Architects unveil plans for Braselton Town Green

If theres one thing people said they wanted in Braseltons town green, it was an interactive water fountain similar to a popular attraction at Suwanees town center park.

But can the town afford it all?

The two firms working on the town green Mulkey Engineers and Consultants, and the firm jB+a, inc. estimate that building everything shown on the recently-unveiled design will cost upwards of $3 million.

Braselton has $1.6 million in a state transportation grant, sales tax revenue and its Urban Redevelopment Agency bonds available for the project. The town council could also decide to earmark its Jackson County sales tax revenue estimated to reach $1.1 million by the time collection stops in June 2017 for its town green. The current sales tax program started collecting revenue in July 2011.

Steve Provost of jB+a said the master plan is a grand vision for the Braselton Town Green that includes both short term and long term ideas.

The purpose of a master plan is to create a vision for how this space is to be used long term, Provost said. So that whatever you build first if its done in phases doesnt get in the way of your original (plans) in the future.

Architects, he explained, will outline potential uses of a site and provide cost estimates for the project. Provost said Braselton town officials may decide to build the town green in phases, although that hasnt been previously discussed.

Braselton will build its town green in front of the town-owned Braselton Brothers Store complex located at the intersection of Ga. Hwy. 53 and the former Ga. Hwy. 124. That portion of Ga. Hwy. 124 was recently realigned to the rear of the historic store and is called Davis Street.

Braselton officials have been planning for a town green for about a decade with the project hinging on the realignment of Ga. Hwy. 124 to the rear of the store complex. Now that that project is completed, Braselton is designing its town green.

And what the architects proposed on Monday is a town green that is not only pedestrian friendly, but still accommodating for the businesses located in the Braselton Brothers Store complex, as well. It will also allow Braselton to close vehicular access to the town green for special events such as concerts, movie screenings and other public gatherings.

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Architects unveil plans for Braselton Town Green