The first Georgia Tech Atrium opened at Peachtree Corners Curiosity Lab on April 21
marking a significant step forward in research
The Atrium will offer learners of all stages of life access to hands-on workshops
In the ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by city
President Ángel Cabrera said that the Georgia Tech Atrium “represents the future of higher education — where learning extends beyond the classroom and broad community collaboration creates novel opportunities and advances.”
At the heart of Atrium is its focus on fostering learner-centric projects
Learners will gain practical skills beyond classroom theory with access to state-of-the-art equipment
“We envision it as a ‘co-learning space’ that brings together the diverse people and organizations associated with Georgia Tech
and the community can collaborate with our esteemed faculty to transform the landscape of higher education and invent the future,” said Atrium Managing Director and C21U Executive Director Stephen Harmon.
College of Lifetime Learning Interim Dean Nelson Baker emphasized the Atrium’s role in breaking down barriers to higher education
“With leadership by our Center for 21st Century Universities
it provides an experimental platform for a growing range of activities that will break down barriers to higher education,” he said
“As the new College works to elevate the academic study of learning at all levels and ages
the Georgia Tech Atrium allows us to foster government
and education collaboration in service of great communities like Peachtree Corners.”
including K-12 programs and professional education opportunities led by C21U
The space will also be available to all Georgia Tech staff
Brian Kemp praised the collaborative efforts
“We’re fortunate to have a team here in Georgia made up of government
and educational leaders committed to working together to deliver results for our people,” he said
“I want to thank everyone here for your work on that mission and say congratulations on today’s milestone.”
The partnership with Peachtree Corners brings unique opportunities and resources to the Atrium
“We are proud to open our Innovation Center to Georgia Tech learners and alumni and offer an up-close look into the next wave of groundbreaking advancements,” said Mayor Mike Mason
we’re confident we can drive transformative change that will continue to disrupt the technology sector and positively affect communities beyond our city limits.”
Visit atrium.gatech.edu for more information about the initiative
Yelena M. Rivera-ValeCommunications Program ManagerCenter for 21st Century UniversitiesGeorgia Institute of Technology
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Katherine Lafourcade — A Journey of Passion
The Future of Law Enforcement in Peachtree Corners: Community Meeting
Registration Now Open for Light Up the Corners 2025
Peachtree Corners Update: Deer Overpopulation
Simpsonwood Park & Illegal Nightclubs [Podcast]
City Updates: Brian Johnson on The Forum Parking Changes
What’s going on at Jones Bridge Park and the Challenges of Urban Development
How Georgia State legislation affects local cities
How Peachtree Corners is Using Advanced Cameras
World Blood Donor Day Starts Here: Theo’s Miracle
Expanding Horizons: How KGM Technologies Balances Defense
and Driverless: Exploring Smart City Transportation with May Mobility [Podcast]
The Benefits of Outsourcing: How Sourced Supports Growing Businesses
Growing World of Esports Audio and DreamHack
From Food Creations to Handmade Jewelry: Wesleyan Kids Prep for Artist Market 2025 [Podcast]
Tech Park Housing and Zoning Updates [Podcast]
Inside the Solicitor General’s Office: Lisamarie Bristol on Justice in Gwinnett County
Two Peachtree Corners Business Leaders Named Finalists for EY Entrepreneur Award
SCB Construction Group Partners with CGA Reps on New Peachtree Corners HQ
Peachtree Corners Business Shines on “The Blox”
Paul Duke STEM High School Student Earns CGO Scholarship
GA Tech Launches First-of-its-Kind GT Atrium in Peachtree Corners
Peachtree Corners Solidify Partnership with First-of-its-Kind Venue
Norcross High’s New Theatre Director
Four Peachtree Corners Restaurants Take Part in Gwinnett Burger Week
Foodie Faves: Suburban Charm and Global Tastes in Peachtree Corners
If you’re someone who’s so fascinated with automobiles that casual conversations often turn into treatises about torque, transmission overdrive, throttle linkage and tread squirm, the Ride Lounge
set to open this year in Peachtree Corners
Founders Dave Codrea and Josh Friedensohn have envisioned the spot as a unique car storage facility and social club designed for car enthusiasts and their families
the 18,000-square-foot building will have indoor storage for about 65 cars as well as lounge areas
a conference room/presentation area for members to do group events
“There will be plenty of room for social events and stuff,” said Codrea
Even though the establishment’s interior wasn’t completed at the time
the guys kicked off the first weekend in February with the first charity fundraiser of many to come
with proceeds going to the Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation
Teams of three competed in pedal-powered drift trike races around a track set up in the parking lot
“This is the kind of family-friendly stuff we like to do,” said Codrea
“We’ll probably have about one event a week — mostly related to different car events.”
The concept behind the Ride Lounge is more than just your old man’s garage
the club will have “strategically integrated focal lighting throughout to enhance specific areas and create captivating visual focal points that invite visitors to explore highlighted zones or admire showcased feature cars.”
The look is described as masculine luxe with industrial accents
Codrea and Friedensohn don’t have anything to do with autos in their day jobs
rehabilitates and manages long-term low-income residential properties and small business commercial properties to provide advancement opportunities for its residents
“I started getting into cars when I was about 13 or 14 years old and as a little boy growing up with Hot Wheels,” Codrea said
I took the whole engine apart and put in a turbo system
And he’s come across other “gearheads” who like to talk about cars
hang out around cars and work on cars as well
“You can do whatever you want to do with cars and it doesn’t matter what kind of car you have as long as it’s something you’re passionate about and like talking about it with other car people,” he said
“It’s a really good way to bring people together.”
I live in Peachtree Corners and I like it,” he said
Codrea added that there’s so much diversity and growth that it’s kind of a no-brainer that there are many people who’d gravitate to the concept
but that also means there’s all sorts of interest in a lot of little segments,” he said
“You know what’s out there in cars and there’s definitely interest
we’re trying to bring people that like cars and their kids and families together.”
The storage spaces will allow owners to keep their prize possessions out of the elements or out the home garage in an environmentally-controlled area
But owning a car is not a requirement for membership in the club
There’s a level for just communing with like-minded individuals
With so many “reality” shows based on restoration and enhancement
there’s no doubt that the interest is there
There’s a big screen ready for 24 hours of Le Mans
It looks like those with a passion for automotive performance have found their tribe
To learn more about Ride Lounge or for early member access, visit ride-lounge.com
PCBA Accepting Scholarship Applications for Class of 2025 Seniors
Arlinda Smith Broady is part of the Boomerang Generation of Blacks that moved back to the South after their ancestors moved North
With approximately three decades of journalism experience (she doesn't look it)
minority-based newsrooms to major metropolitans
At every endeavor she brings professionalism
and the desire to spread the news to the people
The Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) awarded local high school senior
a $1,000 scholarship during their April 24 Business After Hours event. Heidi and her family were presented with the scholarship and introduced to the organization’s members and guests at the monthly gathering
Heidi was accepted by several colleges and has selected the University of Kentucky to continue her education
When asked what lessons she has learned from her experiences volunteering and serving in the community throughout her life
“I have learned that true leadership is about service
taking initiative and persevering through challenges.”
Scholarship Chair Donna Linden and Outreach Director Suzanna Martinez shared that the scholarship committee was impressed with Heidi’s many accomplishments
“whether she was organizing fundraisers
leading performance groups or helping athletes recover from injuries
Heidi demonstrated a positive impact on the community
as well as outstanding academic results.”
Funds for the PCBA Community Outreach Program are raised throughout the year from PCBA membership
sponsorship and an annual charity event. Donations and scholarships are awarded at PCBA’s monthly events so that members have the opportunity to learn more about the individuals and organizations
“We are so proud that the PCBA has … awarded 20 scholarships to outstanding future business leaders and donated in excess of $173,000 into our metro Atlanta community over the last 13 years,” stated Lisa Proctor
“Where Businesses Come to Grow,” the Peachtree Corners Business Association is a business membership organization that focuses on innovative approaches
community outreach and opportunities for member businesses and professionals to connect
The PCBA is made up of businesses of all sizes and types who want to expand their reach and grow their business within Peachtree Corners and the greater metro Atlanta area
For more information, call 678-969-3385, email membership@peachtreecornersba.com or visit peachtreecornersba.com
executive director of the French American Chamber of Commerce Atlanta-Southeast (FAAC Atlanta-Southeast)
located at Curiosity Lab Peachtree Corners
discovered her passion for French early in life
And by age 13 she’d informed her mother that she planned to be bilingual
armed with a degree in international business and French
she made her way to an internship in Paris
“I worked for 10 months in Paris for a defense company … in the purchasing department
and it was very much French immersion,” Lafourcade recounts
Having reached an important linguistic milestone
Lafourcade couldn’t wait to share the progress with her mother
[…] They had to get her out of the classroom to come to the phone
All I wanted to tell her was that I’d had a dream in French,” she laughed
then moved to Nantes on the west coast before a new opportunity led her to Geneva
She’d spend more than 15 years in Switzerland
Balancing motherhood and a career was important to Lafourcade
While initially staying home with her young children
“For me it was important to show my kids that mums are able to work and have professional roles,” she stated
Lafourcade adapted to meet her family’s needs
but being a stay-at-home mom was not her long-term plan
To work around their circumstances with young children
she and her British biochemist friend co-founded a French/English bilingual preschool
allowing for a business to flourish alongside their children
Naysayers suggesting they shouldn’t embark on this venture because they were women
mothers and expats only strengthened their resolve
They ran the successful business for five years
allowing their children to thrive with friends in a nurturing environment
They secured an employee with early childhood education qualifications
“We were everything — the CEOs and the cleaners,” Lafourcade chuckled
education (as administrative staff) and manufacturing
Her last job in Switzerland was with Nestlé for five years
serving as an executive assistant to the vice president of Nestlé Skin Health
I’ve always found something where I can use both languages,” she said
What began with mysterious symptoms like leg and chest pains increased in intensity to the point of tearful nights that landed him in the hospital with a low-grade fever during the family’s trip to the UK in early 2017
“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Lafourcade told herself as she spent a milestone birthday in the hospital while Theo underwent a battery of tests
the decision was made to forward all lab results to Theo’s doctor in Switzerland and return home for further investigation
unwell and tired of being poked and prodded
to the pediatrician upon their return.
the doctor’s demeanor changed upon feeling Theo’s enlarged spleen
The diagnosis was acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
Chemotherapy treatments began that same day
“You don’t get the words that are being said,” Lafourcade confided
How have we gone from that to cancer?”
The port placed in Theo’s chest remained there for the duration of his grueling treatment protocol — over three and a half years
You learn a lot very quickly because you’re kind of put on this crazy train going 100 miles an hour,” Lafourcade shared
Leukemia originates in the bone marrow where a single white blood cell undergoes a mutation and multiplies
The proliferation of abnormal cells crowds out healthy white and red blood cells and platelets
It was the buildup of leukemia cells within Theo’s bones
especially large bones like the sternum and femur
this intensive phase of treatment made school difficult and brought with it all the usual side effects: hair loss
Lafourcade speaks highly of the care Theo received at the CHUV: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois
a cocktail of drugs was administered one to four times weekly; some administered into the port
some in a 24-hour drip requiring overnight stays
Others required days of saline pre- and post-hydration to avoid an assault on his organs
[…] At one point he told me he wanted to die
‘I don’t want to do this anymore.’ It was horrendous for all of us.”
Her team at Nestlé took on her workload and checked on her regularly
Nine months into Theo’s relentless treatment
the Lafourcades anticipated the simpler “maintenance” phase
but things unfortunately took a turn for the worse
Frantic testing revealed an intestinal parasite wreaking havoc on Theo’s already weakened immune system
Lafourcade logged each time he vomited or went to the bathroom — up to 15 times per night
When the infection spread to his bloodstream
“His lungs got the majority of the infection
so there was not enough oxygen getting from his lungs into his blood system,” Lafourcade explained
Theo was placed in a coma and put on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) life support
Mimicking the functions of the heart and lungs
the machine adds oxygen to and removes carbon dioxide from the blood outside of the body and then sends it back into circulation
You put two tubes directly onto the heart,” Lafourcade said
on dialysis for his failing kidneys and had a tracheotomy to prevent damage to his vocal cords due to extended intubation
“The machine kept him alive for over three weeks
[…] Normally people don’t go on that machine for long because the body is only able to cope with the blood going through this kind of machinery for a short period of time.”
Lafourcade recalls doctors sounding an alarm while yelling
“He is empty!” Then she watched as large syringes of blood were injected into tubes connected to his body to boost his blood volume
Having heard that maternal voices can comfort patients and improve their condition
Lafourcade sat by Theo’s side reading to him for the better part of three weeks
During times when Theo seemed to be “closer to the surface,” his heartrate increased and he exhibited twitching or facial movements
she noticed that his agitation would subside
It was a harrowing decision to take Theo off life support in January
Doctors weren’t sure his heart and lungs could withstand it
After nine months of feeling terrible from chemotherapy and being assured it would get easier
He’d lost so much muscle mass he could barely sit up
His body was riddled with pressure sores from having been immobile
“He was a little skeleton who couldn’t speak because of the tracheotomy
All I could see was this fist by the side of his bed,” Lafourcade recalled
It took months of daily physiotherapy for Theo to relearn how to sit
Just as Theo was transitioning out of the ICU
‘This feels like something we should look at,’” Lafourcade said
They discussed it with Theo’s doctors first
They learned that the treatment protocol for leukemia in the U.S
his doctors felt the move would benefit Theo psychologically
“I hadn’t even finished my sentence when I was asking Theo
Lafourcade believes it was the ultimate opportunity for him to leave the nightmare behind and start afresh
Lina was not as enthusiastic about leaving Switzerland during her senior high school year
Theo continued his treatment at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Scottish Rite Hospital
Lafourcade trusted the capable doctors there implicitly
The American doctors simply picked up where their Swiss counterparts had left off
Theo rang the bell at the end of his treatment in May 2020
making May of this year a particularly important anniversary
the likelihood of recurrence is significantly lower
interested in studying medicine because he wants to give back
The Lafourcades joined the FACC Atlanta upon moving to the U.S. to connect with the French community here
At the gala event of 2021 it was announced that the executive director would be returning to Europe
Acquaintances suggested Lafourcade was made for the job
The position involves speaking French; it instantly sparked her interest
the nature of non-profit organizations and the mission of the chamber
Lafourcade concluded it would be a good fit
“You have to be clever with the hours you work
The chamber isn’t a [traditional] 9-to-5
It can be a fairly unusual time frame that I work within
you’ve got the six hour time difference,” Lafourcade shared
She considers herself lucky to have more flexibility than she would in a typical office environment
but her children see the value in what she does
Her vision is for the chamber to be the “go-to” for any French companies here
all Francophiles in Atlanta and any French companies moving in
She collaborates closely with The Alliance Française and the French Consulate to support the vibrant French community in metro Atlanta
board members have noted the chamber’s improved position under her leadership over the past three years
The FACC Atlanta-Southeast was founded in 1985
they celebrated 40 years this past February
“We’re looking to go onward and upward,” Lafourcade smiled
Despite talks of tariffs creating challenges
the FACC’s mission remains the same: to provide a soft landing for French companies establishing themselves in the region
a significant change occurred: the Food and Drug Administration lifted the “mad cow” (variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) restrictions on blood donation for people who had lived or traveled in the United Kingdom
The Lafourcades were delighted; they were finally eligible to donate
it’s people in need,” Lafourcade said
“I never thought that I would be in a situation where anonymous blood donors would save my son’s life
Although it may be human nature to think this type of misfortune only befalls others
“What if one day it’s you or your child?” Because human blood can’t be manufactured
we’ll always depend on people’s generosity for it
she alerted members of the FACC Atlanta that the rules of blood donation had changed for them
“I’m going to use my voice as the leader of the chamber to get the word out
Another side is people stopped donating during COVID and haven’t gotten back to it,” she shared
Lafourcade believes her story can serve to strengthen a sense of community
particularly in a world feeling increasingly uncertain
“We’re in such a weird world right now where everything is scary
and people don’t know what the future holds,” she said
She focuses on tangible actions people can take to quell that dreadful feeling of helplessness
having been on the receiving end of this life-saving practice
You can do it several times a year and you will for a fact be helping somebody
It’s a case of helping your neighbor and doing something good if you can.”
Lafourcade feels a sense of duty to host blood drives
My husband and I were donors at her first one last September
Snacks and refreshments were generously provided
Meeting community members and greeting Lafourcade were perks
“The first one that you came to … we did a great job
Our goal for the drive was 18 units and we smashed that
we got 34 units,” Lafourcade beamed.
she is now reaching out to the communities in which she lives and works — Johns Creek and Peachtree Corners respectively — to share her experience and encourage participation
Lafourcade is hosting her next Red Cross Blood Drive at Curiosity Lab on World Blood Donor Day
and encourages residents to help in whatever way they can
“I want everybody in Peachtree Corners thinking
‘I want to do my part.’ If people can’t give blood they can volunteer or help spread the word,” she said
You can sign up to donate on the FACC Atlanta website or download the American Red Cross Blood Donor app to schedule and manage appointments and follow your blood’s journey to see where it gets used
Katherine Lafourcade — executive director of the French American Chamber of Commerce Atlanta–Southeast
a passionate advocate for cultural and business exchange and a resilient mother — has journeyed from a schoolgirl captivated by the French language to leading a prominent bi-national organization
adaptability and turning profound personal challenges into a powerful force for good
For more about the FACC Atlanta-Southeast or to sign up for the June blood drive, visit facc-atlanta.com. You can also connect with the organization on LinkedIn
The City of Peachtree Corners will hold an important public meeting on May 8 to discuss the future of law enforcement in our community — including the potential creation of a city police department
This meeting will feature a presentation by City Manager Brian Johnson on the findings of a comprehensive Police Analysis & Staffing Study that evaluated the feasibility and projected costs of forming a city police department based on current workload
The presentation will also include budgetary considerations
comparative models and the advantages and disadvantages of a county vs
there will be time for a Q&A and open dialogue
In-person attendance is limited to 300. First come, first served. A livestream option will be available for those who can’t attend in person
After the meeting, a follow-up survey will be available on the city’s project page
The Future of Law Enforcement in Peachtree Corners
Location: Christ the King Lutheran Church (5775 Peachtree Parkway)
For more information, visit peachtreecornersga.gov
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TRAFFIC ALERTStarting April 29th through May 9th, the Peachtree Parkway (Hwy 141) will have intermittent lane closures between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. for routine maintenance on the Peachtree Corners Pedestrian Bridge. Please plan your commute accordingly.We ap...Read on...
Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) announced the finalists for the prestigious Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Southeast Award
The Southeast program celebrates entrepreneurs from Alabama
COMMUNITY MEETING ON THE FUTURE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN PEACHTREE CORNERS
Location: Christ the King Lutheran Church - (5775 Peachtree Parkway)
Join the City of Peachtree Corners for an important public meeting t..
To allow the grass at Town Green to solidify during its first growing season since its installation last year
the Town Green Grass will be closed beginning Monday
The grass will reopen before the first Summer Concert Se..
the City of Peachtree Corners will begin scheduled maintenance and repairs on the Town Center Parking Deck
These improvements are expected to continue through July 2025 and are necessary to ensure the longev..
Peachtree Corners proudly opened the doors of the first Georgia Tech Atrium today
signaling an exciting leap forward for research
Developed as a premier hub for advanced learning and experiential opportunities
Peachtree Corners City Hall310 Technology ParkwayPeachtree Corners
Phone: 678-691-1200
Welcome to Peachtree Corners Community Calendar
The dynamic hub where you can explore and discover everything unfolding in the city
from local events to vibrant cultural festivities
Explore Gwinnett, the official tourism organization of Gwinnett County, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its popular Gwinnett Burger Week
the event invites burger lovers to enjoy exclusive
chef-crafted creations for just $10 at 23 locally owned restaurants across the county
“We are proud to celebrate a decade of Gwinnett Burger Week and the incredible talent of some of our very best local chefs,” said Lisa Anders
chief operating officer of Explore Gwinnett
“What started as a way to highlight locally owned eateries has grown into a beloved tradition
and we cannot wait for the community to see what we have in store for them this year!”
each of 23 participating restaurants will feature an exclusive
Back for its second year, the Gwinnett Burger Week Digital Pass encourages diners to check in at participating restaurants and earn points throughout the week
Points can be redeemed for exclusive Gwinnett Burger Week merchandise from Explore Gwinnett
sicker packs and a special edition 10th anniversary burger sticker designed by Lawrenceville-based artist Max Eve in celebration of this milestone
Diners can also vote for their favorite burger by uploading an image of their receipt to the Gwinnett Burger Week website
Participants who track their dining experience at 10 or more restaurants throughout the week will be inducted into the Gwinnett Burger Week Wall of Fame with their photo published on Explore Gwinnett’s website
“Our 10th anniversary milestone reflects the passion and creativity of Gwinnett County’s culinary community and the enthusiasm of all those who make this event a success year after year,” said Anders
“We can’t wait to indulge in the exclusive $10 burger creations ourselves
as we toast to 10 years of one of our favorite events!”
To sign up for the Gwinnett Burger Week Pass, visit ExploreGwinnett.org/Gwinnett-Burger-Week/Burger-Week-Prize-Pass and provide the participant’s name
A link will be sent to the participant’s phone
allowing them to access the pass and add the pass icon to their home screen
For a full list of participating restaurants and limited-time burger offerings, visit exploregwinnett.org/gwinnett-burger-week
Stay up-to-date on the latest Explore Gwinnett news by following @ExploreGwinnett on Instagram or ExploreGwinnett on Facebook
Diners are encouraged to share their experience on social media by using the hashtag #GwinnettBurgerWeek
Less than six months after opening its flagship Atlanta-area location at Perimeter’s High Street, world-famous South African restaurant brand Nando’s PERi-PERi opened its second Georgia restaurant to the public — for lunch and dinner service — on Tuesday
Located within the premier mixed-used development and outdoor lifestyle center The Forum Peachtree Corners
Nando’s PERi-PERi is ready to offer its beloved flame-grilled chicken dishes
signature hot sauces and more to Atlanta-area locals and visitors alike
“Atlanta has shown us so much love with the opening of our first location at High Street
so we couldn’t be more thrilled to expand our footprint in Georgia by bringing Nando’s to The Forum Peachtree Corners,” said Sepanta Bagherpour
we are excited to be a part of this lively hub where food
Nando’s is known around the world for their flavorful flame-grilled chicken
and the concept’s popularity can be traced to PERi-PERi — or African Bird’s Eye Chili — the heart and soul of the Nando’s experience
“We marinate our chicken in PERi-PERi for at least 24-hours
so the flavor goes right through to the bone,” Bagherpour explained
“Then we grill it over an open flame and baste it with PERi-PERi sauce to the customer’s preferred spice level
That’s what makes our chicken so addictive.”
Nando’s sources its PERi-PERi in Mozambique
Malawi and South Africa via a network of 1,400 local farmers who are empowered with upfront access to funds
they are guaranteed a fair price purchase commitment
Nando’s intensely loyal following has not only been driven by its high-quality food
but also by its friendly service presented in a relaxed atmosphere that elevates the typical fine-fast casual experience
Every Nando’s location is uniquely designed with earthy textures and vibrant colors that reflect its sunny African heritage while retaining a sense of place in which it lives and breathes
The restaurant’s location in Peachtree Corners is no exception
Nando’s at The Forum is packed with custom lighting
furniture and authentic art imported from South Africa
showcasing the strong ties to its cultural heritage
On a prominent corner within the newly refurbished open-air development
the new Nando’s visibility is boosted by its large
guests will feel warm and welcome with design elements that balance the contrast of raw
textural finishes and saturated hits of color and pattern
“As we continue energizing The Forum with new experiences for guests
Nando’s PERi-PERi stood out as an international favorite that would excite the community,” said Adam Schewgman
director and head of retail leasing at Jamestown
“From the inventive menu options to the meticulously selected design elements
we’re looking forward to giving visitors a taste of South Africa right here in Peachtree Corners.”
Since making its 1987 debut in Johannesburg
Nando’s has spread its flame to legions of fans in 24 countries on five continents
The company entered the US market in 2008 with the opening of its first location in Washington
and now operates nearly 50 restaurants in and around Virginia
For more information visit nandosperiperi.com or follow @nandosusa on Instagram
Metro Atlanta’s food scene is a tapestry of flavors
Long known for its traditional Southern fare
recent years have also seen an increase in the number of restaurants — both independent and franchise — showcasing international
fusion or new South cuisines opening throughout the city
While the busy food halls and trendy eateries in Midtown and Buckhead may get a lot of press
are experiencing a culinary Renaissance of their own
Dozens of new and exciting restaurants have opened in Peachtree Corners over the last few years
Reflecting the eclectic tastes of a growing community
and Fire & Stone Italian Pizza Kitchen have joined long-standing favorites such as J
Alexander’s and Taqueria del Mar in finding a following
The upcoming scheduled openings of Golestan, Sei Ryu and the multi-restaurant lineup at The Forum’s new Politan Row has only added to the buzz around dining in Peachtree Corners
With so many incredible places to choose from
figuring out where to enjoy your next lunch or dinner out can be a challenge
And who knows the local food scene better than the influencers who get out
taste and share their thoughts on the latest and greatest spots in the city
The following foodies answered the call to share some of their picks for must-try restaurants in Peachtree Corners and Norcross
with choices that offer something for just about every taste
these are a few of the local restaurants to check out — or revisit — in 2025
One of Peachtree Corners newest restaurants, Dahlia’s Restaurant & Porch serves Southern American fare in the heart of the city
and they often have live music in the evenings
so be sure to dine outside when you can to truly enjoy the facilities
I ordered the Bourbon Glazed Peach Pork Belly
Red Chile Glazed Shrimp and Bourbon Pork Tenderloin
This was our third visit to Stäge Kitchen & Bar
The quality of the sushi here remains absolutely incredible
showcasing the attention to detail that sets this place apart
The consistency of the flavors and the impeccable service make it a standout spot
Whether you’re a sushi aficionado or just starting to explore Japanese cuisine
Stäge delivers an experience that keeps you coming back
Highly recommend this gem for anyone seeking high-quality sushi in a welcoming atmosphere
Tsunami and Goku rolls were melt-in-your-mouth good
(My personal favorites were the Hotel California and the Phoenix.)
We loved their calamari and grilled Spanish octopus
The Lychee Martini and Whiskey Sour were the best drinks we’ve had in a while — strong but perfectly not-too-sweet that will warm you up
And you need to get the brownie as the complimentary dessert; It’s our favorite
One of the BEST meals we had in 2023 and one of the best new restaurants we’ve dined at overall is hands down H&W Steakhouse in Peachtree Corners.This stunning
fine-dining steakhouse is located 30 minutes outside of Atlanta and is one of the most beautiful restaurants we dined at [last] year
Serving everything from high-end steaks to luxury delicacies like caviar and A5 Japanese Wagyu
you will be absolutely blown away by your meal there.You also have to end the meal with their famous Turtle Gelato Pie and Carajillo (a Spanish coffee cocktail made with espresso and liquor)
Both were absolutely phenomenal and a great way to end an amazing dinner
Our long overdue Girls’ Night Out led us to Pêche Modern Coastal where we had a cheesy good time
We started our night with a cheese board and croissants followed by the Beet Cannelloni and Burrata and Peach salad from their small plates menu
We hung out [there] even after they closed
I can’t wait for spring and summer to come so I can enjoy it again
I finally got to try Super Banh Mi Pho
and I’m definitely coming back!This Vietnamese restaurant has been on my list to try
Some of my favorites are their banh mi and pho
and adding in all the fresh ingredients made it taste even better
Editor’s note: Serving traditional Vietnamese dishes
the family-run Super Banh Mi Pho has developed a following among local foodies not just for its excellent food
but for its buzzworthy Dragon Ball Z décor
This article originally ran in the February/March issue of Peachtree Corners Magazine. A digital edition of the publication can be found here
is set to open its flagship location in Peachtree Corners in the summer of 2025
The new coffee shop will open alongside shared workspace provider
at Town Center and will feature a convenient drive-thru complemented by an inviting in-shop experience
Committed to delivering an elevated coffee experience, Sequel Coffee Co. will serve freshly brewed coffee and handcrafted espresso beverages with responsibly sourced beans from Valor
The food menu will feature a curated selection of locally sourced café favorites and convenient grab-and-go options from local vendors Two Chefs and A Seasonal Affair
Guests can expect a variety of delicious offerings
homemade granola bars and protein-packed power bites for on-the-go fuel
rotating seasonal flavors and limited-time menu items will offer new and exciting food and beverage options throughout the year
the hospitality-focused work and meeting space
is built on the belief that coffee is more than just a morning ritual — it’s a catalyst for creativity
“start your story strong,” reflects its mission to inspire the potential in every day by championing stories
embracing moments and thoughtfully crafting coffee
Sequel seeks to become an integral part of the Peachtree Corners community by fostering meaningful interactions through hospitality-driven experiences
With a brand philosophy centered on people
the company aims to inspire customers through delicious coffee and intentional service
Ahead of its brick-and-mortar opening this summer
is currently serving the community through its mobile coffee cart
offering a full-service espresso bar and trained baristas for offsite events
the mobile cart provides an opportunity to enjoy Sequel’s signature coffee experience in any setting — before the shop even opens its doors
To book Sequel’s mobile coffee cart, visit sequelcoffeeco.com/mobile-coffee-cart
Sequel is also currently hiring a Shop Manager to lead daily operations and cultivate an inviting experience for customers. Interested applicants can learn more about the position and apply at sequelcoffeeco.com/shop-manager-job-listing
is dedicated to inspiring potential in every day through thoughtfully crafted coffee and warm hospitality
freshly brewed coffee and a curated menu of café favorites — along with a convenient drive-thru and cozy café space — Sequel aims to create a welcoming spot for guests to fuel their day and transform the daily coffee routine
For updates and opening announcements, follow @sequelcoffeeco on Instagram or visit sequelcoffeeco.com
Roam is a comprehensive workplace solution offering co-working memberships
private offices and meeting space for professionals and businesses of sizes
Opening in Peachtree Corners at 3847 Medlock Bridge Road in summer 2025
Roam provides flexible and inspiring environments to help individuals and teams accomplish their best work
Now leasing private offices and pre-booking meetings and events
Learn more at meetatroam.com
Curiosity Lab deployment debuts May Mobility's presence in the state of Georgia
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Peachtree Corners – one of the United States' first smart city environments powered by real-world connected infrastructure and T-Mobile's 5G – announced today a partnership with autonomous driving technology provider May Mobility to deploy its autonomous vehicle (AV) solutions
This marks May Mobility's first-ever deployment in the state of Georgia
providing its one-of-a-kind on-demand autonomous solution for reliable transportation
May Mobility will operate its autonomous Toyota Sienna Autono-MaaS to demonstrate the technology to visitors of Peachtree Corner's Curiosity Lab with stops along Technology Parkway
The service zone includes eight pre-determined stops at popular destinations such as hotels
the Innovation Center at Curiosity Lab and Peachtree Corners' City Hall
The service will open to the general public starting the week of October 7
test and deploy multiple autonomous vehicle solutions since we opened in 2019
and we are excited to continue these efforts by welcoming May Mobility to Peachtree Corners and the state of Georgia," said Peachtree Corners City Manager Brian Johnson
"As we continue to focus on bringing autonomous mobility options to residents and visitors to better connect them with the community
May Mobility's solutions provide an on-demand service within our ecosystem
with the goal to slowly expand the route to our Town Center."
Each May Mobility autonomous vehicle is equipped with its patented Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) system that is uniquely designed to solve the challenge of making safe driving decisions
MPDM runs on-board simulations in real-time
to analyze and learn from thousands of possible scenarios every second
choosing the safest one to execute even when encountering an unknown situation
"Our autonomous driving technology has proven its ability to scale well across diverse environments
and we're excited to operate in Peachtree Corners' real-world smart city," said Manik Dhar
"This deployment allows us to showcase how MPDM operates both inside and outside of Curiosity Lab's autonomous vehicle test lanes
We can't wait for Georgians to experience our autonomous driving technology and bringing this service to Peachtree Corners is an exciting first step for the state."
The app promptly guides users on booking a ride and accessing the vehicle
The deployment will begin with an attendant inside the vehicle with plans to remove the attendant for a fully autonomous service in the near future
The vehicle will be connected by T-Mobile's award-winning 5G network
high-speed connectivity and high bandwidth to vehicle operations and performance
This will give riders a smoother in-cabin experience
while also enabling May Mobility to enhance real-time viewing of the vehicle platform to monitor safety and operations
"T-Mobile is proud to power continued innovation in Peachtree Corners alongside Curiosity Lab
with May Mobility leveraging the nation's most awarded 5G network
they can advance their solutions to new heights," said Mike Fitz
"Through our close collaboration with the city
we are committed to ensuring real-time vehicle monitoring that boosts performance
enhances safety and ensures the success of this deployment."
For more information or to schedule a briefing with Curiosity Lab, city government officials and May Mobility executives, contact [email protected]
Peachtree Corners – one of the nation's first smart cities powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G – today announced a collaboration..
Peachtree Corners – one of the nation's first smart cities powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G – proudly opened the doors of the..
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--Peachtree Corners marks May Mobility's third driverless operation in the US; First commercial driver-out deployment–
May Mobility's leading technology powers real-time
on-board decision-making for safe and reliable operation of autonomous vehicles --
one of the United States' first smart city environments powered by real-world connected infrastructure and T-Mobile's 5G
since September 2024 with safety drivers in place
passengers will be able to ride the service without anyone behind the wheel
The service zone includes eight pre-determined stops along Technology Parkway
the Innovation Center at Curiosity Lab and Peachtree Corners City Hall
"Peachtree Corners will be our third driverless operation
and we are excited to debut our first publicly available driverless service in the City of Peachtree Corners," said Edwin Olson
"This launch reinforces the importance of working with cities and communities everywhere to solve real transportation challenges."
May Mobility's vehicles are equipped with its patented Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) technology that leverages in-situ AI reasoning models to continuously learn and adapt to new
complex and even unpredictable driving conditions to create a safer
MPDM solves the industry's biggest challenge
dynamic conditions or "edge cases," and allows the company to scale quickly and efficiently to new environments
"Curiosity Lab's real-world smart city ecosystem has provided May Mobility with a unique environment to both continue to develop and improve their operations over the past six months
which has only further prepared the May Mobility team for its third driver-out operation and first commercial operation in the U.S.," said Brian Johnson
City of Peachtree Corners City Manager
"T-Mobile's 5G is a key staple of our ecosystem and the driver-out transition
as it provides May Mobility with low latency
high bandwidth connectivity for a smoother rider experience and enhanced safety operations
This will continue to be important as we work toward expanding the route towards Town Center to provide additional means of transportation for city residents and visitors
It is incredible to see how the May Mobility team has been able to achieve driver-out operations within six months of the initial launch in our city
and we look forward to having our residents and visitors experience it for themselves."
The app promptly guides users on how to book a ride and access the vehicle
May Mobility is working with the City of Peachtree Corners on future expansions and has plans to launch autonomous vehicles in metro Atlanta in partnership with Lyft later this year
Additional driverless operations in the U.S
May Mobility extended its leading portfolio of AV use cases with its recent announcement at CES 2025 of a partnership with Tecnobus
an established European electric minibus manufacturer
to introduce a new AV minibus platform able to seat up to 30 passengers
an autonomous vehicle (AV) technology company
announced an alliance relationship to bring new data and insight offerings..
today extended its leading portfolio of AV use cases at CES 2025 through a partnership..
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Partnership with Curiosity Lab amplifies hands-on research opportunities and continues bridging academic learning and industry collaboration
PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga., April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Peachtree Corners – one of the nation's first smart cities powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G – proudly opened the doors of the first Georgia Tech Atrium today
the Georgia Tech Atrium offers learners unprecedented access to cutting-edge resources through Curiosity Lab's real-world testing environment
ensuring they gain direct exposure to practical innovation
The Georgia Tech Atrium offers access to hands-on workshops
setting the stage for Georgia Tech learners to immerse themselves in real-world innovation and pave the way for future breakthroughs in technology and design
It has been developed by the Center for 21st Century Universities
a higher-ed think tank within Georgia Tech's new College of Lifetime Learning
The Peachtree Corners Atrium will be the first of many to help advance Georgia Tech's strategic goals of global connectivity and expand access to the College's award-winning education
we are committed to laying the foundation for unparalleled educational opportunities
fueling growth and ensuring the next generation of technology leaders has the resources to thrive," said Mayor of Peachtree Corners Mike Mason
"With the launch of the Georgia Tech Atrium
we are proud to open our Innovation Center to Georgia Tech's learners and alumni and offer an up-close look into the next wave of groundbreaking advancements
we're confident we can drive transformative change that will continue to disrupt the technology sector and positively impact communities well beyond our city limits."
At the heart of the Atrium is its focus on fostering learner-centric projects
tailored mentorship and ongoing demonstration opportunities
learners will gain practical skills that extend beyond classroom theory – empowering them to tackle forward-thinking initiatives ranging from edge computing to robotics
"The Georgia Tech Atrium at Curiosity Lab represents the future of higher education — where learning extends beyond the classroom and where broad community collaboration creates novel opportunities and advances," said Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera
"This initiative proceeds from a concerted strategy to extend Georgia Tech's reach
expand access to our resources and expertise and build connections that benefit students and advance research
We're proud to partner with the City of Peachtree Corners to bring this vision to life."
"With leadership by our Center for 21st Century Universities
the Atrium provides an experimental platform for a growing range of activities that will break down barriers to higher education," said Georgia Tech College of Lifetime Learning Interim Dean Nelson Baker
"As the new College works to elevate the academic study of learning at all levels and across all ages
the GT Atrium allows us to foster government
industry and education collaboration in service of great communities like Peachtree Corners."
For more information or to schedule an interview with Georgia Tech, Curiosity Lab or City of Peachtree Corners executives, please contact [email protected].
About Georgia TechThe Georgia Institute of Technology
is one of the top public research universities in the U.S.
developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition
as well as professional development and K-12 programs for fostering success at every stage of life
Its more than 53,000 undergraduate and graduate students represent 54 U.S
states and territories and more than 143 countries
Georgia Tech is an engine of economic development for Georgia
conducting more than $1 billion in research annually for government
Peachtree Corners – one of the United States' first 5G smart cities powered by real-world connected infrastructure – today announced an integration..
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Peachtree Corners — one of the nation’s first smart cities powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G — has announced a collaboration for a pilot project with ConnVAS
an innovator in advanced traffic and pedestrian safety solutions
The pilot launched outside of Pinckneyville Middle School
addresses the safety challenges of busy crosswalks by testing how real-time
AI-driven detection can reduce accidents and create a safer environment for pedestrians
even when pedestrians do not activate crosswalk signals.
The pilot utilizes ConnVAS’s MAGIC (Multi-Access Generic Infrastructure Controller)
which incorporates cameras mounted on RRFB poles (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon) to monitor pedestrian and vehicle movement
V2X transceivers for real-time vehicle-to-infrastructure communication and an integrated audio-visual alert system
When the system detects a pedestrian or cyclist using the crosswalk
crossing outside of the crosswalk lines or a vehicle approaching the crosswalk
each of its technologies work together in real time to immediately activate alerts to both the users of the crosswalk and incoming drivers — even if the pedestrians did not press the crosswalk buttons
The system also continually collects anonymous data such as felonies
near-misses and pedestrian and vehicle counts for ongoing analysis of crosswalk usage and traffic.
“Peachtree Corners is dedicated to implementing technology solutions that address real-world safety challenges for our residents,” said Brandon Branham, executive director of Curiosity Lab
“The ConnVAS system provides an innovative solution to common safety hazards such as pedestrians crossing outside of designated areas
failure to press crosswalk buttons and drivers failing to detect pedestrians or cyclists in time,” he continued
“By integrating advanced AI detection and real-time alerts
this ConnVAS pilot enhances safety in an area where our residents need it the most today
while also generating actionable insights that can guide our development of smarter
more responsive infrastructure in the future
We are excited to be continuing the pilot program to continue to gain insights in how we can improve our city for our residents.”
Preliminary results from the pilot program that were extracted from a midweek 72-hour period
show distinct patterns that can better help city managers ensure roadways are safe and efficient for VRUs (vulnerable road users) and drivers
ConnVAS reported over 220 pedestrian crossings for more than 70 crossing events
The system consistently and successfully activated flashing beacons and audio alerts in real time
ensuring those crossing the road and oncoming drivers were promptly warned
traffic data collected by the system is being used to evaluate the technology’s impact and will aid city officials in making informed decisions about improving road safety and urban planning in specific locations.
“The pilot we are conducting in Peachtree Corners has been instrumental in refining our technology and demonstrating its impact in a real-world environment,” said Danny Frydman
“Through continuous testing and data analysis
we’ve been able to improve the accuracy of our system’s AI detection
ensuring faster and more reliable activation of alerts
This has directly enhanced the safety of the area by addressing critical challenges
including missed warnings for pedestrians and cyclists or delayed driver awareness.”
“The insights gained from this pilot are helping us evolve the software to adapt to complex traffic scenarios and create safer
smarter intersections everywhere,” Frydman added
“We hope to scale this solution throughout the city as the pilot and technology continues to develop.”
The ConnVAS pilot in Peachtree Corners is continuing to evaluate various features
including autonomous operation features that eliminate the need for manual button presses and reduce false alarms
cyclist-friendly designs and V2X connectivity to communicate with connected vehicles to alert drivers of crosswalk activity
Additional capabilities such as dynamic illumination based on pedestrian location are also being explored to further enhance VRU safety.
ConnVAS is an innovator in advanced traffic and pedestrian safety solutions
At the core of ConnVAS solutions is the ConnVAS MAGIC — an AI-driven edge computing traffic detector
The MAGIC stands at the heart of ConnVAS enhanced RRFB
intelligent signalized intersection and traffic analytics solutions
Providing edge computing solutions that include AI detection
ConnVAS enhances the safety and efficiency of the transportation environment
For more information, visit connvas.com
If the term “roundabout” conjures up images of Chevy Chase caught in an endless circle in the 1985 film
“National Lampoon’s European Vacation,” you probably haven’t given the more modern versions here in metro Atlanta much of a chance
Peachtree Corners plans to add a second roundabout in the city
at Medlock Bridge Road and Peachtree Corners Circle
generated hundreds of social media comments from residents and stakeholders who were frustrated with the chosen solution for the busy intersection
Hoping to alleviate some of the angst this time
a public information meeting on March 27 gave those interested in the planned roundabout at Peachtree Corners Circle — positioned between The Forum entrance and Crème de la Crème — an opportunity to look at the plans
Peachtree Corners Public Works Director Greg Ramsey
said some who came in with the opinion that the roundabout wasn’t a good idea had changed their minds by the time they left
“We had one couple who came in who said they didn’t like the idea at first
but after watching the videos and seeing the renderings and talking to our staff and our design team
that they felt like it’s going to be a positive change and a positive addition and safer for the entire community,” he said
Designed to improve traffic flow and safety
this new intersection will feature pedestrian-friendly crossings
dedicated bike lanes and better access to local businesses
Peachtree Corners officials and engineers from Kimley-Horn shared insights on the design
Ramsey told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Roundabouts promote a continuous flow of traffic in all directions versus a traditional traffic signal that stops at least one direction at all times
The roundabout allows for a greater volume of traffic through an intersection while minimizing delays
He still believes it’s the best solution for many blocked areas
the city of Peachtree Corners commissioned a study to determine what type of traffic calming device would help alleviate congestion and cut down on crashes along Peachtree Corners Circle between The Forum’s major driveway and Peachtree Parkway
Crash data for the five-year period between January 1
2021 showed that approximately 69% of the 36 crashes reported in the area were property damage only
and just one crash resulted in suspected serious injury
Crashes were also evaluated based on the manner of collision
Approximately 83% of the total reported crashes within the study area were either angle or rear-end type crashes
Sideswipes and single-vehicle crashes were also reported within the analysis window
Because angle crashes cause the greatest number of fatalities and injuries of all crash types
safety improvements were a high priority in this intersection control study
Due to multiple conflict points that involved vehicles
pedestrians and high traffic volumes (locations where the paths of road-users coincide
representing potential crash areas and categorized as crossing
There are a lot of conflict points out there between vehicles turning in all directions and pedestrians in the area as well,” said Ramsey
“There’s a daycare and gas station there and very high traffic volumes at certain periods of the day.”
This particular intersection proved tricky because of the volume and variety of traffic
“With four or five driveways and lots of traffic dumping onto the street coming from The Forum and other businesses there
you can imagine multiple periods of high volume — like the lunch hour rush,” he continued
“Additional traffic is being projected as well for multi-family [structures] that have been rezoned in that development.”
He added that many people also feel the need to speed through the intersection
a lot of that traffic is going at a high rate of speed and so some of these crashes and near misses that we’ve seen are extreme.”
Traffic studies and feasibility reports approved by Gwinnett County to reduce accidents and improve traffic flow in the area showed that traditional traffic signals are impractical due to proximity to 141
With the success of the roundabout at Peachtree Corners Circle and Medlock Bridge Road
“It certainly has improved safety at that intersection
and we’ve been very pleased with how it turned out,” he said
there was a lot of negative community feedback when that roundabout was proposed
the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote an article saying
The city council has funded the new project design and conceptual development
so right now it’s progressing forward
“This is not like a rezoning where there’s public hearings
it’s just a public project that the city has in its annual capital improvement program
just like a number of other intersection improvements that we’ve done
Ramsey shared that roundabouts act in two ways
It slows people down and slower traffic is safer traffic
having to sit there idling your vehicle and sitting in the hot sun is a plus — traffic is always flowing.”
He pointed out many cities in Europe as well as the city of Carmel-by-the-Sea are big proponents of roundabouts
He added that there are cities in Indiana that would like to do away with traffic signals altogether and use roundabouts exclusively
Metro Atlanta has several examples as well
including the Riverside Drive on-ramp to I-285
The next phase of the project is sending out a request for proposals for construction
Ramsey said it should be out by late summer/early fall
and there’s nothing set in place for a variety of factors — right-of-way and easement acquisition needs that are required,” he said
Right now the timeline is looking like completion will be in 18 months or so
The comments on the Peachtree Corners Life Facebook page a few days after the open house were a mixed bag
you’re going to approach something new
We hope you’re paying attention about how to get through it,” he said
third and many times after they go through it
And certainly if you’re not distracted with your phone or other devices in your vehicle
paying attention to the signage and the channelization of the roadway is doable.”
can you offer a free training class on how to proceed through one of these
The Federal Highway Administration has a YouTube video that explains how to navigate roundabouts
Hopefully this will help fix the near misses we deal with daily
Gordon: This is badly needed and will help tremendously
I like that the crosswalk at the Forum driveway is set back a bit
Port Rose Kaufman: Why don’t they just put up a light at that corner
I’ve seen at least 10 accidents there over the years
Ramsey said a traffic signal isn’t allowed there
“It’s too close to 141 for a traffic signal with the standard red light
green light at that intersection,” he said
“It’s against GDOT standards to put in a signal at that close proximity
It would actually back up traffic into 141
which would make that heavy intersection even worse
and that’s certainly something we want to avoid.”
Bob Ballagh: A whole lot better than the current intersection
we’ve got a few people who are just against the idea
but I’m not sure that we’re going to ever be able to make everybody happy,” said Ramsey
“We’re trying to make the best solution possible
There’s going to be some discomfort with change for some people on everything we do
but we believe this is the best solution of those that are available to us.”
For more information about the project, visit peachtreecornersga.gov/1449
Ramsey also encouraged residents and stakeholders with questions to contact his department at publicworks@peachtreecornersga.gov
I want to take a moment to address an issue that has been increasingly affecting our community — the growing deer population
we have observed a significant increase in the number of deer within Peachtree Corners
leading to heightened concerns about public safety
I want to share what we are doing to address these challenges and how you can be part of the solution
Landscape damage: Deer feeding on ornamental plants
shrubs and trees results in significant property damage and costly repairs for homeowners
Increased risk of deer-vehicle collisions: Frequent road crossings
pose serious safety risks to drivers and passengers
Adverse ecological impacts: Excessive browsing by deer diminishes plant diversity
impacting the availability of food for other wildlife
Public health concerns: High deer densities contribute to an increase in ticks
elevating the risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses
To address these challenges, the City of Peachtree Corners is collaborating with wildlife officials from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) Urban Wildlife Program and the U.S
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services
as GADNR holds primary authority over wildlife management
and USDA brings extensive experience in urban wildlife management
we aim to develop a comprehensive approach tailored to our community’s unique needs
Based on recommendations from our partners
the City is actively developing a comprehensive deer management plan
The plan aims to mitigate the public safety
ecological and public health impacts caused by the growing deer population
Population surveys: Utilizing advanced tools like trail cameras and thermal imaging to accurately assess deer numbers
Habitat assessments: Evaluating the impact of the deer population on local vegetation and biodiversity
Community involvement: Updating the “PTC Report It” app to allow residents to report deer-related concerns and submit photographs
Data analysis: Collaborating with federal and state partners to analyze data and determine a sustainable deer population for our community
the city will adopt a deer management plan
Since many deer reside on private property
the plan will offer property owners city-supported options for managing deer
habitat modification techniques and access to targeted population reduction initiatives
Our goal is to facilitate relationships between wildlife officials and residents to ensure a balanced approach that protects public safety
preserves property and maintains ecological integrity
• Complete the Deer Impact Survey: Available online
Your input will help us gather valuable data on deer population densities and their impact
• Report concerns: Use the “PTC Report It” app or go online to report deer-related issues and share photos
• Stay informed: Follow our updates and participate in any upcoming GADNR workshops to stay informed about deer management efforts
I truly appreciate your support and cooperation as we work together to address these challenges and protect the quality of life in Peachtree Corners
Thank you for being engaged and committed to our community
The new addition to the Forum will include food stalls like Kimchi Red
Peachtree Corners is getting its own food hall. Politan Row at the Forum, from the same team behind Politan Row at Colony Square in Midtown, opens on January 31. Seven food vendors are on the roster
Of the vendors, Kimchi Red is a popular Korean fried chicken restaurant by owners Alice and Joey Lee
The original John’s Creek location was named Yelp’s best fried chicken in the nation in 2023
the food stall at the Forum’s Politan Row will serve the the popular fried chicken with a choice of housemade sauces like honey butter pepper
Politan Row is known to take on well-known Atlanta chefs alongside up and coming food producers
Politan Row employs “guest assistants” and “guest ambassadors” who act as servers and hosts
and even booking reservations for large parties
Food and drinks are also served on actual plates with silverware and proper glassware
Politan Row at the Forum is part of another multi-million dollar renovation project by Jamestown
formerly North American Properties Atlanta (Avalon
to overhaul the aging outdoor mall on Peachtree Parkway
plans include a mix of new retail shops and restaurants
View the Full 2025 Calendar of Special Events (PDF) or see the City Calendar and event pages for details
Position your business at the forefront of the City’s most highly attended concerts, festivals, and special events with an event sponsorship. LEARN MORE
The Town Green is a community gathering spot for all to enjoy. Private events cannot be held, nor can specific spaces be reserved within the Town Green facilities. For more information visit our Town Center page.
In case of inclement weather, please check social media @peachtreecornersga and the Community Calendar for event updates
If you are interested in becoming a vendor at one of our events, please check out our Eventeny Page
All events that are accepting vendor applications will be uploaded to Eventeny
Please note not all events will have vendor applications
If you are interested in being a vendor at the Peachtree Corners Festival please visit their website for more information
Free parking is available in the lots and parking deck
overflow parking is available in the parking areas off Davinci Court off Peachtree Corners Circle at:
You'll cross Peachtree Corners Circle and access the Town Green via a path - look for the signs
View a Parking Map (PDF) to learn more
Location: Christ the King Lutheran Church (5775 Peachtree Parkway)
Project Page: https://ptccity.com/PTCFutureofLE
State-of-the-art NVIDIA GPUs integrated with NxGo's traffic management system enhance real-time AI capabilities for smarter
enabling transformative improvements in real-time AI and edge computing capabilities
Currently deployed in Curiosity Lab's Innovation Center
each Dell server is paired with three NVIDIA GPUs
which manage and analyze data from an extensive network of smart city sensors and devices across Peachtree Corners
NVIDIA L4 GPUs will enable Curiosity Lab's ecosystem to accelerate applications for intelligent traffic solutions
The L4 GPUs deliver a 120-fold increase in AI-powered video analytics performance compared to traditional CPU-based solutions
and demo in the city while gaining real-time insights to improve search relevance
The L4 Tensor Core GPUs also provide precision performance to accelerate deep learning and machine learning and inference for data analytics
rendering and videos to further support AI-based smart city solutions in the Curiosity Lab ecosystem
"As we continue to welcome new smart city innovations
we want to ensure we are offering companies the best in IT operations to further the growth of their technologies," said City Manager of Peachtree Corners
"We're proud to be working with NVIDIA technology to offer state-of-the-art compute solutions and to keep our infrastructure connected and supported
alongside our partner Dell Technologies' servers
will come together to enhance AI and edge performance for companies in our ecosystem that leverage these solutions to operate their technologies
This is the next step towards us continuing to create a better future for our city
Access to the latest in NVIDIA GPUs will be increasingly vital to the City of Peachtree Corners as they accelerate the latest in Physical AI
"Our next growth phase is focused on bridging the physical city world environment and AI and giving our smart city ecosystem access to an advanced computing stack powered by NVIDIA," said Curiosity Lab Executive Director Brandon Branham
"Advanced city operations solutions like intelligent transportation systems (ITS)
and smart mobility need a high-performance platform to run sophisticated pilot programs that require the latest AI computing
That's why we're working closely with Dell and NVIDIA."
For more information or to schedule an interview with Curiosity Lab and City of Peachtree Corners, please contact [email protected]
Artificial Intelligence
Internet Technology
Peachtree Corners Prepares for Another Roundabout
Source: Peachtree Corners Post 2 Councilmember Eric Christ’s recent newsletter
we will have municipal elections here in the City of Peachtree Corners for three council seats
there will be a state-wide election on the same day as our city general election
The state-wide election is to fill two seats on the Public Service Commission
which regulates Georgia Power and other utilities
the Gwinnett County Board of Elections will have all 156 county precincts open on November 4
Peachtree Corners has had a single voting location for city elections — at City Hall
citizens who want to vote in both the PSC and the City Council elections will need to go to two places to cast their ballots
I convinced the County Board of Elections to remove their prohibition against the Gwinnett Elections Department managing city elections
(Every county surrounding Gwinnett already offered this service to their cities.)
This means there is the potential of adding our city council elections to the county ballot
I would like to hear your thoughts on the pros and cons of combining our city council races with the county’s for this year’s elections
Please complete my brief survey by clicking here
To sign up for Councilmember Christ’s newsletter or find him on social media, visit linktr.ee/votechrist
You can read more from his latest newsletter updates here and here
For the eighth year in a row, the City of Peachtree Corners has been esteemed with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. This award was presented by the Georgia Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the City’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget submission
The award represents a significant achievement by the entity
It reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting
the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation
These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as a:
Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories and in the fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories to receive the award
When a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is granted to an entity
a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation is also presented to the individual(s) or department designated as being primarily responsible for having achieved the award
“Congratulations to the entire finance team on receiving this award,” said City Manager Brian Johnson.
“This recognition is a testament to our team’s hard work
professionalism and commitment to excellence.”
There are over 1,700 participants in the Budget Awards Program
along with their corresponding budget documents
are posted quarterly on GFOA’s website
Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America
The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices
resources and practical research for more than 21,000 members and the communities they serve
As the heart of what is being called #SiliconOrchard in the metro Atlanta region
Peachtree Corners is a vibrant municipality that’s home to more than 45,000 residents and an innovation hub that houses some of the world’s most disruptive technology companies
As the United States’ premier smart city powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G
Peachtree Corners serves as the model for how government and private industry can better collaborate to create a better future for society and business
From the world’s first deployment of teleoperated e-scooters to fully autonomous shuttles being utilized by actual residents
and from a solar roadway to the largest electric vehicle charging hub in the region
Peachtree Corners is where the most future-forward Internet of Things (IoT) and sustainable technologies come to life for the benefit of its people and the world
For more information, visit peachtreecornersga.gov
They don’t understand that taxes allow us to live in a more civilized manner
helping and protecting us all along. That’s why I don’t mind paying reasonable taxes for the safety of everyday living
Many don’t recognize it
but you are often paying a small tax without realizing it as you go about your everyday business….but it’s not called a tax
It’s called a “fee.” Each time you pay your power or utility bill and cable bill
when you rent a hotel room or car…and other ways…you are providing a few cents or dollars to help fund mostly local government
The newly-minted City of Mulberry (and previously Peachtree Corners) will run its government without taxing property owners paying a tax to fund its operations. How so? Entirely from fees.
Let’s visit what the other city without property taxes
who is the finance director for Peachtree Corners
He sent along a graphic which shows where Peachtree Corners gets its funding
as well as how it is spent. (See graphic.)
The biggest comes from Georgia Power Company
paying $2.8 million in fees for the city for 2025
Other utilities include $450,000 from Atlanta Gas Light Company; $250,000 from Comcast; $70,000 from Direct TV; and $42,000 from AT&T. (That last figure was interesting
showing how few people have land-line telephones anymore.) Altogether
utility fees brought in $4.3 million in Peachtree Corners for 2024
Another bucket of fees include $3.8 million in insurance fees
This comes in one check from the Department of Revenue
which collects insurance fees for all cities
Each business in Peachtree Corners pays an occupational business license tax
With lots of professional offices in the city, these businesses contribute $4.4 million to the city coffers
Then there are other funds coming to the city; stormwater fees
it added up to approximately a $40 million income to run the city.
Some specifics and the way they are figured:
Perhaps this gives you an idea of how a city
Have a comment? Send to: elliott@elliottbrack
This material is presented with permission from Elliott Brack’s GwinnettForum, an online site published Tuesdays and Fridays. To become better informed about Gwinnett, subscribe (at no cost) at GwinnettForum
William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy of mistaken identity
will play at three beautiful outdoor venues in north metro Atlanta from April 26 to May 11
known for her award-winning feature film “Ask for Jane,” Twelfth Night is a rollicking ensemble comedy explores unrequited love
misperceptions and the instability of gender
young Viola survives a shipwreck and finds herself alone
believing that her twin brother died at sea
is in love with the Countess Olivia… and Olivia quickly falls for Viola
Olivia’s steward Malvolia has bullied the household for the last time — and the staff is out for vengeance
This timeless production of Twelfth Night features Allen Cox
TJ Sanson and Elliott Posadni as one of the first transgender actors to play Viola
It also features costumes by artist Jordan Hermitt and production design by Sage Kim Gray
The Plaza at The Forum Peachtree Corners • April 26–27 at 3 p.m
Audience seating and a special musical performance will start at 2:30 p.m
Please note that seating is limited; arrive early and/or bring lawn chairs or blankets
Food and drink are available for purchase at the venue
Audience seating and a special musical performance will start at 4:30 p.m
Please note that no seating is provided; bring lawn chairs and blankets
Johns Creek • May 10 at 2pm & 5 p.m.; May 11 at 2 p.m
Audience seating and a special musical performance will start at 1:30 p.m
the show will move from the amphitheatre to the open-air Pole Barn nearby
Admission to the shows is FREE. Register online for tickets
Contemporary Classics exists to challenge and transform classic Western theater traditions by creating an inclusive community of diverse people
They believe that classic work is made even greater when performed by a larger variety of artists — especially those who have been marginalized by Wester theatre traditions — including women and people of color
the theatre company partners with places such as public parks for performance spaces
This “homeless” state is one of the reasons they call ourselves “a crew of patches”— they travel from “patch” to “patch” with their shows
The name also comes from a line in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
and reflects the “motley” coat of a Shakespearean clown (or fool)
created by sewing patches of old or discarded clothing together in a mishmash of textures and colors
or “Patches,” transcend societal norms by being simultaneously a part of society and outside of it
giving them the ability to examine and comment on it
For more information, visit crewofpatches.org
In this episode of Peachtree Corners Life, host Rico Figliolini spotlights three remarkable student artists featured in this year’s Wesleyan Artist Market
Eighth graders Kimberly Wang and Nika Jensen
share their creative journeys—ranging from edible art like fruit jellies and peppermint bark to handmade jewelry and custom-designed bags
Kimberly talks about her love for food art and balancing sweetness with fruity freshness
while Nika and Carter discuss building a jewelry business that also gives back—donating proceeds to families in the Philippines
This isn’t just an artist market; it’s a showcase of purpose-driven
The event runs April 25–26 at Wesleyan School and is open to the public
00:02:19 – Student intros and extracurriculars 00:03:06 – First-time participants and motivations for joining 00:04:13 – Kimberly’s edible art and recipe testing process 00:05:16 – Nika and Carter’s jewelry and bag design business 00:07:06 – The reward of watching people enjoy your creations 00:08:20 – Donating art profits to support families in the Philippines 00:10:39 – Future aspirations in medicine and law
with art as a passion 00:12:06 – Behind-the-scenes logistics of preparing for the market 00:13:25 – Global travel inspiration: 73 countries and counting00:17:19 – Where the students draw artistic inspiration 00:20:04 – Custom requests: From peppermint bark to Lego earrings 00:21:16 – Anticipation and excitement for this year’s market
00:22:29 – Reflections on Wesleyan and the artist experience
Because of the upcoming Wesleyan Artist Market
we thought we’d do some interviews with student artists
Three of the 24 that are going to be at Wesleyan Artist Market
So we’re going to get right into that shortly
I just want to say thank you to our corporate sponsors
So I want to say thank you to EV Remodeling
any home remodeling you need from whether it’s your kitchen
Go to evremodelinginc.com and find out how they can design your space and your life
I want to thank them for joining us as well
They deal with all sorts of things you can imagine putting your logo on
similar to a little bit about what these kids do
They’re creating a brand for themselves
They’ll take your brand and bring it to life
anything that you can think of that would go on apparel
whether it’s sweaters or T-shirts or wherever you want to put your brand engraving
They’re here in Peachtree Corners and they’re called Vox Pop Uli
I’ll have the links in the show notes as well
who work together creating the artwork they do
So I’m going to ask you guys just to
This way our audience can get to know a little bit more about you
and I also do the musical production this year
I do academic pool and I also do basketball.
So have you guys ever done the artist market before
This is my second year doing it this year.
this is our first year because we’re new students this year.
I had my own business before we came to Wesleyan and so I thought that the artist market is a good way to like show my business to other people in our community
And you brought in your brother Carter to help you with?
I’m sure your mom would probably say
How do you choose what you do and what do you exactly do?
I am making fruit jellies and peppermint bark
And when I think about what creations I want to make for the artist market
what are some popular desserts that a lot of people like
the recipe and then I do a lot of trial and errors to make sure that like the products are like healthy and they taste well.
So are you eating a lot of the edible art before you get to what you need?
I don’t usually taste a lot of the food
how do you get to the place of what you do?
So I started my business when I was 11 years old and it started like I got my first jewelry making kit and I kind of just expanded from there
So like I usually use Amazon to search and find like the prettiest designs like of earrings and pendants and get opinions from other people like my mom and my family to see like if they think it’s like wearable and if they like it
So I browse on Amazon for a while and I find like the best and high quality products and then I hand make them at home usually like every day after I come home from school so and my brother he does something else and he can tell you about that.
Wesleyan and designing it based on fashion.
Do you have particular areas that you stay in?
So this year I’m trying out like something more sweet with chocolate
But last year I definitely went for more of like the fruity side
And I think I like to keep it like a balance
So that way one is not overpowering the other
My personal favorite will probably be fruit because it’s healthy
What’s the most rewarding part that you can think of
I mean definitely like you said before you get to eat a lot of food
I did say before that I don’t eat a lot of the creations I make
And so I think it’s also really rewarding to see like people try out your creations and see like their reactions to what they think of it.
I know I’ve spoken to other artists when they sell their artwork like paintings or stuff like that they get a chance to see it sometimes when the fan that bought it if you will
would send them a picture of where they hung it right
short of doing a selfie with it or taking pictures of it
there’s no there’s no permanency to it so how does that feel?
I mean well as long as the people enjoy it that’s good
And I mean I think mainly it’s about like the memory that you have of having the food and if you like it then it stays as a good memory for you and if you don’t then I mean you can always try out different things.
you’ve used it to raise money to support children in the philippines
is that how you started this when you were 11
So I was always looking for a way to express my creativity
And so that’s how I started my own business
And so I was selling at my uncle’s pharmacy and I was saving up the money to use for like college or for like other events later on in my life
But this last year and a half before this school year
And so I was really touched by all of the families there
And we even did something similar where we gave out food and canned goods over Christmas to poor families there
I’ve been donating part of my profits to other families in the Philippines.
did you end up going on that trip as well?
We stayed there for about a year and a half
It’s interesting brothers and sisters
I have three kids and you know growing up brothers and sisters always there could be dynamics there
I mean how do you praise her or how do you work together?
She’s more of the leader of the business so like I usually just like try to like agree with her and like yeah.
Alright that’s cool well you need a leader of the pack sometimes right
you know this is part of what you do you’ve mentioned other things you do right
you know you’re not old enough to really think well maybe you are to really think what you want to do with your life right
Is art something that you want to keep as part of what you’re doing in your life?
It’s definitely something that’s of great value to me
but I kind of want to pursue the medical field
but art is also really important to me.
How do you feel about the work you do?
I was also really interested in the medical field
And so like I’m not really sure if I’m going to continue pursuing this
But I mean it’s definitely brought me a lot of joy while doing food art.
I like doing art it’s one way to like express your creativity as my sister said
I’m not really sure what I want to do when I grow up
like you said about how when people see your food or taste your food and your food art
and it gives you a chance to see how people appreciate what you’re doing
The challenges of making food art and keeping it fresh and making sure you’re going to deliver it on the right way I guess at the Wesleyan artist market
how do you how do you handle that part of it?
So for me the night before each day of the selling I would stay up really late and I make all my products so they’re all fresh and they’re all new
Because I want the best for the people that are eating the food because I don’t want anything to go bad overnight and so I make sure that it’s always new products and I make it
We don’t have the same issue with the jewelry that you do
I order like 99% of all of my things from Amazon
And then since I already have the materials shipped to me
then all I have to do is just create them from my house
So it’s easier for me than having to go out and buy supplies at stores.
I know that you said you look online to see other things and what the trend is
Is it just on Amazon or is it social media
I kind of observe other people and like what they wear and also social media
And I get a lot of inspiration also from like nature and from like my travels
We’ve been to a lot of countries in the past five years
That you’ve been to in how many years
I can’t even wrap my head around that
And then my father is part Danish and then also American.
I speak the language of the Philippines called Tagalog and then English
So my mom is Taiwanese and my dad is Chinese
I’m learning French and I’m learning Korean.
My son was learning that for a year and he was
But I’m sure being able to travel for example Nika
to be able to see other other countries and inspiration from those countries
75 countries you visited what would you say the top five would be for that type of inspiration
I really like Argentina just because it’s so unique and the culture is just so strong there
Like you really feel so immersed just when you like step into the country
but that’s also where I got a lot of inspiration for my jewelry
like that’s also a really big inspiration
that’s when I first like found my interest in jewelry because there was
we went to this bead store and there was like thousands of different beads and I got to like choose different charms and like experiment with creating jewelry
I like India because I really like butter chicken
Also like Italy because I like pizza and pasta.
can’t get any better pizza than Italy
And I also like Japan because it’s very futuristic and it’s like…
it’s like a new environment and it’s like…
I think we may be heading there in July so that would be fun
I’ve never been so that would be interesting
with the journey that you guys have been on
are there any artists it’s hard and food maybe unless it’s Gordon Ramsay or something
Who do you draw inspiration from for the work for what you do
I don’t really have a specific artist that I look up to but I do watch some cooking shows and some like dessert making shows and they always really inspire me so I feel like that’s what really led me into like starting food art
And so now I’m here and then I’m like
I know you’re not the main person doing the artwork
but what do you see when you’re working with your sister
how you know what’s that journey feel like for a brother and his sister?
It’s kind of relaxing doing artwork and like peeling off like the stickers on the bags
Yeah I just enjoy anytime I’m like I get to make jewelry because I feel like it’s such like an important thing to me
And it also like my brother said it’s really relaxing and just like sitting in our home and just like making jewelry it’s like
I’m assuming you wear some of the stuff you make?
No actually I don’t have my ears pierced
And so I just like making it and seeing my creations on other people.
and so most of my time is sucked into that
have you ever designed anything custom design
has any anyone ever asked yeah can you make that for me
Like aside from the artwork you sell.
I did get one request by a high schooler to make peppermint bark for him for his art and science class
Have you ever had a request for jewelry?
So my mom was posting some of my creations on social media and someone reached out to me and she wanted lego earrings like so little like lego figurines as earrings
So I used some of my own legos and then we also bought some but I drilled a hole on top of their head and I had to stick a screw inside
And then they sent me a picture of them wearing it.
It’s just the way you were describing it
We’ve been showcasing and talking a lot about art here and food and stuff
What are you looking forward to this year’s Wesleyan Artist Market
Have you seen or talked to other students and what they’re doing for the show
Kimberly and I are actually really good friends so we’ve been like talking with our other friends that are doing the artist market and we’re like you know what they’re selling and yeah
I’m just really excited because we’ve never my brother and I have never done something like this before so I think it’ll be a really good opportunity and it’ll be fun so.
I was really astonished by everything I saw
I know like a few other people are making food art and people like Nika are making jewelry
And so I’m honestly really inspired and just really blown away by all the effort that everyone puts in.
individually about what it takes to do what you’re doing or your experience at Wesleyan
Why don’t we start with Kimberly?
I feel like this was a really nice opportunity to be able to share what Wesleyan Artist Market is about and how students have been able to participate in it.
Yeah so my mom printed out pictures of our time in the philippines so this first one it’s all the bags of food that my old school donated to families in the philippines.
This was this year when I sent my profits back to the Philippines
And those are all the boxes of food and clothes that they get with that money.
And maybe at some point I’ll ask Camille on this
getting some pictures from you all of some of the artwork that you’ve done
I’d love to include that when we post the podcast as well
And if you have any social media where you post your artwork on
We’re going to be sharing this and we’ll be taking you all as well
So glad to see that you’re doing all sorts of things and I still can’t wrap my head around 75 countries
I’m just still trying to think that just like in five years
But I want to thank you all for for joining me so this is Wesleyan Artist Market you all will be at and that’s April Friday the 25th from 10:00 – 7:00 pm and Saturday April 26 from 10:00 to 3:00 pm
We’ve been talking with Kimberly Wang
Appreciate you guys being with me and being so talkative and just being good guests
I want to say thank you again for joining us
You can find out more about Wesleyan Artist Market from just going to wesleyanschool.org or just Googling Wesleyan Artist Market it’ll pop up for you
Visit the 24 students that are displaying their artwork as well
I think it’s over 70 professional artists there
I guess you’re in Wesleyan Wolf TV station too
Perimeter Ballet celebrates its 30th anniversary this year
the faith-based ballet school in Johns Creek has long been an integral part of the local arts scene and the community
What began as a bare-bones program held in the sanctuary of Perimeter Church — on carpeted concrete floors
using the backs of chairs for barres — has grown into a respected school of more than 200 students
the young dancers at Perimeter Ballet are not only committed to the study of dance but also to using their gifts to share their faith
their purpose is to “emphasize character along with technique … to counter the natural tendency towards self-absorption in the ballet studio.”
They are “very committed to teaching children to dance — to develop discipline
[But] the Christian instructors [also] train the students in a context that understands that there’s a reason to dance.”
growing the program while faithfully following Perimeter Ballet’s original mission
including an acclaimed Spring Recital and a presentation of The Nutcracker each December
Brown is excited to continue the creative work of the ballet school and share their artistry and message with a larger audience
“This year will certainly be a special time for us as we celebrate and look back on 30 wonderful years of Perimeter Ballet and 20 years for our performing company
“We will be performing the Nutcracker December 11–13 and will have some beautiful new costumes to commemorate the occasion
We look forward to seeing many of our alumni and their families at the performance.”
weekly classes at Perimeter Ballet range from Creative Movement
PreBallet and grade-level classes for preschoolers through third grade to more advanced classes (two or more times per week) for older students
Summer camp sessions as well as intermediate level and advanced level intensives are also offered
students work on their ballet technique but also branch out into jazz and other forms of dance
The school’s nine teachers are skilled not just as instructors but as performers themselves
having years of experience dancing with companies such as Ballet Southeast
North Atlanta Dance Academy and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet
They bring that experience and their Christian faith to all of their classes and interactions with the young students
In addition to the work they do as a ballet school
Perimeter Ballet also has an audition-selected performance company — For His Glory
made up of dedicated students striving to advance their skills and reach their “God-given potential while giving glory to [their] Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ,” the program presents several high-quality productions throughout the year
As Perimeter Ballet shares on their website: “Dancers are trained in the ballet classics as well as contemporary forms of dance
Classical ballets … in the group’s repertoire include Cinderella
excerpts from Four Seasons and La Fille Mal Gardee
In addition to Christmas and other outreach programs
For His Glory has danced internationally in London
The group most recently performed Beauty & the Beast for two successful shows on stage at the Perimeter Church Sanctuary in early February of this year
All of this — the focus on faith and commitment to dance
intensives and stunning productions — have been a decades-long inspiration to the community and especially the student dancers who take part
Many of the students stay with Perimeter Ballet for much of their childhood
learning and growing in dance as well as in their faith from elementary age through high school
That kind of involvement can clearly impact every aspect of their lives
from discipline learned to how they choose to interact with and be in the world
Anne Bradley Maxwell has been taking ballet with the Perimeter program since she was three years old
Now a high school junior in Peachtree Corners
she’s reflected on her time at the school and in the performance company as well as Perimeter Ballet’s milestone anniversary
“For fifteen years … I matured within this unique
“This year marks the 30th anniversary of its founding … and I’m honored to say I’ve been a student for half of that era
The talented instructors in [the] program not only helped advance me into an accomplished ballerina but also into a more faithful servant of Jesus Christ using dance as a form of worship.”
“This lifelong journey included annual seasonal training
numerous external summer intensives and wonderful performances on stages across the nation and abroad
for audiences ranging from a few dozen to several thousand,” Maxwell continued
“… Taking ballet has instilled in me a deep understanding of perseverance and resilience
Pursuing excellence in ballet required me to overcome physical and emotional challenges … I learned to seek out solutions — whether physical therapy for healing my body or prayer and reflection to rejuvenate my spirit
These experiences have strengthened my ability to face setbacks
Ballet has cultivated in me a unique combination of athleticism
The most elegant performances emerge from the interplay of technical mastery and creative expression
where individuals work in harmony to create something greater than themselves
informs my approach to teamwork and innovation
both in the classroom and community.”
“… Ballet has [also] given me the gift of joy — both in experiencing it personally as a testament to Christ’s goodness and in sharing it with audiences
is a powerful force that I hope to bring into my next chapters following high school
choreographing performances or exploring ways to expand ballet offerings
I aspire to enrich the community with the beauty and joy of dance
… My time at Perimeter Ballet has equipped me with perseverance
creativity and a passion for sharing joy — qualities that I am excited to further cultivate as a young adult
These will not only enhance my personal journey but also contribute meaningfully to the rich tapestry of life
I am full of gratitude for the solid foundation of technique and creative expression honoring God as the giver of my talent.”
Perimeter Ballet’s Annual Spring Recital will be held in the Perimeter Church Sanctuary on Thursday
Summer camp sessions are scheduled for June and July
2025-2026 classes will start in August with registration opening on April 15
the school is also planning a fundraiser event later in the year to mark the 30th anniversary
For more information, visit perimeterballet.com
The Norcross High School drama department has a reputation for presenting quality productions each year
They staged a one-act show of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” in October followed by “Miss Nelson is Missing” in January
Next up for NHS Theatre is Matilda the Musical
Leading the department this year is NHS’ new theatre director
who came to Norcross with degrees in educational theatre and educational leadership
as well as over 20 years of public school theatre teaching and directing experience
Parker Award for excellence in directing in 2015
has had numerous productions named “distinguished play” from the North Carolina Theatre Conference and has three Best Musical wins from the Blumey Awards (Charlotte
“Our Place,” was named one of the top ten most produced short plays in American high schools
his production of “Puffs” (a clever and comedic play set in the world of Harry Potter) was selected as one of only a handful of productions in America to perform at the International Thespian Society festival
Gabbard recently took the time to answer a few questions about his career
his love of theatre and what’s next for the NHS drama department
We started off performing The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in October
and we did a performance of Miss Nelson is Missing in January.
I always explain that my wife supports my teaching habit
so we tend to move as her opportunities change
I’ve taught mostly in high schools in Florida
I have taught in Gwinnett Public Schools before at Paul Duke STEM and in Cobb County at Campbell High School.
I was anxious to get back to this system and this community
and when this opportunity presented itself
I started participating in theatre when I was in 9th grade and have never stopped
the thing that drew me to the art form was the sense of community that theatre creates.
my theatre director let me direct a play in his theatre [for] one class
This is when I realized how much I loved directing and coaching other actors.
I have been blessed to have been recognized several times by my peers and the organizations I’ve partnered with
It’s always nice to have these recognitions
but I have come to believe that any high school theatre production is a miracle in and of itself
Producing theatre in high schools is always a challenge and getting to opening night is always a huge accomplishment.
I haven’t written any plays in some time
but I’m definitely starting to get the itch
All of my plays have premiered at the schools where I was teaching
I imagine a world premier will happen at Norcross pretty soon.
and I am extremely excited for the challenge
and the characters are big and over the top.
I haven’t yet decided what shows to tackle next year
I know that I want to find plays that have a different tone than the pieces we did this year
Something more dramatic is definitely in our future.
The NHS production of Matilda the Musical opens in April
For more information, visit nhs-drama.com.
In partnership with Curiosity Lab, T-Mobile and the city of Peachtree Corners, May Mobility has been offering public rides in its autonomous Toyota Sienna Autono-MaaS to visitors of Peachtree Corner's Curiosity Lab since September 2024 with safety drivers in place
Passengers will now be able to ride the service without anyone behind the wheel
The service zone includes eight pre-determined stops along Technology Parkway at popular destinations such as hotels
the Innovation Center at Curiosity Lab and Peachtree Corners City Hall.
"Peachtree Corners will be our third driverless operation and we are excited to debut our first publicly available driverless service in the city of Peachtree Corners," said May Mobility CEO and Founder Edwin Olson
"This launch reinforces the importance of working with cities and communities everywhere to solve real transportation challenges."
May Mobility says its vehicles are equipped with its patented multi-policy decision making (MPDM) technology that leverages in-situ artificial intelligence reasoning models to continuously learn and adapt to new
which has only further prepared the May Mobility team for its third driver-out operation and first commercial operation in the U.S.," said city of Peachtree Corners City Manager Brian Johnson
It is incredible to see how the May Mobility team has been able to achieve driver-out operations within six months of the initial launch in our city and we look forward to having our residents and visitors experience it for themselves."
May Mobility's driverless operations in Peachtree Corners are open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m
with each vehicle accommodating up to five passengers at a time
Riders will be able to book trips to any of the service's eight stops on-demand through the May Mobility app
May Mobility says it is working with the city of Peachtree Corners on future expansions and has plans to launch autonomous vehicles in metro Atlanta in partnership with Lyft later this year
Councilmember Eric Christ: Property Valuations and HB 581
The second meeting of the Citizen Steering Committee for the Simpsonwood Park Master Plan took place on January 15 at Pinckneyville Community Center and focused on a presentation and discussion of three conceptual plans
According to Carlos Perez, president and founder of Perez Planning + Design, LLC (PP+D)
a research-based firm contracted to facilitate the park redesign
key features for each include vehicular circulation
multi-use paths and program areas like dog parks and nature exploration zones
Perez added that the plans aim to balance natural resource protection with recreational needs
emphasizing ecological management and sustainable trail systems
The committee emphasized the importance of community input
particularly on the balance between parking spaces and natural areas
as well as the need for clear communication with county leadership
“The idea is that we have this existing road that would be improved
but done in a way that preserves that feel of a natural park,” said Perez
He added that all of the models will have an access road to the Wood Creek pump station
The Department of Watershed Resources must be able to get vehicles and equipment in for maintenance and repairs
It wouldn’t change much from the existing road
the road will need to cross streams and creeks
“We would do that with a wood bridge consistent with the character of the site,” said Perez
He added that much of the parking will be near an area being called the Great Lawn
There will be additional parking near the chapel
with an overflow parking area of 20 to 30 spaces for events that may take place in the park
“It will be done in a way that’s paved but integrated as cleanly as we can within that environment,” said Perez
“The overflow parking would be a green space area that
then it just looks like an open field with trees around the edges.”
The primary multi-use paths are consistent with what’s currently in use at other parks throughout the county
“The idea is to look at a potential two loops
one that’s about a mile and one that’s a little longer — 1.5 miles — going around a portion of the site and then connecting back to Jones Bridge,” he said
“Then there is the accessible access path from the parking areas and from the hubs with sidewalk connections that connect the paved
multi-purpose trails to the different hubs that are located in this area.”
Perez added that there will be boardwalks to cross over wetlands
There would also be some small pavilions — a larger one in the central part
This concept has the potential for a light camping area
The Great Lawn could serve as an outdoor classroom
There’s also a nature exploration area and space that could be a dog park
Perez also mentioned two overlooks along the river with a restroom nearby
This plan calls for a restroom near the central area and another near the chapel as well
“There’s also a secondary hiking loop and connector trails that happen throughout the park,” said Perez
“These would be very natural in appearance
“Concept number two looks at moving the hub closer to the road,” said Perez
“We’re calling it the Great Lawn hub.”
this one has an access road to the pump station and also access to the cell tower
There will be parking areas near the Great Lawn
“We have a slightly different orientation of the multi-purpose trail
including one that circles on the edges of the Great Lawn and another one that circles around the middle area
one a little closer to the overlook and then a connection to the road.”
Another difference is an area with walkways near the chapel
accessible path area and more accessible boardwalk
a large pavilion and two small pavilions near the chapel,” he said
“There will also be a restroom or a maintenance building in that location.”
a campground in the Great Lawn area and a meadow
There will be primary hiking and secondary hiking loops that circulate throughout the site and connect to walking paths
“We’re calling concept number three the river hub,” said Perez
“This concept shows that main entrance road going a little farther into the site near the river
And this was in response to those river experiences and trying to get accessible locations closer to the river
The river hub would include paved parking and overflow parking
There would still be parking near the chapel
multi-purpose loop and another half-mile loop that connects to the road and accessible paths
The committee members who were present all consistently agreed that Concept 3 was their least preferred plan
Although they had concluded in the November meeting that they didn’t want a dog park or a playground
some form of both were in all of the designs
They were also lukewarm on the camping component
arguing that people looking for a place to smoke marijuana
drink alcohol and do drugs were more likely to use the facility than any scouting groups
Some were against any paved paths at all — even though that would limit access for those with disabilities or families that needed to use strollers
And just about everyone wanted to see fewer — not more — pavilions
Preferences leaned towards Concept 1 for its main area layout and Concept 2 for its limited number of concrete paths
The community emphasized preserving the park’s natural state
citing environmental impacts and overdevelopment
“I don’t know if y’all know there is a petition going around,” said committee member Danielle Leahy
“It has 1,200 people that [have] signed it that also agree
I’m just letting everyone know we are supposed to gather information
Leahy said she isn’t satisfied with the way the Citizen Steering Committee is progressing
“I found it disconcerting that features like the playground and dog park — that were completely nixed by the steering committee last time — were reintroduced on every single plan
The same could be said for the campgrounds
as they had less than 50 percent support at the first meeting
this sends the message to my group and the steering committee that our voices are ultimately not being heard
Gwinnett County seems to be pushing forward with their own hidden agenda no matter the opinions of the steering committee.”
Leahy founded Friends of Simpsonwood
a group of concerned citizens that largely want to see Simpsonwood Park remain pretty much as-is
She and about 50 members of the group attended the meeting
they wanted to make it known that they were a strong voice in the community
They had three main issues with the Citizen Steering Committee that were posted on their website
Peachtree Corners Magazine presented those complaints to Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Glenn Boorman
Response: The attached slide was a part of the presentation at the November meeting explaining how the Citizen Steering Committee was established
Besides the original members that returned
the applicants were reviewed for location of residence (one was
not in Gwinnett County) to ensure an even geographic spread surround the area
review of recreation interests or activities looking for a broad spectrum of interests as well as community mindedness to represent the community
Response: There are specific activities and features which are not allowed on the property as dictated by the Conservation Easement
There are uses which are planned for other park locations
There is no need to have these items (such as active fields for sports and mountain biking) as part of the discussion
Response: This statement is incorrect
there [was] voting on features … at this meeting
The last 10 minutes of the meeting were reserved for public comment
The organizers allotted five speakers to have two minutes each
Even though he doesn’t live in Gwinnett County
Malte Weiland works at the Peachtree Corners office of Siemens as a sustainability professional
He said he’s in the park about three times a week
He’s also been on the board of the Dunwoody Nature Center for eight years and said he’d be willing to lend any expertise to the park master plan
“Our park has very similar constraints and also similar guiding principles to what I heard tonight
and we’ve got some semi-innovative ways that we approach that
particularly around our nature-based education and the long-term preservation of natural resources,” he said
“So if anyone’s interested in learning more about how we approach that and how we help this process
I’m happy to meet with you more or just share that as well.”
Debbie Mitchell lives in North Manor and is worried that proposed changes will negatively impact the quality of life for those near the park
“My concerns are the environmental impact to the humans that live there
as well as the nature and the fact that you’re enhancing something and bringing more into an area of low trash
I hear that there’s going to be events
And I don’t want to hear rappers in my yard
and that’s basically what it would be.”
She’s also concerned that the enhanced amenities will increase traffic and cause congestion
They’ve not been prepared for a park that’s going to have events and have 200-plus cars,” she said
Pam Prehmus has lived in Peachtree Corners for 43 years
She remembers when it was mainly horse farms and natural greenery
It is the only park where my daughter and [her] four children
as well as my other grandchildren that come to town
not man-made woods — real meadows— and play creatively without man-made logs put someplace,” she said
which may actually exacerbate your problems that you’re trying to fix
The remaining speakers echoed similar concerns
“This renovation goes against the three self-directed guiding principles set by this committee to address,” said Jack Head
“The watershed special protection area on the river has proposed items on each concept
… Those river overlooks would invite trash into the river
The committee had been scheduled to tour Simpsonwood Park
but inclement weather caused the county to postpone the outing
The next Citizen Steering Committee meeting is set for 6:30 p.m
on March 4 at Pinckneyville Community Center and is open to the public
A Look at Simpsonwood Park’s Past and Plans for Future Development
Latest Updates and Improvements at Jones Bridge Park
Source: Peachtree Corners Post 2 Councilmember Eric Christ’s recent newsletter
The Simpsonwood Park Citizen Steering Committee met again in January and reviewed three concept alternatives presented by the Gwinnett County Parks Department
There was lots of voting by the committee members on the various potential plan elements
as well as input from the general public during the public comment portion of the meeting
the plans continue to move towards passive and natural uses — more than in the 2016 plan and far more natural when compared to the 700-person conference center and recreation facilities operated by the Methodist Church from 1985 until 2014 at that location
You can find links to Councilmember Christ’s social media pages or sign up for his newsletter at linktr.ee/votechrist
Peachtree Corners Magazine reported on the most recent Simpsonwood Park community meeting. You can find that article online here or in the February/March issue
Explore Gwinnett lists Jones Bridge Park as the “best place to paddle.”
get your hull on the Chattahoochee via Jones Bridge Park in Peachtree Corners
Surrounded by trees and accented by shoals
this shady patch of river is a beautiful place to canoe
the 30-acre park is also equipped with restrooms
three soccer fields and a sand volleyball court
It is also a popular location for fishing and for admiring ducks and geese,” according to the organization’s website
Nearby residents consider the popularity of the park a blessing and a curse with weekends and holidays crawling with unmanageable crowds
They point out that many visitors disregard posted rules for parking and littering
most of the overcrowding is due to people outside the area and the county encroaching on amenities funded by their tax dollars
“I’m here today because just over the last four or five years
I’ve seen the gradual decline in the park itself,” said one concerned resident
and it’s just not a pleasant experience of what it was intended to be.”
Just about every one of the two dozen or so residents in attendance at a community meeting on January 8 at Pinckneyville Community Center agreed
The gathering was a follow up to two earlier meetings — one in summer and another in fall 2024 to address residents’ concerns about traffic
Gwinnett County approved its budget for 2025
A key change was moving the Parks and Recreation Department to a stand-alone line item
It was previously part of the Department of Community Services
With an allocation of $67,563,433 of the county’s $2.67 billion budget
the commission said there will be a focus on maintenance and repairs for parks and recreation through additional ground crews
vehicles and equipment to enhance residents’ experience at the county’s 47 open parks and facilities
Delighted to share the news with the audience
Parks and Recreation Deputy Division Director Sarah Barlow offered a few key updates since the last meeting in October
“I had the opportunity to meet with Seth Yurman
the assistant city manager with Peachtree Corners,” she said
“There are a couple of cameras that are potentially going to be donated
So we do need an inter-government agreement
… And it turns out that we need internet in the park to run those cameras.”
“That is not infrastructure we have in place at this exact moment in time
but we do not have those two crucial pieces in place just yet.”
she announced that the stream restoration project is completed
Some attendees were confused at the news as there are still large pipes on site
“The sewer project is still being worked on,” explained Barlow
It’s two projects going on with our water resources.”
She added that once everything has a chance to grow in and fill out
that the sewer project may go on for another year
In addition to the sewer project and plans to add security cameras
Barlow shared that the plan to cut power to the pavilions during hours that the park is closed is also moving forward
And she added that “Once everything kind of gets settled in and we get to be okay for finance to start spending
we will be green lighting the tree project at the edge of the soccer fields.”
“We’ll get those trees purchased and planted when the weather isn’t freezing like we have now,” she said
traffic safety division director for Gwinnett Department of Transportation
gave an update on speed calming and parking at Jones Bridge Park
“We were able to implement additional speed humps going into the park,” she said
“Once the construction that parks shared with you is completed
we’re going to continue the speed humps inside the park to ensure that traffic stays within the speed limit of those areas.”
She added that Gwinnett DOT collaborated with the school district about placing parking deterrents on the street leading to the park
“It’s technically Gwinnett County and Board of Education property where we decided to do the no parking,” she said
“We wanted to make sure that it didn’t impact the school.”
Gwinnett DOT is also looking to redo the pedestrian bridge on East Jones Bridge
“That will not impact any traffic — everything should be done fairly quickly,” Goalen said
west precinct commander for Gwinnett County Police
emphasized the department’s mission to improve community quality of life
but he noted that no one has contacted him about specific concerns despite multiple meetings
“I hope that means that things are going well
make sure you if have any specific concerns or anything going on that you feel is not getting addressed that you reach out,” he said
Major Griffin noted that from October 15 (the date of the last meeting) to January 7
one arrest for drug possession and a few citations for people in the park after hours
pointed out that there were three-and-a-half-hours of fireworks going on in Jones Bridge Park on New Year’s Eve
“I’m not sure if the flock cameras are working … because it obviously didn’t catch these people and [police didn’t] bother to drive through,” she said
Major Griffin asked if she placed a call to the county police
I just wanted to clock and see how long the fireworks would go off without anyone doing anything,” she said
Major Griffin emphasized that the cameras are license plate readers
They are in place to log activity in the event that there’s a complaint and/or an incident and are not effective in capturing such activities
That led to the discussion of the need for better crime deterrent technology in the park
Peachtree Corners Chief City Marshal Edward Restrepo weighed in
“We’ve all thrown out some technology ideas over the last several months — just basically trying to see what’s palatable for everyone involved,” he said
we’re willing to add whatever technology we feel will help supplement the flock cameras.”
the plans for increased law enforcement presence will show if they’re effective
suggested the next meeting take place prior to Memorial Day to see how the process is going and to discuss any additional concerns before the unofficial start of summer
He suggested that there be a quarterly meeting to address community concerns and updates on park issues
Others asked that the time be more convenient for people who work during the day
the group agreed on the third Thursday of each quarter at 6:30 p.m
The next scheduled meeting will be on May 15
with Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation in attendance
Updated with new headline and additional information on November 22
A follow-up meeting was held on October 15 at Pinckneyville Community Center to report on the progress and what could — and should — be done going forward
“This kind of meeting … is the result of residents who live in homes that are up against Jones Bridge Park or nearby neighborhoods that suffer the loss of quality of life at best,” said Peachtree Corners City Manager Brian Johnson
“There have been instances where somebody ran from police down into Jones Bridge Park
They bail and they’re running through neighborhoods in the middle of the night with law enforcement chasing them
Even though the park is Gwinnett County property
and residents have raised concerns to the city
“Jones Bridge Park is unique in that it’s one of the few parks
that has access to the Chattahoochee River all the way down to where there are man-made improvements for you to get into the river
That makes the park attractive to many who come from outside the county to enjoy it
we’ve done a few changes to Jones Bridge Park as requested at that previous meeting,” said Chris Minor
Gwinnett Parks and Recreation division director
“The rental hours have been shortened to 7 p.m.
that will be backed up even further after dark
We have also installed barriers preventing people from parking alongside the road.”
He added that nearby construction has hindered some changes
we will evaluate our signs to install more and also finish adding barriers along that stretch of the park,” he said
“We are not going to move forward with the gate
but we do believe that the enforcement efforts … are making an impact in terms of what’s happening in the park that you all brought to our attention.”
I’ll get back with you after we’ve had some time
and then you tell me how and what kind of progress we’ve made,” said Major J.D. Griffin
commander of Gwinnett County’s West Precinct
I can’t speak for the trash or the trucks driving too fast with the speed bumps
“In the few times that I’ve driven through the park
there wasn’t any music from the ice cream truck
during a couple of times I’ve gone in there
it’s definitely been positive,” said Wagner
adding that people who live closer to the park may have a different take
Every resident present mentioned noise from permitted and unpermitted events as well as trespassers after hours
Major Griffin immediately implemented heavy enforcement in the park
“This gives you an idea of the increase in enforcement in the area,” he said
“One thing y’all said was that there was a large problem with parking.”
On several days where large events took place
GPD was onsite to impound cars that were parked illegally
“We tried to make announcements because we don’t want to just tow people’s cars for the sake of towing people’s cars,” Major Griffin said
Just one vehicle had been impounded in the first seven months of the year
realizing that our efforts on the PA system were genuine
and then started moving their cars,” he said
we were actually seeing a higher violation rate when people were moving their cars out before we could address them.”
Major Griffin said there will be an officer present during peak hours on Saturdays and Sundays
“Clearly the park has a lot of use,” he said
we’re trying to make it safe and people feel comfortable.”
Another major complaint from neighbors is speeders racing through an area heavy with pedestrians — mostly children
director of traffic studies for Gwinnett County Department of Transportation has been working with Wagner for a while about those concerns
“We had identified ‘no parking’ areas to help mitigate some of the violations of parking concerns
and that was completed last week,” she said
“They [designated] no parking between the end of the school zone [to the area that the] parks maintain.”
“We have already been looking to do additional speed studies way before I knew you guys were meeting
and we were able to finally create a project
get the funding and get that done,” she said
Goalen checked out the handywork and realized the new speed humps looked so good that the old ones now need refreshing
I’ll have them do an extra layer of asphalt
which will elevate them a couple of inches,” she said
“We can mark the back speed humps on the transportation [project list] right away.”
Goalen added that the department will assess if more speed humps are needed within the park and upgrade existing speed calming devices throughout
“I don’t know when that road is going to be resurfaced
[but when it is] we will blow out all of the speed humps
“I can give you a tentative resurfacing date.”
there is one flock camera (license plate camera reader system) near the entrance of the park
right before you get to Simpson Elementary
it’s right there,” said Major Griffin
… You’re either going to the school or you’re going to the park.”
Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason offered city assistance in setting up as many cameras as needed
Explaining the current camera setup and its effectiveness
Major Griffin said before anything else is added there should be an assessment of need
Perhaps license plate readers aren’t the only kind of cameras needed at the park
He added that he’s sure GPD can work with the Peachtree Corners city marshals to find the best solution
Another suggestion was to install a gate to go down when the park closes
it would prohibit cars from entering the park at night
“The maintenance of it is negligible over a year,” said Johnson
Minor said he’s hesitant to lock the gate for various reasons
Who would be tasked with locking and unlocking the gate
And what if there’s a need to get an emergency vehicle inside the park while the gate’s locked
“There are a lot of parks that are surrounded by neighborhoods,” he said
this is not necessarily a unique situation with Jones Bridge
And I don’t say that to diminish your experience
but only to put it in a larger context of the rest of the county.”
Johnson pointed out that the Fields Club has used residents to open and close gates with no issues
“The residents that are nearby there just kind of organize a little spreadsheet,” he said
we’re going to have to not allow you to do it anymore,” he recalled
so I’m not sure why Gwinnett didn’t say ‘we’ll try it unless you screw it up.’”
Johnson said the city has even offered to buy and install a vehicular gate similar to those at railroad crossings
“We researched ones that automatically go down at a certain time and go back up at another time so it could be programmed to do it automatically
and it was remotely accessible so that emergency services could have it go up [if needed],” he said
“We offered to donate and install it if Gwinnett would then take it over
and we don’t have the authority to restrict some access to property that the city doesn’t own.”
Johnson said the price quoted was $1,000 a year to maintain
this is an organization that has over a billion-dollar budget
and they have declined that option as well
I’m not sure where we will go,” said Johnson
One participant mentioned that some public venues cut the power to the pavilions after hours to quell usage of loudspeakers and lights
“I would personally like to see that happen because I’m really tired of hearing music blasting,” said Wagner
and my house isn’t anywhere close to where the pavilion is located.”
Minor said that Jones Bridge Park may have more issues than others because of its high usage
“Usually we’ll hear [that] the fields are too loud
or the PA system is too loud on a Sunday or Saturday when kids are playing games
but it sounds like people are getting out there and just going way beyond the noise ordinance at Jones Bridge,” he said
using an automatic sprinkler system may be another solution
Minor emphasized the importance of community input and the need for effective enforcement to protect neighborhoods
He vowed to work with residents near the park to ensure their rights are looked after just as much as those whose right it is to use the park
The suggestions and recommendations will be assessed
and a follow-up meeting has been set for 2 p.m
on January 8 at Pinckneyville Community Center
For more about Gwinnett County Parks, visit gwinnettcounty.com/departments/communityservices/parksandrecreation
Another legacy Peachtree Corners suburban office building is set to be razed to make way for townhomes
Forestar plans to raze the building and partner with D.R
Horton to build 75 upscale townhomes on the 9.3-acre site nestled between Peachtree Parkway and Spalding Drive in Peachtree Corners
Stream Realty Partners Managing Director Bryan Heller represented Dilweg in the sale after marketing the office space in the building for lease for years and not finding a tenant since the pandemic
“We’re pleased with the pricing,” Heller said
but we convinced the owners to take a look at
maybe this is a good site for townhomes.’”
Dilweg received approval for a residential rezoning in March
Heller is also listing a 3.5-acre site adjacent to the Forestar property
But at least one other developer encountered local pushback when it tried to tear down an office building for apartments
Pine Grove Communities applied in March to rezone 7 acres along Peachtree Corners Circle and tear down a three-story office building and replace it with apartments over retail. The following month, the Peachtree Corners City Council enacted a six-month moratorium to halt applications seeking mixed-use developments in the city's business district
Pine Grove revised its plan, adding a public park to the development that called for 250 apartments, but the city council rejected its proposal in June
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Curiosity Lab and Opsys will showcase the technology live at Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona
developer of the world's most advanced pure solid-state scanning LiDAR sensor
to launch and deploy the company's Advanced LiDAR Technology Opsys Sensors (ALTOS) Gen 2 LiDAR at Curiosity Lab
This marks Opsys' first real-world deployment of the ALTOS
the company's first deployment with a municipality and the company's first deployment in the United States
enabling the best-in-class performance with high resolution and extreme reliability with a 4D point cloud from the device's specific field of view
The pure-solid state characteristics make the unit more robust
avoiding mechanical failures associated with moving components and allowing the unit to have 24/7 operation and pass a 50g shock and full vibration test
customizable design to market that can be used for different applications and unique shapes with a low-power consumption
"The ALTOS Gen 2 represents the future of smart city technology," said Rafi Harel
"This collaboration with Peachtree Corners and Curiosity Lab gives us the unique opportunity to showcase the reliability and efficiency of our pure solid-state LiDAR technology in a real-world environment
which will soon improve safety and traffic management for cities across the globe
As our first real-world deployment and first U.S
we are looking forward to working with Peachtree Corners as our test and demo site to then launch into the U.S
Opsys' new technology boasts a higher partial differential equation (PDE) and a larger array than other models
which gives the unit improved detection range and a higher resolution of objects
while improving uniformity and enhancing illumination
the unit's optimized ASIC/processor allows for advanced processing of data
as well as lower power dissipation and cost
"Opsys' technology was extremely easy to calibrate and deploy in our city
yet flexible design made it easy for set up
without the need of special custom cables or proprietary connectors," said Brandon Branham
"The device behaves like a normal network device which also made it easy for us to integrate into our single pane of glass smart city management systems
By adding this cutting-edge technology into our infrastructure
we're able to enhance safety and operational efficiency for our community while showcasing scalable solutions that other cities and industries can easily adopt."
The ALTOS Gen 2 LiDAR units are deployed in the City of Peachtree Corners at the intersection of SR 141 and Town Center Boulevard
real-time data on traffic flow and pedestrian movements
offering significant enhancements to urban safety and traffic management
Its ability to operate continuously while supporting PoE (power over ethernet) and auxiliary power
make it adaptable for different municipal implementations and ideal for use across various industries including intelligent traffic systems (ITS)
robotics and public safety applications such as perimeter security and healthcare
Opsys will be debuting this technology at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona from November 5-7 in the Curiosity Lab booth
This will include a demo with live LiDAR feed from the Peachtree Corners intersection
Representatives of Curiosity Lab and Opsys will be available for interviews at Booth D40 Hall 3 in the USA Pavilion
About OpsysOpsys has developed the world's most advanced solid-state scanning LiDAR sensor
Opsys technology uses fully addressable VCSEL arrays
combined with a single chip addressable CMOS SPAD array
This gives the benefit of ensuring there are no mechanical failures over time
which increases the LiDAR's lifetime expectancy well beyond any other solution on the market today
The patented technology provides a 4D point cloud in real time
Opsys sensors provide major cost savings as they are semiconductor-based
The high-performance sensor is already in mass production
Opsys technology is designed as a Lego brick system to enable complete customization at an affordable price
to the original Opsys LiDAR used in autonomous driving
the company has also developed a LiDAR especially for industry
the ALTOS (Advanced LiDAR Technology Opsys)
The ALTOS provides a fully integrated solution to meet the myriads of demands of industry across numerous different sectors
AGV and Security (for example in Perimeter Security
For more information: https://www.opsys-tech.com/
the City of Peachtree Corners will begin scheduled maintenance and repairs on the Town Center Parking Deck
These improvements are expected to continue through July 2025 and are necessary to ensure the longevity of the structure
but the repair areas will be temporarily closed on a rolling basis
These closures will allow crews to efficiently complete the necessary work while minimizing disruption to tenants
barriers and other safety measures will be in place to guide drivers and pedestrians safely around work areas
drivers must follow the directional signage and only park in the open sections of the deck
The city appreciates the public’s patience and cooperation as they work to maintain a safe and well-functioning parking facility
For project updates, visit peachtreecornersga.gov
Fun for a Good Cause at Curiosity Lab’s Inaugural 5K Run/Walk
a sport with a kind of silly name has been sweeping the suburbs
Pickleball uses a smaller version of a tennis court with a plastic whiffle-type ball and a racquet that’s not unlike a ping-pong paddle.
Reports have shown that people enjoy the sport because it’s not as strenuous or expensive to play and doesn’t require the same skill level as tennis
finding a place to play has become increasingly difficult.
Pickleball in Peachtree Corners
Always keeping its finger on the pulse of the community
the city of Peachtree Corners may be considering a major facility for players and spectators alike
we were in preparation for getting to a point where we might be able to make a decision on this phenomenon
we all know is pickleball,” said City Manager Brian Johnson.
What might the city be involved in facilitating
With those questions in mind, the city of Peachtree Corners contracted with Sports Facilities Advisory (SFA) in April to produce a five-year financial forecast for developing a pickleball complex
The findings were presented at a city council work session on Sept
a possible full-service restaurant and basic concession offerings.
Multiple models were considered based on their ability to complement
national scale pickleball events currently scheduled at nearby facilities
For the city to consider such a costly endeavor
several “measurements of success” were required for it to be feasible.
“We want to attract non-local visitors to an area and drive that economic impact with hotel room nights and direct spending,” said Suzanne Fisher Reeder
an account executive and project manager for SFA
These measurements were gleaned from a stakeholder meeting back in June
and SFA condensed them into three major points:
The first is to create a best-in-market hub for pickleball tournaments and events that attract non-local visitors to Peachtree Corners
including hotel room nights and direct spending to adjacent businesses
The second point is to leverage revenue-generating opportunities and spaces to create a business model that limits ongoing subsidy requirements
flexible facility and operating model that maximizes use for pickleball tourism.
“We actually look at three different options.”
The first option was a local model with a 12-court facility with six indoor and six outdoor courts to support local play (ALTA and USGA)
The next model was a mid-level option with 24 courts
There would be 12 Indoor and 12 outdoor covered courts
It would support local play and tournament play.
“That would be weekend play and three-to-five-day tournaments,” said Reeder
The largest was a national tournament model with 60 courts
48 indoor and 12 outdoor courts covered.
“It could host very large national tournaments but also support your local players,” said Reeder
SFA took a Goldilocks approach in its recommendation
The lower-end option would be suitable for local play.
It could accommodate those in Peachtree Corners looking for a facility
but it would not be large enough for tournaments or attracting tourism.
The high-end option wouldn’t be as cost-effective and could compete with existing businesses
it wouldn’t be utilized enough to account for the expense
The mid-level option appeared to be the sweet spot
“The 24-court pickleball indoor/outdoor [model] … is about 55,000 square feet of indoor [space]
and we have a full breakdown of the model,” said Reeder
The breakdown included food and beverage options
a parking lot and other things needed for regional tournaments and to support local players
we look at all of the potential business units that could take place within the facility,” said Reeder.
SFA calculations showed that the complex could generate about $8 million in the first four years
profit would be around $5 million annually
Reeder said they expect the typical out-of-towner would spend an average of $120.72 per night on food
lodgings and miscellaneous expenses.
Overnight stays would start at around 4,000 hotel rooms in the first year
growing to about 16,000 rooms by year five
“We’ve also projected the number of tournaments starting at nine
Including everything from one or two-day tournaments up to five-day tournaments,” said Reeder
The mid-level model seemed to fulfill the three requirements for success mainly because it would be operationally sustainable and wouldn’t require a subsidy.
The discussion continued after SFA’s recommendation
Concerns about public and private partnerships
competition in other parts of metro Atlanta
the longevity of the concept and acquisition of property arose.
and the city council has a lot more research ahead
Norcross Women’s Water Polo Claims State Championship Title for the First Time
How to Attend Major League Pickleball’s Upcoming Tournament in Peachtree Corners
Expect a day of thrilling races and family-friendly fun at the inaugural Curiosity Lab Charity 5K Run/Walk followed by the Curiosity Lab Criterium on Sunday
The day-long community event will kick off at 8 a.m.
In addition to the running and cycling events
a DJ spinning tunes and more fun throughout the day
Presented by Werfen and Sidel, with additional support provided by Atlas Collaborative and the City of Peachtree Corners
the Charity 5K Run/Walk will benefit the American Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and 100% of the registration fees will be donated
While no prizes will be given for the race
bib timing will be used for those who would like to see their times
And each registrant will receive a Curiosity Lab Charity 5K Run/Walk t-shirt for participating
Registration for the 5K is open now
hang around and experience the Curiosity Lab Criterium
Speed Week is a premiere week-long event on the U.S
Pro Cycling Circuit that draws cyclists from around the world
including Olympic medalists and world and national champions
the professional men’s and women’s events drew cyclists from over 30 states and more than 20 countries
Join in the excitement and watch as some of the world’s top male and female Criterium Racers tackle the most challenging track on the circuit
The 2025 Curiosity Lab Criterium & 5K will take place on a course located within the world-famous Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners — a 5G-enabled
500-acre living laboratory ecosystem designed specifically as a proving ground for IoT
mobility and smart city emerging technologies
Location: Curiosity Lab at City Hall • 310 Technology Pkwy NW
The 5K starts at 9 a.m and ends at 10:30 a.m
Parking for the event will be located at 400 and 420 Technology Parkway
there are myriad reasons parents encourage their young children to play soccer:
It’s for those objectives and more that members of the Peachtree Corners Football Club (PCFC) are working so hard to sustain and grow their program
three local parents had the idea to build an organization for their children to reap the benefits of recreational soccer
“We found out that we were linked to the athletic club called Peachtree Booster Club,” said Gavin Meech
parent coach and member of the small group that revitalized the soccer program
“It’s sort of an overarching group that also looks after the roller hockey at Pinckneyville Park in Norcross.”
a youth soccer program called the Jones Bridge Soccer Club was formed at Jones Bridge Park
Now renamed the Peachtree Corners Football Club
the parents decided to put the time and energy into revitalizing — and growing — the decades-old program
The program now has nearly 300 kids across 30 teams
with over 5,000 volunteer hours annually from parents and coaches
Challenges include managing growth and ensuring sustainability
though the club aims to expand its field space and engage more local businesses for partnerships
The organization will soon celebrate 50 years of providing youth recreational level soccer to the local community in the southwest corner of Gwinnett County
And registration for the upcoming season is nearly full
highlighting the need for continued community support and involvement
the group faced challenges in forming the soccer club
including linking with the Peachtree Booster Club and learning administrative tasks
“That first season was a steep learning curve
“So we were driving around Peachtree Corners
sticking the little signs anywhere that we were legally allowed
A few of us were grabbing anybody that would slightly suggest they would help by being a parent coach and things like that.”
Fast forward to this past season where there were just under 300 kids and 30 teams
“Our return rate is in excess of 80% of the kids and their families
it’s really become something that once they join
Volunteers naturally step forward and get involved
“[Rapid growth] is a great problem to have
So we’re working with [Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation] at the moment to try and see if we can gain more field space,” Meech said
“We started to utilize the big field near the Aquatic Center
It’s similar in size to Jones Bridge field
but it’s got a slightly different classification at the moment.”
so a huge obstacle is finding some place to play that’s local so that families won’t have to traipse all over the metro area
“We don’t want to lose our identity by expanding too big
because that’s hard to manage,” he added
Committee member Mathew Shamloo credits Meech with pulling him into the mix
“I’d say that Gavin has a very unassuming gravitational pull,” he said
I think it’s just naturally the people who want to be involved step forward and
they’re just kind of pulled in inch by inch.”
“I had no real ties to soccer before this,” he said
So he utilized some of the fundamentals that apply to any team sport and researched best coaching practices
“I want her to play soccer because it’s easily accessible
it’s right around the corner from us,” he said
Meech and Shamloo don’t have dreams that their kids will turn into David Beckham or Brandi Chastain
“I think what we’ve managed to achieve is we have raised the bar on rec sports
but we’re fundamentally a rec club,” said Meech
“I think some of the challenges of the past [are] where you get to a point where you say
Should we offer the next level of competition to the kids?’ But sort of the mentality we’ve had
that Peachtree Corners is a local rec club.”
In order to keep doing what they do in an amateur Ted Lasso fashion and stay around for another 50 years
the club focuses on community and engagement with local businesses for partnerships rather than sponsorships
“Our soccer club and families are more than just a group of people that meet for our kids to play a sport,” said Meech
you engage with local business for sponsorship
but we’re very lucky in the sense that
as a nonprofit supported by parks and rec with facilities
we don’t need a huge amount of sponsorship.”
Soccer is easily accessible globally because all you need is a ball and a goal and some grass or something similar
“We’ve been able to engage with local restaurants
other sporting facilities and work in more of a partnership with them to create this wider community beyond Jones Bridge soccer playing fields,” he said
Both men pointed out that they go to Town Center or other sporting events with their families and inevitably bump into Peachtree Corners FC players and family members everywhere
“Local businesses reach out to us and try and find out how they can contribute,” said Meech
it still invites families and businesses to visit and see the activities firsthand
The committee members want to build awareness and community involvement
as the club aims to continue growing and providing a positive experience for all involved while maintaining its community-centric focus
For more information about the Peachtree Corners Football Club, visit pcfcsoccer.com
Peachtree Corners resident, Alex Everett traveled to Italy this past September — not as a tourist but as an athlete. The 28-year-old accountant and liver transplant survivor, served as goalkeeper on Team USA as they competed in the first-ever Transplant Football World Cup
The event — part of the larger World Transplant Games — promoted giving the gift of life through a week of connection and sportsmanship
showcasing how people with organ transplants can live a normal
“I first heard about the US Transplant World Cup team a few years ago through a social media post,” said Alex
“The first Transplant World Cup was originally going to take place in 2022 but was postponed due to the uncertainty around international travel and COVID
Fast forward to 2024 and Team USA had an interest meeting via Zoom to discuss details about the tournament and fielding the American team.”
they had 14 people from around the United States (hailing from Georgia
“There were 10 other countries that were represented in the World Cup
one of five and one of six,” Alex explained
“It was an incredible experience representing the US at an international level
competing against other transplant recipients from around the world
We not only were able to share our passion for soccer but also our stories of transplantation and what obstacles we had to overcome to be where we were.”
Team USA played well in their matches but placed 9th out of the 11 teams
Because players came from all over the country to join the team
they hadn’t had the opportunity to practice together — or even meet in person — before the tournament started
“The first time we met face to face and kick a ball as a team was our first game against France,” said Alex
“While that outcome was not what we wanted
we progressively got better as the tournament went on
Eventually ending with a win in a penalty shoot-out against Wales and a normal time win in our final game against Northern Ireland.”
“It was an incredible experience, and I would highly recommend anyone who’s involved with transplantation to reach out and get involved with not only Team USA but also with the Transplant Games of America (TGA)
which is an Olympic-style competition for people who have received transplants or living donors,” he added
Most states in the US have their own TGA team, including one here in Georgia
The next World Transplant Games will be held in Dresden
athletes and teams from 60 countries will meet to compete in 17 different sports
The US Team is excited to be part of it again and are currently looking for more players interested in taking part
Alex is also involved with the Peachtree Corners-based organization LifeLink® of Georgia, a division of the LifeLink® Foundation
the foundation’s mission is to inspire new organ donor registrations and celebrate those who have decided to save lives as a registered organ
The mission is carried out locally through education programs and community awareness campaigns
LifeLink of Georgia launched The Infinity Campaign
a state-wide educational effort aimed at motivating and registering new organ donors
The campaign is represented by the infinity symbol
to demonstrate the lasting impact of organ and tissue donation
LifeLink of Georgia partners with hospitals to support and guide families as they establish their loved one’s legacy through organ and tissue donation
They carry out the decisions of registered donors or their families and honor the life of each donor by providing organs and tissue for transplant to as many patients as possible.
women and children gifted a legacy of life through organ donation with LifeLink of Georgia
yet there are still nearly 3,000 patients in the state awaiting an organ transplant and thousands more that could benefit from tissue transplantation
your life story continues through the lives you save
ensuring that your legacy lives on indefinitely,” says Katie Payne
a lesson we learn anew each day from our donor families
LifeLink of Georgia saves thousands of lives every year
and we are deeply honored to continue this extraordinary mission.”
The Infinity Campaign features a series of real stories from registered donors
each telling what inspired them to register and emphasizing the effect this decision has on saving lives
LifeLink aims to motivate more people to register as organ
eye and tissue donors and spread the message of hope and life
“The decision to become a donor was deeply personal
It is an opportunity to give the ultimate gift — the gift of life,” said Adán Bean. “I get to continue to tell the story for others
be a little bit of ink in their pen and help them write what they want to write.”
As part of the launch, LifeLink has created the website mystorycontinues.com
which spotlights stories from donors and recipients and offers innovative tools
including the opportunity to upload a photo to share your support and spread the word on social media about the importance of organ
Being a donor is an incredible way for individuals to make a difference and have an impact on the lives of others
eye and tissue donor can potentially save or improve the lives of more than 75 people
The need for organ and tissue donors is greater now than ever
given the growing numbers of people on transplant wait lists and increasing numbers of people with diabetes and kidney disease
there are about 3,000 people in Georgia on the organ transplant list and thousands more on the tissue transplant list
There are several simple ways to register your decision to be an organ
For more about LifeLink of Georgia, visit lifelinkfoundation.org/our-story/#llgeorgia