News | Peachtree City

Mayor: ‘We’ll shop to get another college in PTC’

Tue, 08/12/2008 - 4:00pm
By: John Munford

City still in the running for relocation of Atlanta Christian College to Wilksmoor Village

Peachtree City’s bid to land Atlanta Christian College is progressing, as land has already been identified in the northwestern part of the city where the college could be built from scratch.

In contrast, the city of Newnan is believed to be offering ACC a proposal that calls for redevelopment of existing buildings, said Peachtree City Mayor Harold Logsdon. Newnan and Peachtree City were announced as the two top cities under consideration by the college back in May.

Should ACC elect Peachtree City and decide to move right away, it would mean that a temporary classroom and office would be needed for the school, and temporary housing would be needed for about 200 students, Logsdon said. He has an idea: treat them all like exchange students and invite them to spend a year living in the homes of local residents.

The task force is also considering working with local apartment complexes to create the temporary housing.

The task force also has some visual renderings of what the campus could look like thanks to assistance from the local firm Historical Concepts, Logsdon said. With two classroom buildings, there will also be a chapel at the center focal point of the campus, along with some athletic fields and even a residence for the ACC president, Logsdon said.

The 30-plus acre tract being proposed by the city is on a 403-acre tract that has already been annexed into the city and zoned for an active adult subdivision. Logsdon said the city would make the property owner of that tract “whole” by annexing other property contiguous to the subdivision.

Bringing ACC will also necessitate a commercial rezoning for some property along MacDuff Parkway that is currently zoned for residential use. Doing that will allow for a bookstore, coffee shop or similar stores to be nestled next to the college, Logsdon said.

The city’s presentation, which will likely be made in September to the college’s board of trustees includes the raw undeveloped land, housing, transportation and even athletic fields on the 30-plus acre site.

“It’s really going to come down to what they can afford,” Logsdon said. “... The decision is up to them.”

ACC officials have said their current campus in East Point doesn’t afford the room for dramatic growth in enrollment that the college currently envisions. The private school currently has an enrollment of 400 in its degree programs in seven study areas ranging from biblical studies to business.

Should ACC choose another city, Logsdon said the city is still going to pursue another college, having seen the potential benefits of luring ACC here.

“If ACC picks another city, we’ll continue to shop to get a college in Peachtree City,” Logsdon said.

Logsdon praised the task force for its diligent work to make Peachtree City competitive in the bid for ACC.

“We’ve really got a great group,” he said.

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Regarding the ACC project, I have one other question,
Submitted by MYTMITE on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 6:53pm.

Logsdon mentions that one of the things to be discussed, among others is transportation. May I ask what type of transportation we are talking about? Are we talking about a bus system? If not, what type of transportation and would this be for the whole area or only ACC? Would appreciate some feed-back on this issue also.

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Mytite
Submitted by Bonkers on Wed, 08/13/2008 - 7:08am.

Oh no, not a bus system---not here!
Everyone rides those things!

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Why exactly would we NOT want a college here?
Submitted by NeedtoKnow on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 6:20pm.

Especially one where the kids are supposedly more serious about their studies vs. partying.

I can see no downsides to this plan. Enlighten me.

I'm hoping, if they do locate here, we'll finally go ahead and extend Macduff Pkw to Hwy 74.

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Has anyone actually told us what the benefits of having ACC here
Submitted by MYTMITE on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 5:25pm.

would be? I don't mean 'the pie in the sky" type of double talk we usually get. What will be the direct benefits--taxes, etc. What would be the cost to us? What will we give away to get the college? How many of these students will be day students living in surrounding counties and returning home after class? Another thing, I imagine the land Logdson is talking about is Weiland's land--just what does it mean that we would make the property owner (Weiland?) whole by annexing other property contiguous to the subdivision? Is this Weiland's way of getting something we have denied him in the past? Who will run the bookstore, coffee shop, or similar stores "nestled" next to the college. Is Weiland going to be able to build a shopping center here by sneaking in the back door with the college as the reason? Every college/university I have been involved with have had their own bookstores on campus, same with coffee shops, etc. We have been stung before--let's make real sure this is not still another ploy to stick us with retail we do not need or want. Mr. Haddix, could you please address this issue?

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Benefits of Having A College
Submitted by Gator on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 5:55pm.

The benefits of having a college in our community are numerous and only the short sighted fail to see it. We are proud of the "quality of life" in PTC and a college contributes and enhances that quality. White collar jobs, cultural events, educational resources and support, facilities that are accessible and usable for the public, economic impact for local businesses from symposiums, athletic events, conferences, etc. The list is long and it is all good. I've lived in communities that have not had a college or university and I've lived in communities with colleges and universities. The "WITH" wins by a long shot.

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Gator, I too have live and worked many years in colleges
Submitted by MYTMITE on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 6:44pm.

and universiities. I do know what they can bring to a community. I am specifically asking what we are promising to give in order to get from ACC and what they are giving in return. What has ACC done to enhance the community they are now in? Are they having symposiums, etc there now? What facilities have they made available to the public and for the public in the location where they are now? Since they are moving here from another county, how many locals do you think they will be employing locally? As colleges go, an enrollment of 400 is not that great. I am by no means short-sighted only cautious. I have seen too many promises made and broken and too many exceptions made that has made the community I live in less than what it was. I have been here over 30 years and have always been proud of my community. I want to be able to be proud of it for the next 30, that is why I ask questions. And by the way, my questions were posed for the City Council and Mr. Haddix in particular. I was not talking about aesthetics or intrinsic values but actually what we would be giving and what we would be receiving and what new concessions would be made to Weiland and Company.

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What a ridiculous idea
Submitted by PTC Avenger on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 4:54pm.

"Should ACC elect Peachtree City and decide to move right away, it would mean that a temporary classroom and office would be needed for the school, and temporary housing would be needed for about 200 students, Logsdon said. He has an idea: treat them all like exchange students and invite them to spend a year living in the homes of local residents."

What a ridiculous idea. I for one will do everything I can to keep ACC, and any other college, out of Peachtree City. It is not needed and will only increase congestion.

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A College for PTC
Submitted by Bonkers on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 5:09pm.

We don't need a "Christian" College here. We have enough problems managing this place without trying to satisfy a bunch of evangelicals!

If they are so great and expanding as they say, why would they come here immediately with no place to have classes, offices, nor places for students? Is Matt Dillon running them out of town?

We have an excellent college here now----in fact a University extension.
Let us help them. I don't like the way "Christian" colleges are run and financed!

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are the quotation marks really necessary?
ahavah_lachaim's picture
Submitted by ahavah_lachaim on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 10:51pm.

There are so many statments needing addressing in this post, i feel the need to address them one by one.

First, having a college in PTC, Christian or otherwise, would not intrinsically affect the "management" of PTC. As the students and faculty would not necessarily be citizens of PTC, they would have little or no influence on the actions of the city council, etc.

Second, ACC is expanding-thus providing the necessity of the move from East Point. No, they are not in trouble there; in fact, the immediate community is fond of the college and the community events promoted by the school. But if you've ever visited the campus, moreso, if you've lived there for any length of time, you know that it is not a conducive learning enviroment, and is also an unsafe one.

Finally, if ACC were to move here in what would be a mutually beneficial arrangement, there is no reason that the community could not support both institutions. Atlanta supports both Georgia State and Georgia Tech; the LaGrange community supports both LaGrange College and West Georgia Technical. This amazing and vibrant community can surely support and embrace two such institutes of higher education.

As for your final claim, I am sorry that you are not pleased with the way you have seen other institutions run, but please do not let your own inhibitions stand in the way of a move that would benefit many others. Choose not to support the institution itself, but do not stand in the way of it's progress.

"if we can see it, there is no faith involved..."


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ahava
Submitted by Bonkers on Wed, 08/13/2008 - 7:18am.

What does muddle think?

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I think...
muddle's picture
Submitted by muddle on Wed, 08/13/2008 - 12:59pm.

...I'll have an IPA.

___________________

Back in Nagasaki


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IPA
Submitted by Bonkers on Wed, 08/13/2008 - 6:12pm.

I suppose this is what the two old boys from NH drank many years ago on TV ads!

I never could do much alcohol, even in cases of sadness. I could down several gin or vodka sluggers, while in the military, with some mix that was appropriate. Still like a good rum and diet coke, just one.

Diuretics and other RX dope now prohibit nearly all such mind benders for me. Some accuse me of taking non-RX dope too. I don't.

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