It is not just the private sector and Gwinnett’s cities that are undertaking new big projects in the county.
The county’s government leaders are involved in some significant economic development projects that will grab headlines for years to come. The most high profile of those is the redevelopment of Gwinnett Place Mall, but the county’s economic development team also has gateway development projects at the OFS property in unincorporated Norcross and at the former Olympic Tennis Center property on U.S. Highway 78 near Snellville.
“Gwinnett Place Mall has been a lot more public and that’s the one where a lot of movement is happening right now,” Gwinnett County Economic Development Director Roman Dakare said.
The Gwinnett Place Mall redevelopment is a project that business and elected government leaders often point to as one of the biggest projects looming on the horizon in Gwinnett.
The mall was a major shopping destination when it opened in 1984, but it had gone into a sharp decline in recent years. County leaders closed on a purchase of most of the mall property — sans the Macy’s, Beauty Master, Mega Mart and former Sear’s anchors — in 2021.
An equitable redevelopment plan and a revitalization strategy were developed and presented last year to help guide the redevelopment of the property.
Most of the existing mall building is slated to be torn down, with only the Macy’s, Beauty Master and Mega Mart anchors remaining. In its place will be a “global villages” redevelopment created through a public-private partnership.
Renderings of what the property could become include a central green space; a cultural community center; retail spaces; dining options; office space; multi—family uses; job and small business support; and other community services.
“(The Gwinnett Place Revitalization Strategy) calls for a mixture of…
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