GAINESVILLE - The Canterbury on Lake Lanier, a $325 million condominium and hotel suites development, is planned off Thompson Bridge Road in Gainesville as the first of its kind in the South.
Lou Fiorenza, special projects consultant for Endeco International, a New York-based company, says the units will be marketed internationall. Fiorenza says the main reason Gainesville was chosen for the development is its proximity to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta.
The proposal calls for a high-end luxury, 36-story multi-rise condominium and Six Star boutique hotel. The condominiums would be housed in two towers - one 36 stories tall, the other 34. The price range would be one million to $4.5 million each.
The proposed development is a high-end luxury, 36-story multi-rise condominium and Six Star boutique hotel. Restaurants, high-end retail shops and a banquet hall are planned for the site. A members-only fitness center and a spa and treatment center are also proposed.
Other amenities include valet parking, secure storage for residents, a private theater, and swimming pools with large Jacuzzis. Plans also call for The Canterbury to be air-linked to the region's airports by an on-site heliport.
"This project will be a tremendous boost to the local economy with the addition of at least 150 jobs and the increased tax revenues that will come from the millions of dollars in economic impact the property will generate," said Don Hall, local project consultant for The Canterbury. "Best of all, this will occur without negatively impacting the city's school system. And, with sewer access, Lake Lanier will be protected."
Hall, who is CEO of Jones & Hall Ventures Inc., is the area businessman instrumental in working with the developer, the city, adjacent property owners and concerned parties regarding the project. The developer, Endeco International, is a New York-based global property developer and builder.
"Endeco International will be a strong corporate citizen. The company believes in improving the communities in which it chooses to invest," said Fiorenza. "In this spirit, Endeco has committed to rebuilding and enhancing nearby Holly Park as part of the project."
At a recent meeting with Gainesville city officials and local business leaders, Endeco International pointed out that an additional local benefit of the project would be its plans for a public-benefit endowment fund with annual investment proceeds of the fund to be used at the city's discretion to benefit the community.
The heliport linking the property to the region's airports will also respond to requests from the city of Gainesville Fire Department for emergency rescue missions.
Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates, one of Atlanta's largest architectural firms, has been chosen to lead the project's design team in conjunction with world renown structural engineer Alfred A. Yee, a leading innovator in the application of pre-cast concrete technology for the construction of multi-rise (more than 20-story) buildings capable of withstanding seismic motion and high winds. Pace Management of Atlanta is to manage the development of The Canterbury. Project schedule management is to be provided by James Beach & Associates.
Skanska USA, a global division of Skanska AB of Sweden, operating through its office in Atlanta (established through the acquisition of Beers Construction Company), is the general contractor.
On November 26, Endeco International submitted a zoning and annexation application to the City of Gainesville for The Canterbury. The application requests the rezoning of 10 acres of land located on Thompson Bridge Road next to the Rubicon office condominiums to be rezoned to a special zoning district. It also requests that a portion of the tract be annexed into the city. Subject to the rezoning approval being received by March 15, 2003, The Canterbury is scheduled to be completed and ready for occupancy by Christmas 2005.
"Our goal is to break ground by May 18, 2004, in order to make the targeted occupancy date of Friday, December 8, 2005," said Jim Beach of James Beach & Associates.
The site chose for the development is on Thompson Bridge Road next to the Rubicon office building on the southside of Thompson Bridge near Lake Lanier.
Saturday
April 5th, 2025
3:06PM
