012, and provides many services. These include land-use planning, zoning, infrastructure maintenance and improvements, capital improvements, other public works, zoning enforcement, promulgation of building and environmental ordinances, business licensing and enforcement of them, and solid waste collection, among others. Peachtree Corners has a Council-Manager form of government. The city is governed by a mayor and six city council members which are elected to four-year terms. The city employees Peachtree Corners has in charge of day-to-day operations include a city manager, city clerk, and the community development director. The city also has code enforcement personnel, building officials, and department directors. Departments in the city include Communications, Community Development, Finance, Downtown Development Authority, and Public Works. The city has its own municipal court and employs a city attorney.
The city is authorized to collect property taxes of up to one millage a year, though the city has thus far operated only on business license, franchise and other fees without levying any property taxes. Because of this, Peachtree Corners has lower county taxes than unincorporated Gwinnett County. SPLOST, Georgia Department of Transportation and federal grant dollars contribute to the funding of capital projects.

City Council

Economy

The economy of Peachtree Corners is largely driven by the concentration of businesses in planned office parks, particularly engineering firms, logistics organizations and information technology companies.
In October 2014, United Arab Shipping Company relocated its North American Headquarters to Peachtree Corners. The company purchased a 50,000 square foot office building on Spalding Drive for logistics, accounting and customer service operations. In 2017 it merged with Hapag-Lloyd, named the “Containership Operator of the Year” by Lloyd's List, one of the most important media sources in the shipping industry, and the fifth largest transnational transportation company, is keeping its headquarters in Peachtree Corners and will invest $5.5 million to expand its offices here.
In May 2016, Comcast Corporation, the American global telecommunications conglomerate and owner of Xfinity and NBCUniversal, relocated its Southeast Headquarters to the Wells Building, a 10-story office building in Peachtree Corners.
Some other businesses including Fortune 500 companies CarMax and Mass Mutual as well as Honeywell, Sprint Corporation, Siemens Industry Automation, Fleetcor, ASHRAE, ACI Worldwide, and CMD Group are among the over 2,300 businesses currently calling Peachtree Corners home. ASHRAE's world headquarters will move to Technology Park, with the company investing $15.7 million in its Peachtree Corners world location. The Harlem Globetrotters are headquartered in Peachtree Corners as well as the Southern Section of the United States Tennis Association.

Parks and recreation

Peachtree Corners has multiple parks with many amenities including the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area along the Chattahoochee River, the Medlock Bridge Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area with river access, the 12 acre Holcomb Bridge Park overlooking the river and having improvements including an amphitheater, the 30 acre Jones Bridge Park with pavilions, a community building, soccer fields, other enhancements, and river frontage, as well as the 93 acre multiple amenity Pinckneyville Park. The 227-acre Simpsonwood Park has 2,140 linear feet of river frontage along the Chattahoochee River.
Peachtree Corners is home to the headquarters for the Southern Section of the United States Tennis Association. Many neighborhoods have swimming, exercise, garden, clubhouse, and tennis facilities, and the public membership Life Time Athletic and Tennis - Peachtree Corners has indoor and outdoor tennis courts including a tennis stadium, fitness accommodations, indoor and outdoor pools, classes, programs, and other amenities.
Peachtree Corners has several membership fitness centers as well as a multi-lane bowling center and restaurant.
For golfers there are many nearby clubs with excellent courses, some with restaurants, bars, fitness centers, swimming pools, reception rooms, other components, and/or accommodations.
Each year, the city holds events including the ”Peachtree Corners Festival” and the "Holiday Glow on the Town Green." The holiday evening event features live choral performances, the Holiday Glow in the Corners Parade, and the lighting of the great tree.
Peachtree Corners has an outdoor mall, The Forum on Peachtree Parkway, with multiple restaurants and boutique shops. The Peachtree Corners Town Center, which is on the other side of Peachtree Parkway across from the Forum, also has multiple restaurants, as well as a movie theater, an amphitheater, a 2,500-square-foot Veterans Monument organized by the Peachtree Corners Veterans Monument Association, and an extensive Town Green at the Town Center. The $103 million project was developed in a partnership between the city government of Peachtree Corners and Fuqua Development.

Transportation

Roads and expressways

Peachtree Corners is in proximity to many major highways in Metro Atlanta, such as I-285, I-85, GA 316, and GA 400. The city is approximately 30 minutes by car or 21 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. A number of collector roads distribute traffic around the city, including GA 141, GA 140, Peachtree Corners Circle, Spalding Drive and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.

Transit systems

serves the city. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority 's Doraville Rapid Rail Station is approximately 12 minutes or 5.7 miles from Peachtree Corners, while the Chamblee Rapid Rail Station is approximately 17 minutes or 9.3 miles away. MARTA provides rapid heavy rail service and connecting services to Atlanta, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and other points north, south, east and west.

Airports

is a county-owned, public-use airport approximately 15 minutes or 7.9 miles from Peachtree Corners. Gwinnett County Airport is a municipal airport located about half an hour or 18 miles from the city. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is a major passenger hub for domestic and international travelers, is located 29 miles south of Peachtree Corners. It is accessible by I-85, I-285, and MARTA.

Pedestrians and cycling

The Western Gwinnett Bikeway is a multi-use trail along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. It is a shared use path, cycle track, and bike lane connecting to neighboring Duluth and Norcross. Peachtree Corners has been adding additional sidewalks and safety upgrades for pedestrians, thus far adding many miles of sidewalks, additional pedestrian safety crossings, and adding 175 street lights, all designed to make the city more walkable, safer and more connected. In keeping with these improvements, the city is constructing a new pedestrian bridge that will provide safe passage over S.R. 141 for residents and visitors walking from The Forum side of the street to the Town Center. Furthermore, the city is progressing with the creation of other multi-use trail systems that will crisscross the city linking office parks, restaurants, retail centers, the new town center and surrounding neighborhoods.

Postal Service

The United States Postal Service operates the Peachtree Corners Post Office, which uses ZIP code 30010 for post office boxes in that location. As of July 2014, the Postal Service officially recognized Peachtree Corners as a city, which means residents and businesses use Peachtree Corners in their mailing addresses and on their websites. The city is made up of five ZIP Codes: 30092, 30071, 30096, 30097 and 30360.

Awards and initiatives

Peachtree Corners has earned the designation as a top ten best suburb, and one of the best places to live, in the entire State of Georgia for its education quality, low crime rate, cost of living, employment, access to amenities, and overall top-notch livability, as well as a designation as a best Atlanta suburb for millennials and professionals.
Peachtree Corners has earned a "City of Ethics" Designation.
The city received the Green Communities Certification, has been awarded as the Green Government of the Year, and for the fourth consecutive year was honored as one of the state's “Tree City USA” communities by the Arbor Day Foundation. The award recognizes the city's commitment for caring for and managing its trees.
Peachtree Corners government received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, as well as, for the second straight year, the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, both from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.
The City of Peachtree Corners received a Smart 50 Award as one of the top 50 cities worldwide delivering innovative and influential municipal projects. Peachtree Corners' innovative efforts include being the first in the United States to create a specially designed track for autonomous vehicle and smart city research. A 5G enabled 1.5-mile Advanced Vehicle Lanes Laboratory, a state-of-the-art test area for developing and demonstrating self-driving shuttles and other autonomous vehicles, made its debut in September 2019. Already the city has produced an operating autonomous shuttle and the first ever driverless E Scooter test on public roads/sidewalks in the US will take place in the city starting in January 2020. The laboratory is part of the city's Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners created for the development, testing and perfection of all kinds of Smart City Technologies. Thus far partnerships for the Curiosity Lab have been signed with Sprint, Georgia Power, Delta Air Lines and Georgia Tech. The City signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Taiwan to work together on Smart City and Autonomous Vehicle technologies and the city sent a trade delegation to Canada to discuss potential demonstrations of Curiosity Lab for Canadian tech companies.
Funded by the city, Peachtree Corners has produced a non-profit business incubator affiliated with the Technology Development Center at Georgia Tech called Curiosity Lab, which incubator is provided for software and hardware technology startups, providing these companies with the support they need to launch new products and grow.
The city has received a Redevelopment Award, prepared a Livable City Initiative study, and has produced a 2017-2022 Economic Development Plan.
Peachtree Corners has its own smartphone app for the use of citizens and visitors to keep up with events, dining, entertainment, public parks, bus routes, city information, and news, and to help users pay their water bill, county property taxes, to register to vote, and to photograph and report areas that need improvement across the city.

Education

serves Peachtree Corners through Duluth High School, Norcross High School, Paul Duke STEM High School, Duluth Middle School, Pinckneyville Middle School, Simpson Elementary School, Peachtree Elementary School, and Berkeley Lake Elementary School.
Wesleyan School and are private schools located in Peachtree Corners.
Seigakuin Atlanta International School, a United States affiliate of Seigakuin University, was in Peachtree Corners until its 2018 closure because of the inability of the Japanese university to continue to financially support the school.
A charter school, or ICAGeorgia, opened in 2018. The new charter school has a bilingual English and Japanese education program.
The Gwinnett County Public Library system operates the Peachtree Corners branch in Peachtree Corners.

Media

As part of the Metro Atlanta area, the city's primary network-affiliated television stations are WXIA-TV, WGCL-TV, WSB-TV, and WAGA-TV. There are seven additional local stations that are accessible over the air without the need of cable, etc. access. The city also is served by WGTV and WPBA, which are PBS member stations, with WGTV being the flagship station of the statewide Georgia Public Television network. Several TV services provide Peachtree Corners with cable, DSL, fiber and satellite TV broadcasts and Internet including AT&T U-verse/DIRECTV, Charter/Spectrum, Comcast/Xfinity, and DISH Network.
Additionally, there are approximately 23 business Internet providers for Peachtree Corners.
The city is served by approximately 50 radio stations and by two daily newspapers, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Gwinnett Daily Post, the Daily Post being Gwinnett county's legal organ.
Peachtree Corners has a website, , that supplies information about the city and where residents can subscribe to emails that regularly supply information to them, plus there is a six time a year feature magazine, , available online, mailed to residents, and distributed to points around the city that informs readers about new city events and discusses topics related to the city.
The former site of BJ's Wholesale Club was used as the set of the 2012 movie “The Watch” starring Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, and Jonah Hill. A home on Fitzpatrick Way in Peachtree Corners was used as a filming location for the 2015 movie “Barely Lethal” starring Sophie Turner, Jessica Alba, and Samuel L. Jackson. The film used Simpsonwood Park as the staging area.

Notable people