Brian Vanderhoff's North Fulton Real Estate Blog

MILTON, Ga. — Milton's new public library will be at the corner of Charlotte Drive and Mayfield Road, in downtown Crabapple. The county paid $1.1 million for the 4.09-acre piece of historic property where the homestead of the Dinsmore family still stands.

With a large white house sitting up on a slight rise from the road, there are two barns and a smaller, yellow house on the property. There are plenty of large trees on the property, including two massive oaks. A family of turkey vultures has taken up roost in one of the barns.

The Dinsmore farm belonged to Theodore Roosevelt (T.R.) Dinsmore and his wife Imogene. While the white farm house dates back to the 1950's, the property has been in the family for much longer.

"You would see [T.R.] sitting on his porch at all times," said Wes Williams, a long-time area resident and real estate agent for the property.

At one point, the Dinsmore family owned a large percentage of the Crabapple area, Williams said.

T.R. died in 2005 and Imogene died in 2009.

Drivers-by might recall that the property has had a "for sale" sign out front for the past several years.

Williams and Glenn Fletcher are partners in Carroll Realty, the Realtors who have tried to sell the property for the past seven years.

It was slow going, Fletcher said, trying to find the right developer and development for such an important site in Crabapple, especially with the newly formed City of Milton.

"This is the last big parcel in Crabapple that wouldn't require an assemblage of lots," said Fletcher. "We went looking for the right fit."

They then heard about the $275 million library bond.

"When Wes and I happened to along how Fulton County passed their bond and they were looking for a library site, we knew it was a perfect site," said Fletcher.

The lot has road visibility and is within walking distance of several schools – Milton High School, Northwestern Middle School and Crabapple Elementary School – all important criteria for site selection by the library board.

The realtors reached out to the library director, John Szabo, and invited him to walk the site.

This was all in 2008. Two years later, Fletcher, Williams and Williams' 10-year-old daughter, Colleen, went to a Library Board of Trustees meeting to make their case.

They think the decision was made easier for the board when young Colleen stood up and wanted to speak.

"She told them, 'I think that Charlotte Drive would be a great location for your new library,'" said Williams. "She got up there and was unfazed by the people in the room."

The Fulton County Commission voted at their June 6 meeting to approve the $1.1 million to purchase the Dinsmore estate. The motion to approve came from North Fulton Commissioner Liz Hausmann and was unanimously approved.

The 25,000-square-foot library is part of 10 new or renovated libraries that were approved in a 2008 referendum worth $275 million, and work has been moving on a few sites since then. The library in Roswell already has preliminary designs drawn up, and the new Alpharetta Library is part of the new designs of downtown Alpharetta. The next step for the library is for architecture and designs to be drawn up.

For Fletcher and Williams, it's a perfect fit for Milton.

"It's nice to think this piece of property will be the center of learning for young kids," said Fletcher, who also helps teach special needs children at the Old Milton High School.

"This is one of the main entrances into Milton," said Williams. "What better way for a city to be represented than a landmark to learning?"

Labels: Crabapple, crabapple antique and arts festival, Crabapple Crossing Elementary, Crabapple Crossroads, Historic, milton, Milton Library

The Providence Group announces five new home designs at Crabapple Crossroads in Fulton County. Featuring single-family Garden and Manor homes priced from the low-$300,000s to the $400,000s, this community is known for its luxurious, low-maintenance living. New construction is underway on four of these Atlanta new home designs with estimated summer move in dates.

“With its convenient location, just a short walk to the downtown Crabapple historic district, wonderful community amenities and luxurious interior home features, Crabapple Crossroads is a popular choice among Atlanta home buyers,” said Kelly Fink, vice president of sales and marketing for The Providence Group. “To accommodate all of our interested buyers, we’ve added five new floor plans to the expansive home offerings at this amazing community.”

Three of the plans are brand new for the metro Atlanta builder and include the Lancaster, Chesterfield and Langley designs. The Lancaster is a five bedroom, four bath home with 2,733 square feet, and the Chesterfield is a four bedroom, 3.5 bathroom home with 2,850 square feet. Both homes are under construction and are scheduled to be completed in June.

The Langley is also a new design for The Providence Group. This home features four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and 2,585 square feet. These three new plans are Manor-style homes, adding additional style offerings at Crabapple Crossroads.

The other floor plans are two of The Providence Group’s best selling homes from other communities, the Devonshire and the Amberton. Both homes are under construction with a July completion date and offer Garden-style designs with four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The Devonshire spans 2,815 square feet, and the Amberton is a spacious 3,000 square feet.

Nestled in highly sought after Milton, Crabapple Crossroads features upscale, spacious plans and boasts 12 home designs with two elevation options per plan. Buyers may chose from Garden homes with rear-entry garages and private, fenced courtyards and Manor homes with front-entry garages that feature carriage-style doors. Homes range from 2,585 to 3,464 square feet, and offer four bedrooms and up to four bathrooms.

Homeowners enjoy beautiful amenities that include a swimming pool, community clubhouse, parks and a future playground with picnic pavilion. Also, residents are within walking distance to the Crabapple historic district and award-winning schools. The Homeowners Association provides lawn maintenance including front and back yards.

Children residing at Crabapple Crossroads attend top-ranked Fulton County schools including Crabapple Crossing Elementary, Northwestern Middle and Milton High schools.

In addition to the four homes under construction, presale opportunities are available as well as two move-in ready homes, the Crabapple priced at $425,900 and the Glenridge priced at $384,900.

Labels: Crabapple, Crabapple Crossroads, new homebuyers, New Homes, new listing

Dreaming of the picturesque communities of yesteryear where children could play freely in a safe environment and Saturday afternoons consisted of leisurely strolls down to the local ice cream shop? Well, now you can make that dream a reality by visiting the Atlanta new homes at Crabapple Crossroads by The Providence Group.

Located in the heart of the historic Crabapple District in desirable North Fulton, Crabapple Crossroads is a fantastic new home community where residents are within walking distance to everything including restaurants, an ice cream shop, bakery, boutiques and medical facilities, as well as award-winning Milton schools.

When you do have to leave Milton, you’ll find that you have easy access to GA 400 for quick drives throughout Atlanta.

Crabapple Crossroads is composed of spacious new Garden-style homes with up to five bedrooms and 3,000 to 3,500 square feet of living spaced priced from the mid-$300,000s. Homes offer spectacular features such as rear-entry garages and private, fenced courtyards.

Inside you’ll find amazing finishes such as owner’s suites on the main level, large sitting rooms, 10-foot ceilings, hardwood floors, finished third-level retreats, lofts and gourmet kitchens with granite countertops, oversized islands, stainless steel appliances and beautiful stained cabinets.

Although historic Crabapple District has fun just a short walk away, you’ll find that you don’t have to even leave the community to have a little quality time with your family. Crabapple Crossroads has many wonderful amenities including a pool, clubhouse and parks; and a new playground with pavilion and picnic area is on schedule for a spring completion date.

Plus, the community offers low-maintenance living with lawn maintenance provided for the front and backyards.

Labels: Crabapple, Crabapple Crossroads, Foreclosures, milton, Milton Georgia, New Homes

The Providence Group has three move-in ready Garden homes with rear-entry garages and private courtyards available at Crabapple Crossroads in Milton. Boasting a low-maintenance lifestyle, the community features new homes priced from the mid-$300,000s.

“Crabapple Crossroads, with its low-maintenance living, is an ideal location for empty-nesters and busy professionals alike,” said Kelly Fink, vice president of sales and marketing for The Providence Group. “And, with access to Milton’s award-winning schools, families will also find that this community has something to offer them as well.”

The three move-in ready Garden homes feature the Belmont, Crabapple and Glenridge designs with private, fenced courtyards. Priced from the high-$300,000s, these floor plans boast four to five bedrooms and up to five bathrooms with spacious family rooms, computer areas or offices, 10-foot ceilings on the main, gourmet kitchens with stainless steel appliances, media rooms and teen suites per plan. Also, these homes feature a low-maintenance lifestyle with lawn maintenance included for front and backyards.

Additionally, five more Garden homes are currently under construction and are slated to be completed late September or early October. Crabapple Crossroads’ model home, showcasing the Glenridge plan with an upgraded private courtyard, is scheduled to open mid-October.

Known for its spacious floor plans, Crabapple Crossroads offers buyers nine plans to choose from with two different elevation options per plan. Homes range from 3,048 to 3,464 square feet, and some home designs include finished third-levels. In addition to the available Garden homes, the community features Manor-style homes with front-entry garages that feature carriage-style doors and a limited number of basement home sites.

Homeowners at Crabapple Crossroads enjoy a beautiful amenities package that includes a swimming pool, community clubhouse and park-like settings. In addition to the established amenities, the community will soon feature a new playground. Also residents are within walking distance to the shopping and dining of the downtown Crabapple historic district. The Homeowners Association provides landscape maintenance.

Children residing at Crabapple Crossroads attend Crabapple Crossing Elementary, Northwestern Middle and Milton High schools.

To visit the neighborhood, take 400 North to the Mansell Road exit; exit heading west. Cross over Hwy 9 and bear right on 140 towards Canton. Stay on 140 until the Crabapple Road intersection and turn right onto Crabapple Road. Crabapple Crossroads will be on the left, just south of Birmingham Hwy. Turn left into Crabapple Crossroads on Lecoma Trace.

Labels: Crabapple, Crabapple Crossroads