By Deborah Tuff
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners has adopted the final Equitable Redevelopment Plan for the Gwinnett Place Mall. The plan was informed by eight months of community engagement with direct input from over 2,000 Gwinnett residents and focuses on a new model for equitable development to benefit historically marginalized communities.
Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson said the plan will set a new national precedent for equitable economic redevelopment. “By creating a community-driven redevelopment process and listening to the priorities of Gwinnett residents, the plan can respond to community needs, create an innovative cultural destination and attract new economic opportunities. We are proud to adopt Gwinnett County’s first Equitable Redevelopment Plan that is focused directly on equity, is informed by thousands of community touchpoints and will lead Gwinnett Place Mall into its next phase.”
District 1 Commissioner Kirkland Carden said the Board’s intent with the site is to revitalize the mall as a location where local residents, small businesses and visitors can thrive. “We sought to achieve this vision by involving the surrounding community, so they could be with us in the decision-making process from the start,” said Carden.
Gwinnett County commissioned HR&A of Atlanta for the Equitable Redevelopment Plan to equip one of the most diverse areas in the country with comprehensive strategies on how to transform the mall into a unique regional destination and community asset.
The Gwinnett Place Mall Equitable Redevelopment Plan addresses five key areas for preservation and growth in the County: housing, small businesses, cultural activity center, neighborhood services and jobs.
The County’s work on the Equitable Redevelopment Plan was completed in tandem with the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District, which is developing its own findings into the Gwinnett Place Mall Site Revitalization Strategy to provide a complementary perspective and explore ways the project can attract private investment as well as provide a significant return on investment for Gwinnett County.
With the mall’s ERP in place, county leadership will continue its collaboration with the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District around their Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) study. Both the Equitable Redevelopment Plan and the LCI study will set the stage for conversations with the adjacent property owners on the mall site. The County will invite developer teams to be evaluated and determine the best teams to submit proposals for the full redevelopment process. To stay involved in the process and see the plan summary, analysis, and strategies, click here: GwinnettPlaceMallEquity.com.
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