White Oak Flats Architect is a Disney Legend
Gatlinburg’s first major mixed use development is now underway! White Oak Flats is a 15-acre, $50 million development, on Glades Road in Gatlinburg. The development will include 84 luxury condominiums and approximately 50 retail shops, food, and entertainment venues, all designed and themed around the heritage of the Great Smoky Mountains and Southern Appalachian arts and crafts.
Gatlinburg’s White Oak Flats concept designer, Ahmad Jafari, recently received the prestigious Disney Legend award in, “recognition of his extraordinary and lasting contribution to the Disney legacy,� said Allan Halcrow President of the Disney Legends Committee at a ceremony in Valencia, CA.
Jafari, who retired as the Disney Imagineering chief conceptual architect, has been involved in the concept design for White Oak Flats on Glades Road in Gatlinburg for the past three years. “Research is extremely important in designing an accurately themed development to represent the nature and culture of the people who settled in Gatlinburg and the Southern Appalachian region. I was particularly impressed with Cades Cove, the native crafts people, and the local architecture of the region�, Jafari said. He said his final design should be completed this winter.
Marc Postlewaite, developer of White Oak Flats stated, “We are very honored to have such a prestigious designer working on our development, and congratulate Ahmad on this great award.� Postlewaite said that construction had begun at White Oak Flats on the infrastructure and covered bridge entrance, and that construction on retail village and investment condominiums is planned to begin in the spring. Postlewaite also said he had begun leasing retail space. “We began leasing retail space in January for the 2008 season and have been very successful, but we still have a few prime spots available.� Postlewaite said.
For more information about this or any other Gatlinburg real estate you may have an interest in, please contact Jeff Schoenfield, Broker/Owner, RE/MAX All Pro, Realtors, Gatlinburg, TN by e-mail at Jeff@Gatlinburg-Homes.com or call 865-436-0444.