(Cumming, GA) Planners of The Cumming City Center project are giving us a look at how they intend to bring that “main-street Americana” feeling to the town.
City Center Property Manager Jennifer Archer presented an update on the project during Tuesday's meeting of the Cumming Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee.
One of the new events is the Cumming Art Fest, September 17-18. Archer said Splash Festivals, the festival’s production company, also produces art festivals in Alpharetta and Johns Creek.
"We're absolutely thrilled to be producing this new event in the charming and growing City of Cumming," said Splash Festivals President Frances Schube. "Cumming is such a friendly town, and the Cumming City Center is a vibrant and exciting project with so many enchanting retail spaces, an outdoor amphitheater, and beautiful walking trails. Who wouldn't want to hang out here for the Cumming Art Fest?"
Archer said the city's farmer's market would transition to the City Center in October while the Cumming Country Fair & Festival is in town.
Another exciting aspect of City Center that Archer unveiled is the interactive murals featured throughout the project.
"We have our two City Center murals. One on the water tower and another on the first building. We do have four other murals we are in the process of having painted," Archer said.
The multiple murals will be mid-century modern, retro-style painted on the exterior brick walls throughout the development.
"These murals will be influenced by the 1950s and 1960s era, with a mix of pop culture and encompass some of our local heritage and general main street Americana feel of the City Center," said Archer.
Archer said the murals would provide visitors with modern and unique interactive photo opportunities.
"We are working with Buddy Filethy, a freelance artist who has done work for numerous prominent brands including Coca-Cola, Frito Lay, The Varsity Drive-In, and Mellow Mushroom and Clay Sayer who is another extremely talented artist who also teaches visual arts at Gainesville High School. The University of North Georgia, the Sawnee Arts Association, and Muse Cabin will all be contributing artists to this project," Archer added.
Art isn’t the only addition to City Center. Archer said there are plans to bring an upscale boutique hotel with attached convention space.
"This would be such a great addition to our community,” said Archer. “We have a lot of opportunity to capture visitors in the SMERF market (Social, Military, Educational, Reunion and Fraternal) that we are not currently capturing."
Winding through the City Center is 9.7 miles of nature trails featuring native plantings, including a variety of 125 Magnolia trees. There are three pocket parks throughout City Center. One of them, the Cumming Kiwanis Club Children’s Park, will be an ADA-friendly space where kids of all abilities can play.
Parts of the project, including the Course @ Tin Cup Grill and amphitheater, will open this spring and summer. Retail and restaurant establishments aren’t scheduled to open until later this year.
If you have a news tip in Forsyth County, contact John Thompson at johntct@aol.com
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