Sitting at a table in the Redneck Gourmet in downtown Senoia, it was difficult for Scott Tigchelaar to contain his excitement. The animation in his voice and on his face was a dead give-away that something important was about to happen. And it did. Southern Living Magazine has named the 3.5-story brownstone to be built on the site of the Gin Property development as its Idea House for 2010.

Catering current development to the city’s past is a trait well-known to area residents in Coweta and Fayette counties. But the selection of Senoia by Southern Living as the location of its next Idea House ratchets things up to a whole new level. Tigchelaar sipped his drink as he explained the selection and its significance to Senoia.

“This is a first for Senoia and a first for south metro Atlanta since no home in this part of the metro area has ever been selected,” said Tigchelaar. “But it is also a first for Southern Living. The Idea House is a phenomenon. And Southern Living is the grandaddy of its type of publication. The selection of a brownstone is a first for the magazine, as is the decision to have the house remain open through the Christmas holidays next year rather than being open to the public for only four months.”

Opening next June and similar in style to the brownstones found in New York and Boston, the 3,700 square feet, 3.5-story idea house will be situated on one side of the first five luxury brownstones built. It will feature a courtyard, plunge pool and grilling pavilion. And like each of the other brownstones, it will be outfitted with a rooftop terrace and an elevator. The remaining brownstones will average approximately 3,500 square feet. The units will carry a price tag of $600,000-$1 million.

Tigchelaar’s excitement also extended far beyond the Gin Property development where the first group of brownstones will be located.

“The new Southern Living editor didn’t want just another house in another suburb,” Tigchelaar said. “He said ‘show me the renaissance of a community.’ So they’re going to tell the whole story of Senoia in what should be a 12-page spread in an upcoming issue.”

As for the brownstones, Tigchelaar said the buyer profile includes empty-nesters from locations such as Peachtree City.

“If you like North Cove in Peachtree City you’ll love this,” Tigchelaar said with a smile. “But here in Senoia, empty-nesters that still work, and really anybody, can maintain a quality lifestyle in an existing historic downtown.”

Built with a look of days gone by Senoia, with its ambience and only a few thousand residents, is actually the city of the future and one with a niche that few localities can match.

“It’s a place where you can decompress,” Tigchelaar explained.

The first five brownstones are just the beginning of what is coming to the 11-acre Gin Property in downtown Senoia. When completed, the Gin Property will be the home of 75 residences, including some live/work units, and the possibility of a boutique hotel, with gas-lit streetlights throughout the property.

The record for visitors to an Idea House is about 26,000 people, Tigchelaar said. The uniqueness of the Senoia Idea House could draw more than 30,000 from across the South and beyond, he added. And that is where the Georgia Dept. of Tourism comes in. The department will participate in marketing the Senoia Idea House. And the exposure will benefit more than just Senoia, Tigchelaar said. People coming from out of county and out of state will have to pass through Coweta, Fayette and Peachtree City to get here, he said.

The project architect is Atlanta/Peachtree City’s Historical Concepts with interior decorations by Jamie Elliot McPherson of Atlanta’s Hearth & Home Interiors.

Expectations for the Senoia Idea House are excellent, Tigchelaar said, explaining that the 2009 Idea House located in a gated golf community north of Dahlonega and priced at $1 million has generated 24 pre-sales. Such pre-sale interest is already occurring at the Gin Property and even more is expected now that Senoia is on Southern Living’s map.

The concept of having new development presented as a reflection of the past is not new. But Senoia has already upped the ante, and now it is paying off in even bigger ways.

“Some folks want to get back to Mayberry,” Tigchelaar said, still animated and smiling. “And this is it.”

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