Sandy Springs Crier - February 29, 2024

Suited for work, man puts music in hands of kids

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Matt Houchin is more than just a producer, performer and “T-shirt wearer.” He has also embarked on a year-long campaign to raise $1 million for Free Guitars 4 Kids.

Houchin voluntarily signed himself up to wear a Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt every day of 2024, something no one has ever done.

With about 30 T-shirts already, he said he will be gathering more throughout the year.

Because rock stars are made, not born, the nonprofit Free Guitars 4 Kids strives to put stringed instruments into the hands of children who are unable to afford one.

So far, the nonprofit has distributed 1,300 guitars across the United States, Jamaica and Uganda.

When Houchin reached out to a friend at the St. Louis-based nonprofit, his idea turned into a reality.

“I was moving, and I have a bunch of Hard Rock Cafe T-shirts,” Houchin said. “And, I just thought, what if I wore a

Matt Houchin, the man behind the “2024 Hard Rock Shirt-a-thon,” stands in front of his Sandy Springs home Feb. 19 on Brandon Mill Road.

Hard Rock shirt every day for a year?”

The idea stuck in his head, he said.

The discontinued model

Originally from Bloomington, Minnesota, Houchin said his favorite T-shirt is from the Hard Rock Cafe at the Mall of America, which closed in January 2021.

See HOUCHIN, Page 12

Mt. Vernon Highway construction projects prepared to crank up

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Over the next two years, more than $27 million in construction projects will be underway on Mount Vernon Highway in Sandy Springs.

Public Works Director Marty Martin said construction is expected to begin in March on two major projects.

The City Council approved a $12.39 million contract with Marietta-based Excellere Feb. 20 for construction of the Mount Vernon Highway multi-use path.

The pedestrian project, labeled TS192, extends from Vernon Trace near the Sandy Springs Library to the MARTA station on Abernathy Road.

It will provide multi-modal connectivity from City Springs to public transit at Perimeter Center, eventually connecting into PATH 400 and proposed paths on Peachtree Dunwoody.

Multi-use paths, 8 to 10 feet wide, will be constructed on the southern side of Mount Vernon Highway, and a 6-foot-wide sidewalk will be installed on the northern side.

The project will widen Mount Vernon Highway, containing an eastbound and westbound lane in each direction and a center two-way left-turn lane.

Other roads affected

Additionally, the project adds new turn lanes at Glenridge Drive, Barfield Road, Crestline Parkway, Peachtree Dunwoody Road and Perimeter Center West.

MATT HOUCHIN/PROVIDED

Matt Houchin , wearing his Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt from Key West, Florida, glides on the ice at Skate City Springs Jan. 21.

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

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COMPARING POLICE TRANSPARENCY

How the public can track crime

Police2Citizen (P2C) is a software Sandy Springs uses to display accidents and police incidents to the public online. It is one part of a suite of products the city gets from software firm CentralSquare.

Surrounding cities like Dunwoody, Roswell, Alpharetta and Johns Creek use the same technology.

As Appen Media has previously reported, the Sandy Springs P2C page went offline for a few days in November. When it came back online a few days later, the website no longer allowed residents to see arrests, suspects or charges.

Police officials said the city did not change their P2C systems and that the shifts were because, “CentralSquare conducted an update with the P2C ap plication.” Sandy Springs Police stated the new software was in the process of being verified and that arrest informa tion would return, “in the near future.” Sandy Springs is the only city in North Fulton County whose P2C page does not list arrests, suspects or charges.

As of Feb. 23, the information is still absent. A City of Sandy Springs representative told Appen Media: “Hopefully there will be resolution in a few weeks” and declined to provide more details about the delay.

Recent Sandy Springs police arrests

Appen Media separately obtained a roster of arrests made by Sandy Springs police in early February. Included were four unnamed juveniles, aged 13 and 14. The listed offense was “entering auto” at an apartment complex on Roswell Road. Sandy Springs officials did not respond when asked for more information about the arrests. It is unclear where the teenagers were taken or the current status of their cases.

Because the city is currently not offering the service, Appen Media has made available a map of recent arrests made by the Sandy Springs Police Department. It is available on appenmedia.com.

CARL APPEN/APPEN MEDIA

The City of Sandy Springs has not offered a map of arrests since November. Officials say the change is temporary and that the information will return. They also attribute the shift to a software vendor’s update and declined to provide further details. Through open records requests, Appen Media has separately obtained arrest data from Feb. 1-18, 2024, and has made available a map so residents can be better informed about safety in the city. View it at appenmedia.com.

North Fulton housing summit addresses ‘frozen’ market

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

NORTH FULTON COUNTY — Panelists for the North Fulton Improvement Network’s housing summit Feb. 20 made one thing clear, many people cannot afford to buy a home in the region.

The Improvement Network, formed in 2014 as a poverty task force, is a community think tank that supports public and private solutions to workforce housing, income and employment, transportation, child well-being and food insecurity.

The six cities making up North Fulton — Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs — are some of the most desired places to live, work and raise a family in the United States.

Jack Murphy, chair of the North Fulton Improvement Network and senior account manager at the Metro Atlanta Chamber, compiled statistics from the Federal Reserve in St. Louis to chart regional housing availability.

The NFIN divided the North Fulton population by generation, Generation Z (ages 15-24); millennials (ages 25-44); Generation X (ages 45-64); and baby boomers (ages 65 and over).

A rendering from John Hunt, housing expert with MarketNsight, shows multi-unit housing types, such as duplexes, multiplexes and live-work options, common to pre-1940s walkable neighborhoods. Hunt said “missing middle housing” provides

able options for entry-level home buyers and younger generations.

With a median income of $91,522, the affordable housing price for millennials is $443,943, according to the Fed’s data for Fulton County.

Murphy said North Fulton has three homes available at that price, and only 48 rental units on hand at a price of $2,299 a month.

“We have to be more intentional about these things,” Murphy said. “The fact that we don’t have more workforce housing impacts every one of us with

congestion [and] reduction in business services.”

For more than 150,000 North Fulton residents, ages 15-44, with a median income of less than $100,000, there is little to no inventory for starter homes or apartments, Murphy said.

He also pointed to the growth of high-income households, earning more than $200,000, and decline of workforce-income households, earning less than $75,000, since 2015.

Murphy said his premise is that the people sought after for employment in the school system and regional hospitals often make less than $75,000 annually, and they are leaving North Fulton.

“We don’t know where they are going, necessarily,” Hunt said. “But we know they’re moving out of the population and out of North Fulton… that’s a problem for all of us.”

With spring in the air, books are the fare during March

By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com

Spring will be sprung and praises will be sung of books galore in March.

First up is the Dahlonega Literary Festival, celebrating its 18th year in the downtown’s historic heart.

A full slate of activities March 2 will include 35-plus authors, many from North Fulton and Forsyth counties, as well as nationally acclaimed headliner Sharyn McCrumb.

Then another annual enterprise –Forsyth Reads Together – will feature Lisa Wingate, the New York Times bestselling author of “Before We Were Yours,” with over 3 million copies sold. The free event will be March 26 at the Forsyth Conference Center and is sponsored by Forsyth County Public Library, FCPL Friends and Advocates, and the Forsyth County Arts Alliance at the Forsyth County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the North Georgia Community Foundation.

Here are details about these and other happenings.

Saturday, March 2, Dahlonega Literary Festival. Over 35 fiction and nonfiction writers will conduct a full day of workshops, panels and talks. Lunch is $20, all other events are free. 9 a.m. Dahlonega Baptist Church, 234 Hawkins St., Dahlonega. literaryfestival.org

Sunday, March 3, Boozy Book Fair. Hosted by Johns Creek Books at Roswell’s From the Earth Brewing Company, new and used books for all ages will be available. 12:30 p.m. Free. 1570 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, 770696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com

Sunday, March 3, Susan Puckett, on “How to Write a Cookbook.” 2 p.m. Free. Hampton Park Library, 5345 Settingdown Road, Cumming. 770-781-9830. https://www.forsythpl. org/event/9992149

Saturday, March 9, Angie D. Comer. The local author will discuss her thriller, “Some Must Die.” Free. 1 p.m. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road, 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com

Saturday, March 9, Dr. Martha Boone. One of the first 100 women board certified in urology, Boone will launch “Mother Charity” during the North Atlanta Author Series, with copies available from Bookmiser. 2 p.m. Free. Alpharetta Branch Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta. 770509-5611. bookmiser.net/book-events.html

Saturday, March 16, Karen Zacharias. The journalist and author will host a writing workshop followed by a signing of “No Perfect Mothers.” 10 a.m. Free. Poe & Company

Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com

Saturday, March 16, Victor Cosmos, author of “Treasure of the Pandavas.” Free. 1 p.m. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road, 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com

Saturday, March 16, McCall Hoyle, author of “Mille.” 2 p.m. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com

Tuesday, March 19, Katherine Reay. The Friends of Sandy Springs Library will present the bestselling author discussing her new release, “The Berlin Letters,” available that day from Bookmiser. 1 p.m. Free. Sandy Springs Library. 395 Mount Vernon Highway Northeast, Sandy Springs. 770-509-5611. bookmiser. net/book-events.html

Thursday, March 21, Colleen Oakley, Lynn Cullen. Poe & Company Bookstore will host a ticketed Girls Night Out with the authors including wine, appetizers and a book. 6 p.m. $25. Brookfield Country Club, 100 Willow Run Road, Roswell. Call 770-797-5566 to register.

Saturday, March 23, Piper Huguley. Atlanta Authors presents the Clark-Atlanta University professor and author of the biographical historical fiction novel, “By Her Own Design: A Novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register.” Bookmiser will sell copies of the story of the Black fashion designer of Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress. Free, in

person or online. 2 p.m. Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St. 404-612-9700. forl.net/atlantaauthors

Monday, March 25, Rona Simmons, Piper Huguley, on “How to Write Historical Fiction.” 7 p.m. Free. Cumming Library, 585 Dahlonega St., Cumming. 770-781-9840. https://www. forsythpl.org/event/9793795

Tuesday, March 26, Lisa Wingate. The Forsyth County Public Library’s 11th Forsyth Reads Together event will spotlight Wingate, bestselling author of “Before We Were Yours.” Wingate will be speaking and signing books sold by Suwanee’s Read it Again Bookstore. 7 p.m. Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Cumming. Free but registration is requested at www.forsythpl.org/ event/9048171.

Sign up now:

April 27, Atlanta Self-Publishing Conference. Sponsored by the Atlanta Writers Club, registration for indie authors and those curious about self-publishing is available at atlantaselfpublishingconference.com/

May 3-4, Atlanta Writers Conference. Sponsored by the Atlanta Writers Club, register now for the 30th Atlanta Writers Conference featuring 18 literary agents and publishers. atlantawritersconference.com/

To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@gmail.com by the 15th.

WINGATE

Destination Tea provides roadmap to experience personal connection

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody resident Angela Renals shares a longtime love of afternoon tea.

It’s not just the beverage. It’s the experience.

Her website, Destination Tea, is a directory promoting local tearooms across the United States and Metro Atlanta.

A New Jersey native, Renals moved to the Atlanta area after college and worked in marketing and public relations. As a young mother in her late 20s, she said she often visited the now-closed Faded Rose Tea Garden in Chamblee, where she experienced her first afternoon tea.

“It was like all the things you love about a teahouse,” Renals said. “This place was just wonderful. They had all of the vintage china, and everything was very leisurely. All the food was homemade. Everything, just delicious. So, I loved it there.”

At Faded Rose, Renals said she made irreplaceable memories with her friends and found a place to escape from the routine of daily life.

In 2016, she founded Destination Tea to share her love of afternoon tea and highlight the community and connection the tradition offers.

“It's really just an excuse to chitchat while someone is taking excellent care of you and pouring you a fabulous cup of tea,” Renals said.

A nationwide guide

After her introduction to afternoon tea at Faded Rose, Renals decided to make a tea directory for herself.

“It became this really beautiful ritual in my family and in my friend groups,” she said.

Using her PR background, Renals said she wanted to bridge the gap in publicity for tearooms that do not have an online presence.

She originally used TeaMap, a worldwide tea directory run by Adagio Teas. But, Renals said she soon discovered many locations on the site were closed, and entries were often not updated.

“They say if a tearoom makes it three years, that's kind of like the sink or swim,” Renals said. “So, it's difficult to keep these directories up to date.”

This inspired Renals to create her own directory, and she compiled a master list of tearooms across the country using Google, TripAdvisor and TeaMap over the course of two years. She called businesses whose status she could not confirm online to speak with the owners.

Destination Tea also features teatime fashion and etiquette tips, history lessons and more than 150 afternoon tea reviews.

In 2018, Renals said there were some 1,450 tearooms in the U.S. That number

North Metro Atlanta tearooms

Ark Coffeehaus at 4448 Tilly Mill Road in Dunwoody

Besties at 5238 McGinnis Ferry Road in Forsyth County

Bulloch Hall at 180 Bulloch Ave. in Roswell

Donaldson-Bannister Farm at 4831 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road in Dunwoody

The Ginger Room at 61 Roswell St. in Alpharetta

Morningbirds at 10930 Crabapple Road in Roswell

Visit destinationtea.com for more information on times, prices and tearooms across Metro Atlanta.

dipped to 1,180 in 2021 before rising to 1,263 in 2023.

With the data she collected from making the website, Renals determined 34 percent of tearooms in the U.S. are in the South. The Northeast followed at 24 percent, and the West and Midwest were in third and fourth place.

There are 61 teatime opportunities across Georgia, 36 of them in the Atlanta area.

Renals said some of her favorites are The Emerald Chandelier in Griffin, Ivy Tea House in Norcross and Southern Seasons in Rome.

“I think that it's a little bit the roots of the tradition, but I think it's also the environment that it puts you into, and the connection and the community that it creates,” she said.

Stepping out of time

In a time dominated by envying others on social media feeds, Renals said afternoon tea allows young people to enjoy in-person connection.

“I don't mind saying that one of my values is beauty,” Renals said. “It's beautiful. The presentation is beautiful. The table settings are beautiful. You and your friends are beautiful. That’s quite superficial, but that's the kind of thing that lifts your spirits.”

Renals attributed the rising popularity of afternoon tea to the desire for offline experiences, and to the nostalgia and growing interest in period pieces like “Bridgerton.” She said afternoon tea is becoming increasingly popular among 25to 34-year-olds.

“I especially think, because of the times we're in, which are so hectic, and there is so much information overload, and there's so much disconnection because of screens, I think there's a renewed

love for period shows, period dramas,” Renals said.

Although there are still people who are adamant about staying true to the British style, many tearoom owners have started incorporating hints of their own cultures in their menus. Renals said she thinks each

Tea enthusiast Angela Renals runs Destination Tea, a national tearoom directory, out of her Dunwoody home. Renals launched the website in 2016 after discovering a love of afternoon tea at the former Faded Rose Tea Garden in Chamblee.

business’s unique spin on the tradition is beautiful.

“My experience has always been, people are extremely welcoming to you, to learning,” Renals said. “There’s not really barriers to entry. It’s not expensive. It’s not an expensive thing to buy and try.”

ARTOFHATS STUDIO/PHOTO CREDIT

Calendar

ROSWELL ROOTS POETRY SLAM COMPETITION

What : A dozen poets will compete in an effort to win the title.

When : Thursday, Feb. 29, 7-9 p.m.

Where : Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell

Cost : $15

More info : roswell365.com

ROSWELL BEER FESTIVAL 2024

What : This event features more than 350 beers with unlimited tastings, food from Roswell restaurants and live music. Presented by STAR House, 100 percent of proceeds benefit local kids in need.

When : Saturday, March 2, 1-6 p.m.

Where : Town Square, 610 Atlanta Street, Roswell

Cost : Prices vary

More info : roswellbeerfestival.com

AUTHOR AND POET

SANDRA B. TAYLOR

What : Sandra B. Taylor will discuss her autobiography “All of Me” and her experience growing up in Roswell during the Jim Crow era and read a collection of her slam-winning published poetry. The event is free and open to the public.

When : Saturday, March 2, 2-3:30 p.m.

Where : Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell

More info : roswell365.com

ALPHARETTA RESTAURANT WEEK

What : With more than 45 participating businesses, Alpharetta Restaurant Week features local restaurants offering a special dinner menu with multiple courses for $2550 and many also offer similar lunch menus for $20-35.

When : March 3-9

Where : Participating restaurants

More info : awesomealpharetta.com/ alpharetta-restaurant-week

INTO THE WOODS JR.

What : A production of Jerry’s Habima Theatre, “Into the Woods Jr.” weaves together the stories of some of your favorite storybook characters including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, a cunning wolf, Jack

ALPHARETTA RESTAURANT WEEK

What : With more than 45 participating businesses, Alpharetta Restaurant Week features local restaurants offering a special dinner menu with multiple courses for $25-50 and many also offer similar lunch menus for $20-35.

When : March 3-9

Where : Participating restaurants

More info : awesomealpharetta.com/ alpharetta-restaurant-week

and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and a baker and his wife who have been cursed by a witch.

When : March 7-17, times vary

Where : Marcus Jewish Community Center, 5342 Tilly Road, Dunwoody

Cost : $10-36

More info : atlantajcc.org

BOOGILICIOUS

What : Boogilicious is an Atlantabased, high energy band covering hits from the ’60s right to today. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets to the performance, which is free with free parking. Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome.

When : Friday, March 8, 7-9 p.m.

Where : Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming

More info : cummingcitycenter.com

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

What : Step into the enchanted world of this modern classic, based on the Academy Award-winning animated film of the same name.

When : March 8-24, times vary

Where : Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost : Tickets starting at $44

More info : cityspringstheatre.com

THE RUBY SUNRISE

What : Presented by Act1 Community Theatre, “The Ruby Sunrise” charts the course of the phenomenon of television through a girl named Ruby.

When : March 8-24, times vary

Where : Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta

More info : act1theater.org

CUMMING WINE FESTIVAL

What : The second annual Cumming Wine Festival will feature live music, wine and spirits with many wineries represented.

When : Saturday, March 9, 1-4 p.m.

Where : Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming

Cost : Tickets starting at $50

More info : cummingcitycenter.com

A NIGHT WITH DADS 2: THE DADDENING

What : Comedians from improv comedy theater Dad’s Garage will perform.

When : Saturday, March 9, 7:30 p.m.

Where : Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody

Cost : $15-28

More info : stagedoortheatrega.org

8 Bumped into 11 Fury

12 Hibernia

13 Building block

15 TV type

17 Old dagger

18 Black Sea port

19 Bunk

20 Autos

21 Diamond Lil actress, Mae

22 Extinct flightless bird

24 Tokyo, formerly

26 Dash lengths

27 Idolize

31 Bad day for Caesar

35 Soaks, as flax

37 Youngster

38 Carryall

40 Magazine word

42 Admittance

43 Helper

45 Time zones

46 Gawks

48 Hiatus

49 Egyptian cobra

50 A, in Acapulco

51 Seed cover

55 Assist illegally

58 Actress Balin

60 Lose weight

62 Sandwich shop

63 Like a raccoon, e.g.

65 Assortment

66 Jai ___

67 Cattail, e.g.

68 The Joy Luck Club author, Amy

69 Fewer

Big ___, Calif.

4 Over (Poet.)

5 Molded, as metal 6 Cookie 7 Tenant 8 Moscow resident or isinglass

9 Sicilian city

10 Level

11 Fair attraction

14 French possessive

15 Surprise word

16 Photo taker

23 Alpha’s opposite

25 Moore of G.I. Jane

28 Oklahoma city

29 Source

30 Sea eagles

31 Followers (Suffix)

32 “___ stop now!”

33 Kett of the comics

See solution Page 12

Teaching children to flyfish with ancient art of tenkara

Peanut butter and jelly...cheese and crackers... bacon and eggs... these things just go together.

So do kids and fly fishing!

But let me clarify.

What I’m thinking about this morning when I say “fly fishing” in the context of kids is actually something called “tenkara,” a centuries-old Japanese approach to fly fishing. Like Western-style fly fishing, it uses a long rod, a line and a fly. But in tenkara, the length of the line is fixed, and the line is tied directly to the tip of the rod. There’s no reel full of line, in other words, and that means that problems with line management just go away. All you have to do is to focus on putting the little fly where you want it to go, and the fish do the rest.

Think of a high-tech cane pole, and you’ve got the right idea.

Kids love it!

That’s what makes tenkara-style fishing so appealing to kids – the sheer simplicity of it all. Tenkara allows kids to focus on putting the fly where they want it to go without getting distracted by worrying about managing a bunch of rebellious line. That one simple fact makes tenkara almost intuitive, opening the door to

Steve Hudson’s latest book, Tenkara 101, has just been published and is a great way to learn about tenkara fishing. It will be available from local outfitters or direct from the author at FlyBooks.net.

a lot of fun for all concerned.

“It’s like throwing a ball, except I’m throwing a little fly,” one young person told me recently. “It’s just like I’m throwing the fly right to the fish.”

The big question, of course, is when to start a child learning the art of tenkara. What’s a good age to begin?

“Depending on the child, 5 or 6 years old may not be too young,” observes Pennsylvania-based tenkara enthusiast Joe Mulvey. Joe has enjoyed tenkara for many years, and as his grandchildren grew old enough to get their feet wet (pardon the pun), he was more than willing to teach them.

Right away, Joe says, the question of choosing a suitable rod comes up. What sort of rod is best for kids? His advice is to look at something that’s not too long because a long rod is harder for young arms to manage.

“I would stick with tenkara rods that are 9 ft. or shorter until the kids get taller,” Joe says.

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

Twelve-year-old Bates with his first fly rod fish, a sunfish that he caught on the “Hachi” tenkara rod from Zen Tenkara.

Work:

Continued from Page 1

The Perimeter Community Improvement Districts pledged up to $2.85 million toward the project’s right-of-way and construction costs through an agreement with the city.

Because Excellere’s low bid still exceeded city estimates, the project requires $4.6 million in additional funding from the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, and $680,000 of additional PCID funds, which its Board of Directors approved Jan. 24.

Before the City Council voted unanimously to approve the contract with Excellere, a budget amendment for TSPLOST programs approved in 2016 and 2021 was required to reallocate funding.

The additional funds required for the multi-use path come from uncommitted 2016 TSPLOST funds, completed projects and the recharacterization of funds from the 2021 TSPLOST sidewalk program.

“With that movement, the impacts we do see with this adjustment…are the further deferral of four projects not yet funded within the sidewalk program in the 2021 TSPLOST program,” Martin said.

While $2 million from the Brandon Mill Road sidewalk project was transferred to the Mount Vernon Highway multi-use path, construction of the sidewalk

Housing:

Continued from Page 3

While the COVID-19 pandemic opened the doors for remote work in North Fulton, the essential and in-person workforce does not have access to an affordable housing inventory near their jobs.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Apartment List and Zillow shows Metro Atlanta ranks first in home appreciation, fourth in rent appreciation and 13th in wage appreciation compared to other major U.S. cities.

While appreciation is great for homeowners, younger generations are unable to purchase a starter home to build equity, which plays a vital role in wealth gains for many middle-class and lower-income individuals and families.

“What we want you to think about are early career workers that are essential to our well-being in North Fulton,” Murphy said. “There aren’t many places for those folks to start their career and raise a family.”

Panelist talks market trends

John Hunt, housing expert with MarketNsights, traced the shortage in housing supply to the Great Recession, which began in December 2007.

According to Hunt, housing starts tracked with an increasing population before the crash and never recovered afterward.

Hunt said there was a housing crisis before the pandemic, and it only got worse after 2020 with no signs of improvement in

Mt.VernonHighway MARTA

Vernon Trace

JACOB TOMBERLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Sandy Springs approved a $12.39 million contract Feb. 20 for construction of a multi-use path that will extend from Vernon Trace to the MARTA station on Abernathy Road.

will be completed with funds from the 2021 TSPLOST program, Martin said.

Starting construction

The city is also planning to begin work on intersection improvements at Johnson Ferry Road at Mount Vernon Highway. The goal of the project, TS191, is to alleviate bottleneck conditions for east-west traffic on Johnson Ferry Road and Mount Vernon Highway, as well as northsouth traffic on Roswell Road.

The project consists of an eastbound and westbound lane in each direction and a center two-way left-turn lane that transitions to a left turn lane at intersections.

the current market.

The annual housing deficit is 47,000 units, and with only 12,000 units scheduled for the next 12 months, builders are unlikely to catch up soon, he said.

“The second largest demographic group in the country, baby boomers, are sitting on their homes when they should use them to take advantage of skyrocketing prices,” Hunt said. “Why aren’t they moving? Because there’s nowhere for them to go.”

Many homeowners, he explained, do not want to trade in their 3 percent mortgage for the current rate of 6.77 percent.

Hunt termed the situation in American cities, especially in North Fulton, as a “frozen housing market.”

“There’s a lot of talk about a ‘silver tsunami’ coming in this country with all these boomers starting to unload their houses,” Hunt said. “If there was going to be a ‘silver tsunami,’ it probably would have happened in 2021.”

While sales under $350,000 made up 70 percent of the housing market in 2016, they represent 30 percent of the share today, Hunt said.

He attributed the affordable housing crisis to “restrictive and exclusionary zoning,” which has eliminated the “missing middle housing” between single-family homes and mid-rise apartments.

“We are witnessing an all-out war being waged on housing attainability in our country,” Hunt said. “This is the defining issue of our time.”

Cities set lot size

The Roswell City Council passed an amendment to the Unified Development Code in May 2022, which removes multi-

Additional improvements include a sidewalk, multi-use path and connector road at Vernon Trace.

“Any day now, I believe we are about two weeks out now for mobilization of TS191,” Martin said.

The City Council awarded a $15.9 million contract for construction of the intersection project Dec. 19 to Vertical Earth. The cost of the project is $6.6 million more than the city’s original estimate, which Mayor Rusty Paul attributed to inflation and supply chain difficulties.

“With the approval of two major construction projects, between TS191 and TS192, we now have some $27-29 million worth of active construction about to commence here over the period of two plus years,” Martin said. “The city is also in need of support that we’ve used pretty regularly on other major construction projects.”

Because the projects connect at Vernon Trace on Mount Vernon Highway, with an overlapping construction duration, the city contracted with Jacobs Engineering Group to provide engineering and inspection services for the construction of both projects.

“They will support the contractor’s on-site presence [and] act as our technical experts, over and above the city staff we will also dedicate to support this project,” Martin said.

The $996,000 contract for full-time support will be split evenly between both projects.

Questions from councilmembers emphasized the need for communication with residents and motorists along Mount Vernon Highway.

“Letters are already going out,” Martin said.

family zoning districts and prevents developers from submitting rezoning requests for constructing new standalone apartments without non-residential uses such as retail.

Roswell also has minimum requirements for lot size and square footage, resulting in the construction of zero new homes under 2,000 square feet, Hunt said.

While there are resales of homes under 2,000 square feet, there is little to no availability in the local market.

“What we get a lot of is, ‘we don’t want our values being attacked or dropping based on building higher density or smaller homes,” Hunt said. “On the surface that makes sense…that’s absolutely not the truth.”

Comparing the price per square foot of homes in the Roswell High School district, a 2,500-square-foot home costs $280 per square foot and a 1,000-square-foot costs $386 per square foot.

While younger generations are scrambling to find affordable housing or moving in with their parents, the lack of affordable housing inventory is keeping older generations shackled to their single-family residential homes.

“Unfortunately, that middle square footage that we are looking for, 1,200 to 2,200 square feet, is missing,” Hunt said. “Today’s zoning is really polarized, its either detached-single family… or apartments.”

He advocates for multi-unit housing types, such as duplexes, multiplexes and bungalow courts, common to walkable pre1940s neighborhoods.

Hunt said “missing middle housing” provides affordable options for entry-level homebuyers and younger generations.

Schools, healthcare affected

Some of the most important factors for prospective homebuyers are proximity to quality local schools, health care services and transportation. North Fulton has all three.

Fulton County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney and Wellstar North Fulton Hospital President Jon-Paul Croom joined Hunt as panelists at the summit.

Looney and Croom described the difficulty they face with recruiting workers, retaining their employees and remaining competitive.

While Croom said attracting doctors to the suburbs has not been an issue, nurses and technicians often cannot afford to live near the hospital in Roswell. Recruiting hospital employees is more difficult in lower-income brackets, he said.

“I believe that the problem that we’re seeing is younger people who are just entering the workforce and new professions,” Croom said. “Our challenge is trying to find people who live close and are willing to drive here.”

Looney said 30 percent of teachers leave their profession in their first five years.

To offset the turnover, Fulton County Schools offers a stipend of up to $5,000 for new teachers, which is not sustainable, he said.

Croom said Wellstar North Fulton Hospital has a similar program with signing bonuses and incentives for lowincome individuals.

“It’s not sustainable, it’s just not sustainable long-term,” Croom said.

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Houchin:

Continued from Page 1

Before Houchin partnered with Free Guitars 4 Kids, he floated the idea of choosing a different charitable organization each month.

The vision for the shirt-wearing fundraiser kept getting stronger in late 2023, and the support from his friends and family encouraged him to follow through, he said.

“I wanted it to be tied to the whole ‘hard rock’ idea, or music or something like that,” Houchin said. “And I talked to a friend that I knew who started the organization.”

After talking with his friend and the executive director of Free Guitar 4 Kids, Houchin said things clicked.

While Houchin has experience producing video content, the world of fundraising is new to him.

Houchin graduated from Northwestern University in 2003 with a bachelor’s in radio, television and film. He has worked as a video producer in the corporate world, with some freelancing, for more than 20 years.

His career path has taken him to Minneapolis, San Francisco and now Metro Atlanta.

After moving to North Druid Hills in 2022, Houchin and his wife bought their first home on Brandon Mill Road in Sandy Springs in summer 2023.

“It definitely helps with a project like this, that I’m able to put out high-quality videos to promote what I’m doing,” Houchin said. “It’s been really cool for me to use this as a springboard for creativity.”

Recruiting musicians

Along with sporting the same wardrobe daily, Houchin is interviewing every guitarist he knows.

He said the plan is to attend area spring festivals, like Shaky Knees May 3-5 at Atlanta’s Central Park, and to interview visiting rock stars.

Houchin also said he’s looking for community events and local opportunities to raise awareness for “2024 Hard Rock Shirt-a-thon,” and the nonprofits it supports.

So far, he’s attended the 2024 Hawks Fast Break 5K at State Farm Arena and Cupid’s Undie Run in Buckhead.

Hudson:

Continued from Page 8

Another thing Joe suggests is to use high-visibility line when fishing with kids.

“I recommend braided line in a bright color as opposed to a level line, which can be harder to see,” he says. “That makes it easier for the kids to see and to cast.”

When introducing kids to tenkara, remember that the goal is to catch fish – pure and simple.

“Begin with small and easy-to-catch fish like bluegill,” he says. Kids want to feel the tug on the other end of the line. If they do, there’s a great chance they’ll be hooked on the sport for years to come.

What kind of water is best for kids?

“Look for a shallow, easy-to-wade stream with lots of sunfish in it,” Joe

Matt

stands with Harry the Hawk Feb. 3 during the 2024 Hawks Fast Break 5K at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta. Houchin said his goal is to raise $1 million for a nonprofit by wearing a Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt every day of 2024.

Halfway through February, Houchin has raised more than $5,000.

“The goal is $1 million, which means we’re not exactly on track,” Houchin said. “This is something, I knew, would be a year-long process, so I’m hoping it

says. “If the stream is shallow enough, you can even let them stand in the water while they fish. They’ll learn something about wading and get to play with casting too.”

When teaching kids to fish, whether with tenkara or traditional fly fishing gear, it’s important to remember that you’re fishing with kids. Children do not automatically appreciate the pretrip rituals that we adults treasure and enjoy; instead, they want to get to the water and catch some fish.

“That’s why I suggest that you use a line holder. Have it pre-rigged and ready to go so you can start fishing as soon as you get to the water,” Joe says. Being ready to go like that keeps kids from getting bored, and that’s important.

Joe also suggests having a fly vest or fishing cap for the child to wear. Again, it connects them to the day.

What about flies? For starters, try a surface fly like a brightly colored foam spider. Get some in a variety of colors,

grows organically and then snowballs at some point.”

Houchin said he enjoys the added pressure of figuring out how to raise $1 million.

So far, promotional content for “Matt’s Hard Rock Shirt-a-thon 2024,” using the hashtag #MattRocksShirts, has generated over 100,000 views across social media platforms.

Houchin said raising awareness for Free Guitars 4 Kids and its local partner, Amped Kids, is another important aspect of his “shirt-a-thon.”

Free Guitars 4 Kids works to ensure kids with a free instrument, receive lessons and mentorship through local organizations, schools and places of worship.

The nonprofit sponsors more than 20 charities across the country, including the Amped Kids Foundation in Georgia.

The Foundation, a Gainesville-based nonprofit founded in 2018, provides free music lessons and programs to foster and adopted children.

Houchin said he’s been invited to its annual gala March 7 at the Chattahoochee Country Club.

Proceeds from a special-guest performance by John Berry and a silent auction will go directly to the nonprofit’s music programs. Individual tickets start at $75.

In late January, Hard Rock Cafe reached out to Houchin on Instagram and expressed its excitement with the fundraiser.

He said he thought the company would send a cease-and-desist order or sue. Instead, Hard Rock Cafe reached out to brainstorm promotional ideas.

“I’m hoping they get involved at some point, and we’re able to have some sort of official partnership,” Houchin said. “That could really take it to the next level.”

Houchin said he’d like to get his neighbors and Sandy Springs residents involved with the fundraiser through a city-sponsored initiative or a gathering at a local brewery.

To learn more about Houchin and the “2024 Hard Rock Shirt-a-thon,” visit https://fg4k.org/mattrocksshirts/.

“I’m like the Neil Armstrong of wearing a Hard Rock Café T-shirt every day,” Houchin said. “Would love any ideas or help from the local community.”

and let the kids choose the one they like.

Once the fishing begins, don’t worry too much about things like keeping the line off the water. Instead, encourage your proteges to just “throw the fly over there.” It works! You’ll be surprised at how quickly they learn the basic tenkara cast, and all the rest will follow.

When the child lands a fish, make a big deal of it! Take pictures and celebrate! You might even want to clip off the fly and present it later on to the mom or dad as a souvenir of the day’s adventure. It’s something the parents (and the child) will treasure for years to come.

Here’s one last thing to keep in mind when introducing kids to tenkara. For children, fishing is about a lot more than fishing. You’ll be combining fishing with wading and rock throwing and frog chasing too. Kids probably won’t be up for a whole day of throwing flies, so encourage those frog and rock breaks.

I’m betting that you just might find that you enjoy chasing frogs and throwing rocks too.

And remember that you’re helping to ensure the future of the rivers and streams that we all love so much. You can’t do much better than that.

Solution

MATT HOUCHIN/PROVIDED

Houchin

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