City is economic hotspot, Perry official says

With private business ventures at its forefront, the city of Perry has seen an economic boom and has gained a national presence, a city official said.

Ashley Hardin, CEcD, economic development administrator for the city, said Perry has just what business owners and families are looking for in a place to set up shop and live.

“Right now, Perry is a hotspot,” Hardin said. “People want to be here because of the quality of life amenities.”

Featuring housing options that won’t break the bank, along with a quality education system for the children make the city stand out, she said.

“Typically, affordable housing and good schools really help the community grow along with that quality of life,” Hardin said. “Perry has those elements in place.”

She said last year ended with the city handling 503 new single-family building permits, but the business presence is increasing as well.

“And that commercial growth is catching up now,” she said. “The more rooftops we get, that commercial retail will follow — and we’re seeing it.”

A Marriot International hotel partnership with the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Retreat Hotel & Resorts will see a dual-brand TownPlace Suites and Fairfield Inn & Suites there on site. The west side of Sam Nunn Boulevard is being developed for a new Dunkin’ Donuts and Jersey Mike’s plaza to go up beside Popeyes.

Residents will see a new Chick-fil-A, along with a new location of Taco Bell and a liquor store to go up behind the restaurant. A Cook Out location is being developed at the old Taco Bell site. While the project is in site design currently, a retail plaza is coming across from Publix. Hardin said officials would like to see someone come along to buy and repurpose some available property in the Hampton Court area.

Orleans on Carroll will be opening February 15, with Oliver Perry’s opening soon as well, she added.

A local franchisee closed on a property late last year that will go on to become an Amici Cafe, located on Washington Place Drive and Perry Parkway just a quarter of a mile from Houston Lake Road.

Some more affordable housing projects are in the works as well, with the city making use of four motel properties. City officials are waiting for text amendments to clear, Hardin said.

“If that goes through and they close on those properties, we’ll have workforce housing — and we’ll see, perhaps, underutilized motels be converted into apartments,” she said.

This would offer market rate studio apartments for between $500-600 a month versus other more expensive options you may find around the county.

The city offers redevelopment opportunities and affordable land that’s second to none, Hardin said.

“Another reason people are interested in Perry is — you know, a lot of metro communities, Atlanta — there’s no more land; it’s all redevelopment projects. But here, we’re seeing private investment, and we have a lot of land to build on,” she said.

To keep up with the updates in Perry economic development, you can hear more at meetings of City Council as well as meetings of the Planning Commission.

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