Does this Large-Scale Complex Belong in East Cobb:
Comparing the East Cobb CCRC proposal and Park Springs CCRC
Below is an actual 5-story building (4-stories over parking) at Isakson Living Park Springs in Stone Mountain. The Isakson Living East Cobb proposal from October 2014 includes 4-story buildings (3-stories over parking) for 7 of the 11 multi-story buildings (see plan below). In addition, 84 houses 2- and 3-stories tall are part of the plan. (see images below)
This 5-story Park Springs building is still very much a possibility in East Cobb: While Isakson Living Park Springs was under construction in 2004 after getting initial zoning for 3-stories over parking, they rezoned to add another story, and these became 5-story buildings.
The Isakson Living East Cobb proposal is currently for 3-stories over parking, or 4 stories, and a very real possibility is that Isakson Living would go back and rezone to ask for additional stories, so that East Cobb would become exactly as this image shows: a 5-story building. All the previous Isakson Living East Cobb proposals included 5-story buildings. Also note that the Tritt property is on a hill, so it would actually look much larger than the Park Springs image appears.
This 5-story Park Springs building is still very much a possibility in East Cobb: While Isakson Living Park Springs was under construction in 2004 after getting initial zoning for 3-stories over parking, they rezoned to add another story, and these became 5-story buildings.
The Isakson Living East Cobb proposal is currently for 3-stories over parking, or 4 stories, and a very real possibility is that Isakson Living would go back and rezone to ask for additional stories, so that East Cobb would become exactly as this image shows: a 5-story building. All the previous Isakson Living East Cobb proposals included 5-story buildings. Also note that the Tritt property is on a hill, so it would actually look much larger than the Park Springs image appears.
Isakson Living Park Springs 5-story building (4-stories over parking)
Isakson Living recently released some of their plans for a proposed retirement community (CCRC) on the Tritt property, next to East Cobb Park. This plan is designed to be more like Isakson Living's existing retirement community called Park Springs, located in Stone Mountain, Georgia. However, the Isakson Living East Cobb proposal is actually much larger than Isakson Living Park Springs, and when the East Cobb location is compared to the surrounding area in Stone Mountain, the East Cobb proposal is dramatically larger even still. Even the proposed CCRC houses in East Cobb are 2 times larger than the CCRC houses in Park Springs.
As these photos show, Park Springs is attractive, but it looks like a massive apartment complex. Something like this is simply out of place in East Cobb, particularly when adjacent to existing neighborhoods and homes.
As these photos show, Park Springs is attractive, but it looks like a massive apartment complex. Something like this is simply out of place in East Cobb, particularly when adjacent to existing neighborhoods and homes.
| Images below from Isakson Living Park Springs in Stone Mountain Images above from Isakson Living Park Springs |
Proposed East Cobb Retirement Houses Would Be
2 Times Larger
than Park Springs Retirement Houses
 These 2 Houses above are from the Isakson Living East Cobb CCRC proposal for 84 houses 2- and 3-stories tall. |
| The 3 Houses below are actual 1-story houses from Isakson Living Park Springs. |  |
Below is a comparison between East Cobb and Park Springs neighborhoods.
 (CLICK for larger image) Note that Isakson Living Park Springs in Stone Mountain is located next to a golf course, wooded acreage and convenient shopping. Few traffic problem exist due to the location. (Same Google Map scale as East Cobb.) |  (CLICK for larger image) Note the East Cobb location would be more dense than Park Springs, yet this property is surrounded by thousands of homes, many schools, and a new 162,000 square foot WellStar Health Park, which bypassed proper zoning channels. The large-scale Isakson Living CCRC would greatly impact traffic. (Same Google Map scale as Park Springs.) |
Residential East Cobb Area
Park Springs and Isakson Living facts and timeline:
- Park Springs is located in Stone Mountain, Georgia, on the east side of the mountain, in DeKalb County, but right on the Gwinnett County line. Park Springs Address: 500 Springhouse Circle, Stone Mountain, GA 30087.
- 1997 - Isakson Barnhart (old name for Isakson Living) proposes a mixed-use development, including a 394-unit apartment complex on Bermuda Rd in DeKalb County. The local community strongly opposes, on the grounds of school overcrowding and property values. A compromise is reached whereby the development is age restricted, and becomes the Park Springs CCRC retirement community.
- 1999 - Isakson Barnhart proposes a dense, apartment complex-like CCRC in Athens, GA, and is defeated.
- 2004 - While Park Spring CCRC is under construction, Isakson Barnhart goes through DeKalb County zoning a second time to raise the height of buildings from 3- to 4-stories
- 2005 - A year after Park Springs opens, Isakson Barnhart initiates 3 years of legal action against the DeKalb County tax assessor to substantially lower their property taxes
- 2008 - Isakson Barnhart is part of a committee which drafts Cobb County's CCRC zoning code
- 2008 - Isakson Barnhart's proposed Peachtree Hills CCRC in Buckhead stalls, leaving empty lots to this day
- 2009 - Isakson Barnhart splits into two firms, Isakson Living and Barnhart Guess.
- 2010 - The Stone Mountain Super Target, built by Isakson Barnhart directly in front of the Park Spring CCRC, goes out of business.
- 2011 - BB&T sue Isakson Living for 30.5 million for Peachtree Hills CCRC default. The case is still pending in court.
- 2013 - Isakson Living proposes a 987-unit CCRC on the 54-acre Tritt property, next to East Cobb Park.
- 2014 - Isakson Living proposes a 498-unit CCRC that includes 11 multi-story buildings and 84 houses 2- and 3-stories tall. Below is the plan image received from Isakson Living.
This is the October 2014 Isakson Living Plan:
11 multi-story buildings and 84 large cluster homes next to East Cobb Park
11 multi-story buildings and 84 large cluster homes next to East Cobb Park
Isakson Living East Cobb proposal October 2014
Please email the Commissioners, sign the New petition against the October 2014 Isakson Living plan, and join us on Tuesday, Nov 4th, to oppose this development in East Cobb.
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