"We were constantly saying, I feel like we are going to miss it if we don't do something in Woodstock," declares Dr. Eric Richards, the developer behind Adair Park in downtown Woodstock. He and his wife, Laura Richards, have been passionate about developing and urbanizing the area for over a decade. And it's paid off. Money, a finance and business news magazine, ranked Woodstock 17th out of 50 Best Places to Live in 2020, up from 50th place in 2015.
From owning and operating a chiropractic office to developing entire acres of downtown and creating a walkable community, Adair Park has been Eric's passion project of a lifetime.
Dr. Richards began his chiropractic practice office, Healthsprout, in Woodstock in 2001 on Main Street across from Starbucks and the Adair Park area. Roberto's Deluxe, Prime Nail Lounge, 4Ever Young, and Collaborate Coworking are just a few of the businesses that have populated downtown since the Richards' began their passion project in 2011. Eric says they never would've believed they'd be so instrumental in developing Woodstock into what it is today.
"I think that with the spirit of Woodstock, the crowd, and the outdoorsy people who frequent Reformation—those who enjoy activities like mountain biking, kayaking, and hiking—we will incorporate some of these elements into the design. This will create a unique experience, so it feels kind of neat and authentic," says Laura Richards. The lively community inspired Laura and Eric to create Wine Down Wednesdays, a regular event in Adair Park with family-friendly, chill live music.
Adair Park was inspired by Eric and Laura's vision for a vibrant and pedestrian-friendly city scene but removed from the noise and frenzied feeling of Atlanta. "We wanted to create spaces that would be ultra attractive to pedestrian traffic, for people to drive by and say, wait, what? I need to get out of the car and walk over there," says Eric. Laura adds that their idea was to create a family-friendly space that felt luxurious yet relaxed.
Eric and Laura work in tandem using their individual skills. Eric is on the development side, and Laura is on the design and creative side. From the design of the residences at Adair Park, inspired by the stucco and breezeway architecture of Rosemary Beach, to the new businesses and technicalities of creating an ultra-pedestrian friendly city, the Richards' complement each other well. It's visible in the openness and smartly oriented atmosphere of Adair Park, which has quickly become a beloved community center.
Prior to having their two daughters, Laura was an occupational therapist. This nontraditional background equipped her well to play the creative leader. She describes her creativity manifesting itself back then when she found solutions and ways to help kids realize their level of ability. For her, creativity has always been about problem-solving.
It was a natural and welcome transition for her to see the blank space of a blueprint or room and feel her mind filled with ideas about staging and designing functional, accessible, and luxurious spaces. She works with tradespeople and artists to ensure her final vision is realized to its full potential.
Some of Adair Park's exciting upcoming projects include an upscale but family-friendly taco restaurant, an Italian restaurant, and a restaurant specializing in poutine/fries. Other businesses coming this year to Adair Park include Oishii Sushi Noodle Bar and Kale Me Crazy.
Eric and Laura aren't just developing Adair Park; they also live and work there. They are as much a part of the community as people walking to Bizarre Coffee from their homes and condos. Stay tuned for what's to come in 2025 and beyond from the Richards' and Adair Park; it's going to be a spectacular decade.
"We wanted to create spaces that would be ultra attractive to pedestrian traffic. We wanted people to drive by and say, 'wait, what?' I need to get out of the car to walk over there.'"
“Could we create the place that's within walking distance [of downtown] but a little more luxurious, a little more chill, a little more relaxed?”