11/15: Could commercial air service help Gwinnett?
Moderated by Tom Sabulis
The debate surrounding the expansion of Briscoe Field in Gwinnett County, and the possible introduction of commercial air service, is one that could be had in almost any suburban area with a runway. Below, two players in the debate weigh the pluses and minuses of such development.
Mike Royal, a member of Fly Gwinnett Forward, writes that allowing service would expand the quality of life and lift the economic climate.
Jim Regan, a member of Citizens for a Better Gwinnett, believes it would bring noise, harm quality of life and property values.
What do you think?
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
17 comments Add your comment
The Art of the Shady Land Deal (Gwinnett Developer: Autobiography of a Hustler)
November 16th, 2011
1:07 am
Bob From Accounttemps
November 15th, 2011
10:01 pm
How does it “help” the county if it negatively impacts the residents and they don’t want it? It doesn’t *always* have to be about the money.
Bob, it ALWAYS has to be about the money and if it helps my pockets bulge even more then it helps the county or whatever…What was I saying about the county, again?
Anyways, Bob, I see that you work in account temps. Would you be interested in coming to work for me and counting my money after the deal goes through (once again, of course)?
Bob From Accounttemps
November 15th, 2011
10:01 pm
How does it “help” the county if it negatively impacts the residents and they don’t want it? It doesn’t *always* have to be about the money.
Tarvaris
November 15th, 2011
6:49 pm
I read Mike Royal’s statement. Don’t know the guy but two things seem likely to me: one he doesn’t live anywhere near Briscoe and won’t be inconvenienced by the noise, and two he’s hoping to profit financially in some form or fashion from the proposed expansion.
Aquagirl
November 15th, 2011
12:38 pm
It could give Gwinnett an added boost to their revenues and tax streams coming in.
You’re one of those poor saps who supported a G-Braves stadium, aren’t you? How’s that workin’ out for y’all?
When politicians start painting fancy pictures of increased revenues with big projects, RUN. They’ll take the benefit and if there’s any left over for the peons, it’s purely unintentional.
Michael Clyne
November 15th, 2011
11:54 am
The idea of property values dropping is crazy. Our property value has dropped a lot already and there is no airport. There is a small airport in White Plains, NY, it competes w/ LGA and JFK. It is right in the backyard of some of the most affulent neighborhoods of Westchester County NY and lower Fairfield Co. CT. The airport there did nothing to the property values there and only brought added business revenues in. I agree that the county should not be the ones to take the risk, but it would be finacially beneficial if they were to sell the rights to a private company who could expand the project. Currently, that airport is not big enough but there is areas where they could expand and make it more feasible. It could give Gwinnett an added boost to their revenues and tax streams coming in. The noise thing does bother me a little, but I think I could get over it, and I do only live a few miles from the airport itself.
Uninc Gwinnett
November 15th, 2011
11:52 am
“FAA study concluded commercial service was not economically feasible, it hasn’t happened anywhere else in the United States (one instance the municipality proceeded, but it was eventually absorbed by the Port Authority), the vast majority of people in the county do not want it, and it puts the taxpayers of Gwinnett in a position of liability (see Gwinnett Braves stadium).”
So the FAA says Briscoe is not a good candidate for expansion? Forget the FAA, lets listen to the intelligence of posters like Craig, Peter and zeke (who probably don’t live in Gwinnett).
Rob Patterson
November 15th, 2011
11:33 am
FAA study concluded commercial service was not economically feasible, it hasn’t happened anywhere else in the United States (one instance the municipality proceeded, but it was eventually absorbed by the Port Authority), the vast majority of people in the county do not want it, and it puts the taxpayers of Gwinnett in a position of liability (see Gwinnett Braves stadium).