Community Corner

East Cobb Hears Isakson Living Plans

Residents raised density and traffic concerns about the proposed major senior living complex Wednesday.

As East Cobb's aging community grows, so does the need to accommodate its living and health care needs. 

That's what the developers of a proposed senior living complex told East Cobb residents at a public meeting Wednesday night. 

But for some residents near the potential site of the Isakson Living East Cobb community, issues over density, traffic and the enviromment remain a major concern in spite of what they heard. 

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Those questions were asked more than once during a meeting of the East Cobb Civic Association, which invited Isakson Living to make a formal presentation at the East Cobb Government Center.

The Isakson Living community would consist of nearly 1,000 mainly independent living homes on the 53-acre tract under contract from Wylene Tritt at Roswell Road and Providence Road East, next to East Cobb Park.

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"There is significant need today, as well as future demand" for more high-quality senior living space, said Kevin Isakson, director of sales and marketing for Isakson Living. 

He is the son of U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson of East Cobb, and along with his uncle, Andy Isakson, revealed more details about the $200 million project. 

They are seeking rezoning from single-family residential to continuing care retirement community, a designation that does not apply currently to any land in Cobb County, according to prominent Cobb zoning attorney John Moore. He is working with Isakson Living on the case, which has been delayed to October.

The proposed 10-year build-out of the community would begin with a main 240-unit building at the center of the property, with future buildings housing 80 to 100 units constructed "when the market dictates." Units for assisted living residents would be ready within the first three years of development.

Isakson Living referred to numbers from one of its existing projects, Park Springs in Stone Mountain, to offer a glimpse of how the East Cobb project may be priced:

  • Residents -- or "members" in Isakson Living parlance -- pay a refundable entrance fee between $193,700 and $518,900, depending on the size of the unit (between one and three bedrooms).
  • Monthly service fees range between $1,984 and 3,740. A portion of the entrance fee would be refunded to the resident or family members when that person's residency ends, depending on how long the individuals lived there, and also based on the developer's ability to "re-market" that unit, Kevin Isakson explained.

The Stone Mountain facility offers four "on campus" restaurants, including a steakhouse, as well as a full range of exercise and activity opportunities, including a swimming pool and space for art and other classes.

Density issues

After the presentation, audience members asked written questions on index cards that were read aloud by ECCA board member Karen Hallacy. More than one concerned the four-story buildings, with garage parking underneath. 

Andy Isakson the desired height represented the "sweet spot" between what the developer requires financially and to make the community accessible to residents. 

"People want to be connected," he said. "If you spread it out," people won't want to walk great lengths to enjoy the community. In a more compact development, "you don't see a lot of cars. You see a lot of green space."

Traffic flow

Isakson Living said a senior complex would produce the lowest amount of daily traffic, around 2,000 trips. That compares to 4,000 trips a daily for general office, and 2,000 trips for single family residential. 

The developer also is proposing to redesign the Roswell/Providence intersection, including lengthening the turn lanes going into the community. There will be no other entrances to the complex.

A skeptical neighbor

"It's a great idea, but the density is way too much," Leonard Kowalewski, a resident of the Hidden Hollow neighborhood adjacent to the back of the Tritt property, said after the meeting.

He also thinks the traffic estimations are understated.  

"I can't get out of my street [and onto Robinson Road] now, and they're going to add 2,000 people to an East Cobb community?" he said, shaking his head a little.

At the same time, he doesn't think Isakson Living will come down on the four-story height, nor does he see the project as proposed being stymied. 

"This is a done deal," Kowalewski said.

Future meetings

Isakson Living will be meeting with residents of the nearby Chelsea Park community on Aug. 13 and Hidden Hollow residents on Aug. 15, as well as the East Cobb Rotary on Aug. 21.

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