Around Town: From Berry Dorms to Baseball to Homes, Millions in Building Permits Flowing in Floyd

Several six- and seven-digit building permits were issued by Rome/Floyd County last month, most for projects previously announced but a few surprises as well.

The bigger projects top more than $13 million with new home permits together worth an estimated $10 million.

The largest was for a $5.1 million permit issued to Berry College for the remodel of the dorms in Thomas Berry Hall. The college is doing a complete refresh, including new HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems. Also due: Upgraded flooring, paint and new appliances in the kitchens.

♦ Background: It was built of Berry brick by students in 1931. It was named in honor Martha Berry’s father, Thomas.

♦ Also: The college also sought a “ground disruption” permit to begin work on the $33.4 million health sciences building due in 2025.

Next was a $2.5 million permit for improvements to the fieldhouse for minor league baseball at AdventHealth Stadium. Also included is a 2,200-square-foot addition to the stadium complex.

Nearby, a permit was OK’d to continue ground work at the intersection of the bypass and Braves Boulevard for a planned-but-delayed convenience store from Sniya Enterprises. In 2021, the city heard plans from Sniya representatives that included an 11,000-square-foot building with a convenience store, six gas pumps, a potential fast-food spot and a package store. The project price was estimated at $4.7 million including the $800,000 land purchase. Let’s see what plays out across from Lumina Coffee.

Advance Steel Technology is spending $2.1 million on a 5,563-square-foot expansion to the administration building as well as some remodeling. The campus is off Ga. 53 at West Hermitage.

The West Rome Walmart is getting $1.3 million worth of updates for refrigeration.

AdventHealth Redmond is spending $850,000 at its main, 501 Redmond Road, campus for “reconstruct or room for a new piece of equipment.”

Kroger at Riverbend Center off Turner McCall is going through a $750,000 update. Planned: Some work on the sales floor as well as food prep areas.

Also on the way

April’s building permits also show more than 60 homes and townhomes are underway or on the way.

Permit (not sales) prices ranged from around $120,000 to more than $500,000. Included were the first homes planned for Ryan Homes’ Summer Club in Armuchee as well as clusters within the Smith Douglas Homes communities throughout the county.

Some of the community’s independent builders also have projects underway. Much more is due, especially in East Rome.

Home sales up a notch

With a flood of new homes permitted and more brewing, what about the sale of mostly existing domiciles?

Members of the Greater Rome Board of Realtors closed on 99 homes last month, up from 96 in April 2023 but down from 114 in March of this year.

The median price of homes sold last month jumped by more than $15,000 to $237,000. But that was about a $2,000 dip from the March average.

The biggest increase came in active listings last month — a 47% jump, or from 166 homes in April 2023 to 244 last month. March’s total: 219.

In booming Bartow County, we’re tracking a slowdown in home sales. April saw 107 sales closed, down from 113 a year earlier and from 135 in March of this year. But what continues to accelerate: median sales prices.

Even in a slower April, the average price was $321,080 vs. $315,000 a year earlier and $310,000 in March of this year. Bartow had 287 homes for sale, up 25% from a year earlier. (Source: Georgia Multiple Listing Service).

Popcorn & Politics

Ballot box bypass: Despite traditional media, social media, technology and grassroots efforts, too many voters are out of touch when it comes to today’s elections. And it’s their fault.

Perhaps it is pushback from the abusive, combative tone of today’s politics (which means those tactics are working to limit turnout). Or maybe it is pure and simple apathy.

Whatever it is, we call it disturbing as we continue to hear from people who couldn’t find “their” candidate on the ballot they requested when voting absentee or in advance.

In a primary, you have to pick a party ballot or else nonpartisan (which only gives you the judicial candidates and nothing else).

Some of these voters might be drawing a Democratic ballot to protest a Republican incumbent — and then discovering they have no vote in deciding Floyd’s next sheriff and clerk of courts. That’s because there is no Democratic opposition on the November ballot.

They should save that protest vote, Democrat or Republican, for the general election where it has real impact.

Others say they’re staying home, assuming the May 21 vote is for city residents only and they live in the county. Everyone in Floyd County registered to vote can cast a ballot now through election day.

Who’s at fault? This one falls on the detached voter.

The candidates, the parties, the elections office and the media have all done their respective jobs in presenting the 2024 primary.

What’s the easy fix? Read the newspaper. We’re outlining the votes, the parties and the candidates for you.

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

Peaks & Valleys

The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia

Peak to the promptness of the Floyd County elections office: Our absentee ballot was dropped off Wednesday morning. By lunchtime Friday, we received a text stating the ballot “has been accepted and you’ll be given credit for voting. Your vote will be counted.” That’s both reassuring and incredible voter service.

Valley to why it took so long to react to the surge of coin-operated amusement machines: Talk about fixing the barn door after the horses got loose. This crackdown on the ding-ding machines comes far too late when you consider there are more than 800 of them at 115 locations across Floyd County. Plus “we” spent $102 million on them in 12 months or $1,020 per local resident. What’s worse: None of the “proceeds” directly return to the cities or county.

Peak to the idea of requiring “ding ding machine” profits go toward helping the homeless: Should local leaders find a way to get a share of the game machine profits, whatever codicil is enacted should contain specific language directing those dollars to local homeless relief efforts. That means create a “paper trail” that shows everything from the reception of their receipts to how they’re spent helping those without adequate shelter.