USEFUL LINKS

Yet another extension has been granted to complete an unfinished development that was once named the Gardens of Lattimer Mill, but bricks and mortar are now on the site waiting to adorn the walls of the building there.

Bricks and mortar now sit at an unfinished development at the corner of Canton and Hawkins Store roads. One Northeast Cobb resident said she's just waiting for the bricks to

On Nov. 17, 2009, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 to allow Horney 90 days to make an addition to the current metal building on the site and add brick only to the exterior, with a maximum square footage of 11,314 square feet on the 4.68-acre site. Commissioners said if that scope of work was not completed in the time frame granted, the zoning reverts back to its original status, which only allows for an approximate 2,500 square foot structure and could mean the metal shell on the site would be removed. The building is reportedly to be used as a gymnastics, tumbling and cheer leading business by Southern Athletics.

Horney's attorney, John Moore, said there was a provision that allowed for more time and that was granted.

"The provision allows us 30 days to get brick up on the building and get a permit for the balance of the building where changes will be made," said Moore. "The elevation has been changed on the front side of the building closest to Canton Road, and that's where we need the permit. The brick is there now, and with good weather, I hope we'll see a monumental move toward getting a real building there."

This marks the third time the developer has failed to complete a building on the site at the corner of Canton and Hawkins Store roads and the second time he has failed to complete the project with 90-day deadlines.Horney' project near Noonday Creek has been a source of controversy since it first came up for rezoning in 2005. Plans originally called for a historic home to be moved to the site and used for the events hall. No more than a 2,500 square-foot building was to be placed on the site, according to zoning documents.

However, the home was never moved and was deemed unusable by Cobb County after sitting partially open to the elements for an extended period of time. Horney eventually came in for a permit to build, and attained that permit based on what the county eventually maintained was for the original home. After the developer built an 11,000 square-foot metal shell of a building on the property, Cobb officials caught the change and placed a stop work order on the project. County officials said it did not comply with the original plans and needed Third District Commissioner Tim Lee's approval for any changes.

In an effort to still make use of the facility, Horney brought the property back in for rezoning and agreed to new stipulations on the building, which included a stucco, brick and hardi-plank exterior over the metal. Other stipulations were also added. County documents show Horney agreed to complete the needed work in 90 days or have the property revert back to the previous zoning which did not allow for the building on the site. Now that another deadline has passed, even bricks outside the building still leave some people skeptical.

"Every time I hear there is a new deadline, I just wonder what will happen that makes it so nothing happens," said Northeast Cobb resident Cathy King. "I've seen the building just sitting there for years, so having the bricks there just tells me they'll have to jump onto the walls."