Around Town: After $110 Million in Projects Including 800-Plus New Homes, What's Next in 2024?.

Northwest Georgia already has had enough milestones to call it a year even after just fourth months.

Large-scale, independent projects are well underway while other deals that have been on the table for months are finally tied up. Easily more than $110 million has been committed and more than 800 single-family homes and apartments have been announced or are underway. Consider:

Work is continuing on the $61 million Nova River District♦ project, bringing 250 apartments and commercial space to a revitalized West Third Street. There are hints of more to come.

♦ Ground also has been broken for a $33.8 million health sciences building at Berry College.♦ Due in 2025, it will be home for nursing and physician associate students — and add some dorm space as well.

Qcells♦ already is producing solar panels at its still-rising $2.5 billion Cartersville campus.

The protracted Atrium/Harbin Clinic♦ deal has been finalized, ending around five years of “transition” for Northwest Georgia’s healthcare community. Now the competition really ramps up.

Summit Hill Foods♦ is adding 23 jobs as part of a $10 million expansion at its Old Lindale Road location.

♦ Groundwork for Pleasant Valley Preserve’s♦ first phase is underway off Chulio and Pleasant Valley roads, featuring 192 homes that should be “going vertical” by mid 2025. Together with future phases, look for more than 900 homes here.

Ryan Homes♦ also is building 232 homes off Old Dalton Road in Armuchee. A ribbon-cutting is set for May 23 on the first homes, with prices from $260,000.

D.R. Horton is planning around 140 single-family homes off the Armuchee Connector bordered by Old Dalton Road and Jones Loop Road. Walt Busby♦ and his associates at Summerville Development LLC and another company are prepping the site now.

♦ Even the long-awaited Varsity♦ in Rome is now open, the drive-through at least, with a 100 Public Health preopening inspection score. The LakePoint opening in January also started with drive-thru only.

That’s going to be tough to beat even with twice as many pages still left to flip on the 2024 calendar.

The Point or The Precinct?

What hasn’t happened so far this year is progress on The Point, a project designed to bring some 200 apartments and perhaps 20,000 square feet of retail to the intersection of Martha Berry and North Fifth.

Sixteen months ago, there were celebrations over the demolition of the Relax Inn and adjoining structures, clearing the way for another key update to the corridor.

It took some time to clear the debris but now it sits vacant, with the exception of heavy equipment stored on site for other projects. Those machines have prompted questions about whether work was beginning on The Point.

The answer is no. We have notes into 33 Holdings for updates.

For now, we’re hearing “Plan B” suggestions, including one veteran lawman who asked whether it could be the final home of the Rome Police Department, currently in temporary quarters.

It would offer RPD close access to downtown, as has been previously discussed, as well as other points around town.

And if not, there are a few other motels on Martha Berry currently on the market in need of some urban renewal. Kind of a two birds/one stone thing.

Popcorn & Politics

Two “brands” of Floyd Republicans: This is what a primary should be about: Party candidates facing off, letting the voters decide (and not some overzealous party officials).

But this year the primary in Floyd, with advance voting now underway, just means more. Not only are there two candidates in the sheriff’s and clerk of court’s races but there’s also differing sides of the Republican Party on the ballot.

It is pretty evident from political group photos and yard signs around town that those leaning to the party’s hard right — say members of the Georgia Republican Assembly — favor incumbent clerk Barbara Penson and sheriff’s challenger Robbie Whitfield.

On the other side — for reasons we’ve not yet heard — are clerk challenger Mary Hardin Thornton and incumbent Sheriff Dave Roberson. The clerk hopefuls will be part of a group of candidates meeting with Floyd Republican Women later this week (details below).

Voters will decide their top picks to serve as the next sheriff and clerk of courts as neither race drew a Democratic opponent. But will primary balloting also provide “direction” for the Floyd County Republican Party as well?

We’ll have an answer three weeks from tonight.

Calendar:

Thursday: Floyd County Republican Women, The Palladium, 11:30 a.m. lunch, noon meeting. Guests: GOP Clerk of Court candidates Barbara Penson and Mary Hardin Thornton; sheriff’s hopeful Robbie Whitfield (Dave Roberson♦ was at the April meeting).

Advance voting continues for the May 21 primary. You can vote from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. weekday at the elections office, Anthony Center or Thornton Center; through May 17. Saturday voting at the elections office, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., May 4 and 11; Sunday, May 12, 1 until 5 p.m. at the elections office.

Peaks & Valleys

The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia

Peak to Georgia Highlands College for recognizing two community legends: By chance, the gathering came just days before the first anniversary of the passing of Dr. Paul Ferguson who, with longtime colleague Frank Barron, were honored for all they’ve done for Northwest Georgia. It was part of the second Presidential Award for Community Impact luncheon presented by Georgia Highlands College (and what a wonderful idea). As precisely summed up by one of their “unindicted co-conspirators,” longtime chamber President Al Hodge: “When the intersection of concept and reality is discussed in our community, Frank and Paul are there.” Indeed, good stuff that.

Valley to those leaving weapons in unlocked vehicles: It happened yet again in recent days — a Rome gun owner left a pistol in an unlocked vehicle overnight and the weapon was gone the next day. Rome Police, in 2022, reported 94 weapons stolen from vehicles — many of which were unlocked at the time. And, police said, some of those weapons were used in subsequent local crimes. Gun ownership requires proper gun safety, even as basic as locking your car.