By Lillian Boff
DULUTH, Ga. | The Gwinnett Place Mall Site Revitalization Strategy Team has presented the implementation strategy for transforming the Gwinnett Place Mall site to the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners. The team consists of a partnership effort of Gwinnett County, the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (CID), and consultant VHB.
The strategy, which is based on a data-driven, market-supportable and economically feasible analysis, as well as extensive community dialogue, is an action plan to create a vibrant community rooted in international culture, inclusivity and opportunity called Global Villages. Details about the Global Villages concept can be found here.
There are six steps in the process, which is explained in link to the concept above. They are 1) Starter Vision; 2) Community Engagement; 3) Market Analysis; 4) Draft Concepts; 5) Final Concept; and 6) Action Plan.
The proposed Final Concept development by the numbers:
- Residential: 2,700 – 3,800 new units;
- Retail (new): 55,000 square feet;
- Commercial (office): 50,000 square feet;
- Cultural center: 50,000 square feet; and
- Parks: 12.7 acres.
The plan leverages the County’s initial investment of $23 million in purchasing part of the mall site into an economic impact of $6.98 of private investment per every $1 of public investment. The implementation plan is discussed in greater detail in “An Action Plan for Gwinnett Place to Be: The Global Villages” on the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement website which those interested can see here. This document is designed for community members and general inquiries. There is also a 1:11 minute video available to watch here.
Joe Allen, executive director of the Gwinnett Place CID, says: “In total, more than 3,000 people engaged in the conversation about the site’s future, and that number does not include the 3,624 who offered online feedback. The proposed Global Villages concept is predominantly residential with modest amounts of new retail and office. A new international culture and community center and central park space are the focal points.”
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