May 14, 2007
Albany - Could Albany become a premiere retirement community? That's the plan, and it's already beginning to unfold. One development underway will bring 144 upscale homes to Dougherty County specifically targeting retirees.
It may not look like much now, but this area could soon become one of the premiere sites in Georgia for retirees. "It's going to have unusual beautification, it's going to be something that is going to help jump start even more the retirement issue that we're talking about now," said Dougherty County Commission Chairman Jeff Sinyard. He says the new development, with 144 single family homes, will target retirees interested in life in a smaller community.
"We've been talking about trying to get more and more folks here for retirement purposes," said Sinyard.
It's something Annie Baxter works on everyday. One of her objectives with the Economic Development Commission is to bring more retirees, and projects targeted to them into our community. "Our aging population is growing and we look great on paper to developers," said Baxter.
And she says retirees add value to a community. "Usually these are people that have been very successful in their careers," said Baxter. "They are still active. They're great citizens. They volunteer, lots of times they get into new business adventures and will invest in the local economy."
The new development will be similar to Bradford Court, with nice homes on smaller lots in a gated community. It won't be age restrictive, but will likely attract a certain age group. "It has attracted an older, active adult crowd," said Baxter.
A crowd that will add money, jobs and experience to the Albany area. Chairman Sinyard says there isn't a development quite like this anywhere in Georgia South of Peachtree City.
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