Peachtree Corners Life LIVE

Peachtree Corners Life
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The show aims to share the passions and interest of living in the City of Peachtree Corners, through lively interviews with elected officials, local authors and community personalities who lives and stories we’d like to share you. Included in that will be community issues and interests – like politics, city development plans, dining, entertainment, local sports and recreation and local achievements.

  1. Oct 23

    How an Urban Farm in Technology Park Is Building Skills, Confidence and Community

    Tucked inside Technology Park, Peachtree Farm is an urban farm where adults with disabilities build job skills in agriculture, landscaping and retail. Executive director Joe Twiner joins Rico Figliolini to share how a pandemic-era homecoming and his sister Quinn’s experience led him to start it. Joe explains how hydroponic tomatoes, a big spring plant sale and community support keep the nonprofit growing, and why a simple shared lunch became the heart of its program. He also covers the Peachtree Corners Farmers Market the farm launched with the city, plus its chickens and volunteer beekeeping club. Now the farm is starting its biggest project yet: it recently broke ground on its first three independent living homes, part of a plan for 15 homes for adults with disabilities. Learn more at peachtreefarm.org. 8 takeawaysIt’s on the last undeveloped lot in Tech Park. Peachtree Farm started five years ago during COVID on the only fully undeveloped property left in Technology Park.His sister was part of the inspiration. Joe’s sister Quinn has disabilities. Adults with disabilities lose access to public school services at 22, so the farm was designed as accessible work that could also lead to housing.The tomatoes are high-tech. The farm grows hydroponic tomatoes year-round in its greenhouse, with winter as the main season. It also grows about 150 plant varieties for its spring plant sale.Sales cover the basics, and donations fund growth. Plant sales, farmers market sales and wholesale tomatoes go toward day-to-day costs, so fundraising can go toward expanding the farm.Soft skills turned out to matter most. Community volunteers bring a bag lunch, and the farmers bring a question. That way participants practice leading a conversation instead of only answering questions.It reaches about 100 people a month. That’s about 15 adults in the core pre-vocational internship (growing to 20) plus 75 to 80 students from local special education programs. Job placement goes through the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency.The farmers market nearly doubled its vendors. Peachtree Farm proposed the Peachtree Corners Farmers Market to the city and now runs it under a three-year contract. It moved to the Town Green this year and is looking for vendors and sponsors for next season.Housing is the next step. The farm bought its land, has approval for 15 homes and a community building, and just broke ground on its first three independent living homes, starting with six residents. Joe says disability housing in Georgia has been nearly stagnant for 15 years. Timestamp: 00:00:01 – Introduction to Joe Twiner and Peachtree Farm 00:00:30 – Sponsor thanks to EV Remodeling Inc. and Vox Pop Uli 00:02:20 – Starting on the last undeveloped lot in Technology Park 00:02:38 – Joe's path from Dayton and Boston College back home 00:03:06 – Building a community around a farm as a model of development 00:04:25 – How his sister Quinn's experience inspired the farm 00:05:51 – The greenhouse and year-round hydroponic tomatoes 00:06:28 – How the nonprofit funds its operations 00:07:13 – A typical day in the pre-vocational internship 00:08:32 – New crops and the spring plant sale 00:09:17 – The landscape classroom and hands-on training 00:10:09 – Why social skills were the biggest surprise 00:11:23 – Job placement, ongoing support, and underemployment 00:14:17 – Partnering with local special education programs 00:15:01 – Serving about 100 students a month 00:15:48 – Launching the Peachtree Corners Farmers Market with the city 00:18:03 – Growing slowly and moving the market to the Town Green 00:19:57 – Vendor and sponsor opportunities at the market 00:21:16 – Produce boxes, chickens, and the volunteer beekeeping club 00:24:00 – Breaking ground on independent living homes 00:26:44 – Affordable housing challenges in a growing city 00:27:33 – Serenbe and building disability housing close to Atlanta 00:29:00 – Purchasing the land 00:29:38 – Peachtree Farm as a community resource and how to learn more

  2. Oct 11

    Scott Hilton on Affordability, Classroom Phones and Flock Cameras: The District 48 Incumbent Makes His Case

    Rico Figliolini sits down with Scott Hilton, the incumbent Georgia House District 48 representative, to talk about his record and his re-election campaign. Hilton describes moving his family from Buckhead to Peachtree Corners as the city was founded, and spending almost 20 years as a commercial banker before running for office. Most of the conversation is about affordability and education. Hilton talks about state tax relief, his proposed first-time homebuyer savings plan, childcare costs, his law taking cell phones out of classrooms, literacy, and school accountability grades. Hilton also covers public safety, including upcoming legislation on Flock cameras, his opposition to data center tax incentives, and support for first responders and teachers. The episode wraps up with a personal lightning round and a reminder that early voting starts October 13.

  3. Sep 29

    From Cinebistro to Culling: A Candid Update from City Manager Brian Johnson

    City Manager Brian Johnson returns to Peachtree Corners Life for a wide-ranging update on the issues residents have been asking about most. Host Rico Figliolini and Johnson start with the long-awaited reopening of East Jones Bridge, then turn to the city-owned former Cinebistro property. Johnson explains the three redevelopment paths JLL is studying for the site and how residents will weigh in at an upcoming community meeting. He also walks through the city's deer management program, from the survey and population study behind it to the state and federal rules on culling, which are strict about where it can happen. The conversation closes with updates on the East Jones Bridge and Peachtree Parkway intersection project, a new right-turn signal on Peachtree Corners Circle, and the planned roundabout near The Forum. Watch the video or listen to the audio episode below.

  4. Sep 1

    From Drafting Georgia Law to Running for It: Adam Cleveland's Story

    In this episode of Peachtree Corners Life, host Rico Figliolini sits down with Adam Cleveland, the Democratic candidate challenging two-term incumbent Scott Hilton for Georgia House District 48. Cleveland shares his path from studying biology and working apartment maintenance in Athens to becoming an attorney who helped draft multiple pieces of legislation passed by the Georgia General Assembly — experience he says gave him a firsthand understanding of how laws actually get written, and why he's now running for the seat that writes them. The conversation covers Cleveland's core policy priorities, including ranked-choice voting, redistricting reform, term limits, reproductive and medical decision-making, Medicaid expansion, data centers, public school funding, and housing affordability. Throughout, he frames his campaign around generational opportunity — the idea that structural changes to Georgia's elections and government are necessary to give his children, and the next generation of Georgians, more say over the decisions that shape their lives. Watch the video or listen to the audio podcast above, and learn more about Adam Cleveland's campaign at adamcleveland.com.

  5. Jul 23

    From Boutique Theater to Blank Slate: Inside the City’s $3.2M Town Center Deal

    In this episode of Peachtree Corners Life, host Rico Figliolini sits down with City Manager Brian Johnson — fittingly, at a local restaurant table — to unpack one of the city’s most talked-about recent decisions: the $3.2 million purchase of the former CineBistro building and its adjoining parking lot at the Town Center.Johnson walks through how the deal came together, why it was negotiated privately before going to a public vote and how the city paid for it without taking on any debt. The conversation goes beyond the transaction itself, diving into what comes next: a market analysis from real estate firm JLL, three possible development paths ranging from reusing the existing building to a full teardown and redesign and a firm signal from the city council that residential apartments won’t be part of the plan.Rico and Brian also address community pushback and transparency concerns head-on, explaining why real estate negotiations happen behind closed doors and what residents can expect from an upcoming public input process.It’s a candid, detailed look at how local government navigates an unplanned opportunity — and an open invitation for residents to weigh in on what comes next.

  6. Jun 2

    Roads, Rezoning & the City's Purchase of CinéBistro

    Peachtree Corners, GA City Manager Brian Johnson discusses some major topics shaping the future of Peachtree Corners. Brian explains why Technology Parkway is being reconfigured after years of autonomous vehicle testing and how advances in vehicle technology have made dedicated testing lanes unnecessary.  The conversation also explores a recent City Council meeting that addressed a proposed modification to the 2 Sun Court mixed-use development and the city’s decision to purchase the former CineBistro site at Town Center. Brian shares how the Opportunity Fund made the acquisition possible, why local control matters for such a prominent property, and how residents will have an opportunity to help shape its future use through community engagement and market research. Takeaways:Why Technology Parkway is being redesigned after years of autonomous vehicle testingHow Curiosity Lab helped attract companies like May Mobility to the regionWhat changes are being proposed for the Tucson Court mixed-use developmentHow the city balances density, retail requirements, and development conditionsWhy Peachtree Corners created its Opportunity FundThe reasoning behind the city’s purchase of the former CineBistro propertyWhat adaptive reuse versus redevelopment could mean for Town CenterHow residents will help shape the future vision for one of the city’s most important propertiesWhy local control gives the city more flexibility in guiding future development Timestamp: 00:00:24 – Introduction and overview of recent City Council actions  00:01:41 – Reconfiguring Technology Parkway and the future of Curiosity Lab  00:06:11 – Autonomous vehicle testing, May Mobility, and evolving technology 00:07:14 – 2 Sun Court development modification request and additional residential units 00:09:07 – Background on the original rezoning and changing market conditions 00:13:17 – Trail connections, pedestrian improvements, and developer contributions 00:16:07 – Mixed-use development requirements and retail space challenges  00:20:37 – How the city updated mixed-use regulations after previous development 00:23:07 – Development standards, substantial conformance, and project oversight 00:26:39 – The closure of CineBistro and its impact on Town Center 00:29:14 – How changes in the theater industry affected CineBistro’s viability 00:31:01 – Why the city considered purchasing the property 00:34:00 – Opportunity Fund, due diligence, and acquisition details 00:35:47 – Future possibilities: adaptive reuse versus redevelopment 00:38:41 – Community engagement and gathering public input on the site’s future 00:39:49 – Potential public-private partnerships and redevelopment opportunities 00:43:41 – Local business opportunities and final thoughts on Town Center’s future

  7. Apr 28

    Sarah Madsen, MomoCon Guest on Dungeons and Dragons Video Games and Writing

    In this episode of UrbanEbb, host Rico Figliolini sits down with Atlanta-based author and game writer, and MomoCon guest this year, Sarah Madsen. They explore the world of storytelling across multiple mediums. From tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons to video game writing and novel publishing, Sarah shares how she builds immersive worlds and characters that engage players and readers alike.  The conversation dives into the creative differences between writing for interactive games versus traditional novels, the challenges of designing flexible storylines for unpredictable players, and the discipline required to meet deadlines as a full-time freelancer. Sarah also discusses her novels, including Weaver’s Folly and When the Stars Bleed, and offers insight into her creative process, from character-driven storytelling to revising drafts and finding inspiration in everyday life. Resources:Sarah Madsen’s Website: https://unfetteredmuse.com/ Timestamp: 00:00:22 – Introduction and Sarah Madsen’s background  00:01:43 – What tabletop RPGs are and how they work 00:04:16 – Writing for Dungeons & Dragons and other RPG systems 00:05:18 – Challenges of writing flexible game narratives 00:07:36 – Creative freedom and constraints in game writing 00:09:26 – Playing her own games and seeing them in action 00:11:39 – Deadlines and the discipline of finishing creative work 00:12:15 – Transition to full-time freelance writing 00:13:52 – Writing for video games and technical constraints 00:18:23 – Learning game engines and development systems 00:18:58 – Overview of Weaver’s Folly 00:20:49 – Story development and world-building process 00:22:36 – Structuring a story and finding the ending 00:24:31 – Music, playlists, and creative inspiration 00:28:14 – When the Stars Bleed and space opera storytelling 00:31:38 – Drafting, revising, and rewriting endings 00:34:12 – Where to find Sarah online and closing remarks

  8. Apr 28

    Property Taxes, Schools & Gas Prices—Ga Rep Scott Hilton Explains It All

    In this episode of Peachtree Corners Life, host Rico Figliolini sits down with Georgia State Representative Scott Hilton to recap the latest legislative session and what it means for local residents. Scott shares insights into how the Georgia General Assembly operates, the challenges of reviewing thousands of bills in a short session, and the key priorities that shaped this year’s work at the Capitol.  The conversation dives into major policy areas including education reform, property tax relief, and state budget priorities. Scott also discusses legislation around cell phone use in schools, academic “redshirting,” literacy improvements, and tax relief measures like gas tax suspension and property tax caps. The episode offers a practical look at how state-level decisions directly impact everyday life in Peachtree Corners and beyond.  Resources:Scott’s Website: https://scotthiltonga.com/ Timestamp: 00:00:01 – Introduction and overview of the legislative session 00:01:40 – Scott Hilton’s background and role in the community 00:02:57 – How the legislative process works (biennial cycle) 00:04:36 – Cell phone legislation in schools and its impact 00:07:55 – Academic redshirting and parental choice in education 00:10:29 – State budget overview and funding priorities 00:12:18 – Property tax relief and assessment caps 00:15:50 – Georgia Gold Scholarship Program explained 00:20:32 – Literacy challenges and education reform efforts 00:22:53 – AI, technology, and legislative considerations 00:24:00 – Daniel Waters Act and healthcare-related legislation 00:27:32 – Election system updates and QR code discussion 00:31:21 – Gas tax suspension and economic impact 00:33:14 – Insurance reform and cost reduction efforts 00:35:47 – Campaign insights and engaging younger voters

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About

The show aims to share the passions and interest of living in the City of Peachtree Corners, through lively interviews with elected officials, local authors and community personalities who lives and stories we’d like to share you. Included in that will be community issues and interests – like politics, city development plans, dining, entertainment, local sports and recreation and local achievements.

Information

  • Creator
    Peachtree Corners Life
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    256
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Mighty Rockets LLC
  • Show Website
    Peachtree Corners Life LIVE

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