For example, land that is selling for $350,000 per acre ($8.03 per sf) in North Fulton may be bought for $35,000 per acre (80 cents per sf) in South Fulton, the brokers say. But retail and office ventures lag behind South Fulton County's 100-million-sf industrial inventory.

To solidify the residential component, elected county officials have approved zoning for 15,000 new homes over the next few years. Atlanta developer John Wieland, a high-end builder, already is constructing the company's fifth neighborhood venture, The Regency, in the Cascade Road area. Torrey Homes is building Oakley Township, a 930-home community, on Oakley Industrial Boulevard.

Cincinnati-based North American Properties also has its 1.2-million-sf, $125 million Camp Creek MarketPlace under construction. The 1,200-acre Southpark, developed by M.D. Hodges Co. of Atlanta, is now selling dirt for residential development to complement the area's strong industrial real estate base.

Locally based Cousins Properties Inc. is joint venturing with Atlanta developer Steve Macauley at the 800-acre Lakes at Cedar Grove subdivision where 900 homes will range from $170,000 to $300,000. Macauley previously developed the 800-home Walden Park in south Fulton, now 55% sold, according to a published report.

And at the end of South Fulton Parkway near Cascade-Palmetto Highway, former Atlanta restaurateur Steve Nygren plans a $70 million mixed-use venture on 225 acres that will comprise 145,000 sf of retail, 75,000 sf of office, 14 attached homes, 52 live-work units and 152 single-family homes.

The area, in the southwest corner of the county, has 40,000 undeveloped areas. Landowners plan to develop three 640-acre villages and keep 80% of the land rural.