Crabapple Market is a cornerstone development in downtown Milton. And it’s now an award-winning one as well.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle recently determined as such, naming Crabapple Market as one of less than two dozen recipients across a range of categories of its annual Best of Atlanta Real Estate Awards.

While this honor reflects how Crabapple Market stands out in Georgia, it means more to Milton. Less than two decades ago, downtown Crabapple was little more than a dream. Yet citizens, City officials, and civic leaders – such as those behind this development – laid the foundation to turn this dream into a reality with the creation of intentional, community-driven, visionary documents. These include a Crabapple LCI approved by City Council in 2012 and Downtown Milton/Crabapple Placemaking Plan adopted five years later – with Bob Buscemi, Milton’s current Director of Special Projects, among those playing a leading role throughout.

These plans wouldn’t have progressed without the collaboration, energy, and investment of private partners. Milton found one such outstanding collaborator in Orkin & Associates, which designed, constructed, and filled up Crabapple Market – a top-quality, multi-faceted, mixed-use development with unique character that meshes well with Milton’s downtown and the community as a whole.

Crabapple Market has excelled thanks in part to its signature look and blend of exceptional small businesses. Perhaps most important of all, it has become an integral part of both the city core and the Milton community as a whole.

“Crabapple Market has … a great community feel,” said Adam Orkin, CEO of Orkin & Associates. “Our family grew up here, and we are happy to see many families spending a lot of time here, enjoying the space on The Green, [and] in our unique restaurants, shops, and businesses.”

Orkin said his team is “very proud” to earn the Atlanta Business Chronicle award. According to that publication, the “honorees were chosen through an independent editorial review, with selections based entirely on their merits, achievements, and contributions to their industry and local community.” Members of the publication’s editorial team and real estate professionals selected the award recipients, and “commercial interests with the Chronicle were not considered.”

The winners are in categories ranging from health care to design to residential to infrastructure, with no more than two recognitions for each one. Crabapple Market’s honor came in retail (which includes dining and exercise facilities as well as traditional shops), with Atlanta’s Centennial Yards being that category’s other award recipient.

The Orkin and Crabapple Market team will officially accept the award during an April 24 ceremony at The Stave Room, a former art gallery turned event space in Atlanta’s SweetWater Design District.

“This well-deserved honor came about after lots of hard work and a determination to do what’s right both for Crabapple Market and for our entire community,” said Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison. “On behalf of the City, I’d like to express our heartfelt congratulations to the Orkin and Crabapple Market teams, as well as our sincere appreciation for what you have done for Milton.”