Edited April 29, 2014. The original Isakson Living East Cobb proposal called for 987 units, which was more than twice as many units as Isakson Living's Park Springs community. The most recent Isakson Living East Cobb proposal calls for 748 units, which is 1.58 times as many units as Park Springs.
By large majorities, we all opposed the first Isakson Living proposal and remain opposed to what we know of the second proposal. It is too big and has far too many units for this part of East Cobb, and the apartment complex architecture does not fit in with the area. We look forward to seeing more details of the second proposal, but still no specifics have been given since Isakson Living refiled in November.
Also, we should point out that most CCRCs in the United States have less than 300 units. We question why the developer wants nearly 3 times that amount in East Cobb, and also why they would plan 1.58 times the number of units as in their Park Springs, Stone Mountain location, even though the acreage is similar. Park Springs has 474 units on 54 acres, while Isakson Living East Cobb has planned for 748 units on 53.7 areas, and up to a full third of the property cannot be built on because it is either in the flood plain, stream buffers or too steep. So IL East Cobb would be more than twice as dense as IL Park Springs.
Furthermore, there are many ways to build a CCRC, such as cottage style or apartment style. Park Springs has both cottages and apartments, but East Cobb would only have apartments. We do not want an apartment-style CCRC in East Cobb, not only because it doesn’t fit in with the character of this area, but also because of the risks involved if the CCRC fails. This is not an abstraction; due to the tough economy in 2008, the planned Isakson Living Peachtree Hills was not built and an empty lot still remains on those 23 acres in Buckhead.
In a true compromise, nobody gets everything they want, but everybody gets something they want. Hopefully, Isakson Living is willing to join with the people in this part of East Cobb in a meaningful compromise that benefits all involved. Any compromise will involve far fewer units, and an architectural style that fits East Cobb.