By Deborah Tuff
DULUTH, Ga. | The Urban Redevelopment Agency of Gwinnett County has approved the $11.5 million purchase of the 11.5-acre former Sears site at Gwinnett Place Mall.
With this acquisition, which is expected to close by the end of October, the Urban Redevelopment Agency and Gwinnett County will own a combined 87.5 acres of the Gwinnett Place Mall site. It is expected that the redevelopment of the Gwinnett Place Mall site will create a dense, mixed-use activity center that is well connected, green and walkable, while preserving the cultural diversity and character of the area. There are approximately 106 acres once owned by the mall.
It will also include the Gwinnett Place Transit Center, which the Board of Commissioners approved in March 2025. Funded largely by the Federal Transit Administration, the Transit Center will expand connections throughout the County and is projected to be completed in 2032.
Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson says: “We’re building incredible momentum toward transforming this site into a hub for catalytic change and opportunity for our residents, entrepreneurs and businesses. I’m proud of the purposeful progress we’re making and look forward to what’s ahead.”
The purchase sets the stage for the redevelopment of the mall site, which aligns with and furthers the goals and priorities of the County’s 2045 Unified Plan.
In 2021, the Urban Redevelopment Agency initially purchased a 39-acre portion of the Gwinnett Place Mall site, and in 2024, an additional 23 acres were purchased on the site of the former Macy’s department and furniture store properties. The County is partnering with CBRE, a global real estate services firm, to align strategies with community priorities and market demand.
Drawing on national experience, CBRE is engaging leading developers and sharing best practices from major redevelopment projects. The company is also preparing a nationwide request for proposals designed to attract top-tier partners to help redevelop the Gwinnett Place Mall site. The County expects to begin its selection process for a development partner with the nationwide release of the RFP later this month.
“Partnering with CBRE will accelerate our redevelopment process and ensure visibility among the type of world-class partners we are seeking in Gwinnett,” said County Administrator Glenn Stephens. “By leveraging the resources of local government and a best-in-class private sector partner, we will ensure the redevelopment of the Gwinnett Place Mall site meets the Gwinnett standard.”
Joe Allen, with the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (CID), says the CID would like to extend its appreciation to the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners for their continued leadership and determination in advancing the redevelopment of the former Gwinnett Place Mall site. The pending purchase of the former Sears property represents another positive step forward and reinforces the County’s commitment to transforming this area into a thriving, vibrant community in the strategic heart of Gwinnett.”
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