Duluth, GA ‐ July 27, 2022 – The Gwinnett Place Mall Site Revitalization Team recently completed a redevelopment concept of what the dying Gwinnett Place Mall site could become. The Global Villages concept is based on extensive community input and a data-driven, market supportable and economically feasible analysis.
The Gwinnett Place Mall Site Revitalization Team, comprised of the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (GPCID), Gwinnett County, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and the planning firm Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB), reviewed existing plans and engaged the community to develop a starter vision. Then, they conducted a market analysis grounded in economic realities and community engagements resulting in two development concepts – a mixed-use town center and a cultural district. Both conceptual designs received additional stakeholder feedback at multiple community outreach events and online. The team integrated the best of both concepts into one unified draft concept now called “Global Villages” – a high-density, mixed-use regional activity center rooted in global cultures, diversity and opportunity.
“Based on months of study and engagement, the Global Villages concept is predominantly residential with modest amounts of new retail and office developments. The focal point will be a new international culture and community center and central park where people who live, work, dine and play in the district can experience and enjoy all the cultures that comprise our diverse community,” said GPCID Executive Director Joe Allen.
Global Villages could include the following:
- Seven residential villages centered on small parks, plazas and a pathway.
- While different in design, each village would include 150 to 500 units of multi-family housing with a mix of market-rate and affordable/workforce housing
- International culture + community center
- Where people could engage with a diversity of cultures, participate in the arts, access education, obtain job training and more
- Vibrant central park – the focus of arts, performances and more
- Ring Road greenway trail (1.25-mile loop)
- Walkable, transit-oriented development
- Redevelopment spurred by catalyst projects
- Structured parking with an artistic design (200 spaces per floor, no more than five floors)
- Restaurant- and culture-focused retail spaces (50,000 – 100,000 SF total
Commercial office space (25,000 SF)
Per their request, Macy’s, Mega Mart, and Beauty Master would remain in their current buildings and be a vital part of the site’s transformation.
“We envision that all of Global Villages’ existing and future roadways would be ‘complete streets.’ They would be designed for multiple modes, including walking, biking and transit, be attractive and landscaped, and include bike lanes, sidewalks, dedicated transit lanes, crosswalks and more,” added Allen. In addition, the streets would be designed to play a critical role in stormwater management, including a detention pond along Venture Parkway.
Mobility enhancements would come in the form of a new Gwinnett Place Transit Center, serving multiple local bus lines and including a new transit center building, park-and-ride and kiss-and-ride lots. In addition, the center could accommodate future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which is being studied by Gwinnett County to potentially link Gwinnett Place to both Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Sugarloaf.
“Rome was not built in a day. Global Villages would be developed in phases, as part of a smart and flexible redevelopment plan that will need the cooperation and vision of both public and private sectors to implement this value-driven and data-informed revitalization strategy. We are excited about the opportunities this will bring to further revitalize the County’s central business district and primary economic engine – taking it to new levels,” concluded Allen.
A detailed implementation strategy will be completed by August 31, 2022. The Gwinnett Place Mall Site Revitalization Team is currently drafting the final strategy document in coordination with key community stakeholders.
To view more about Global Villages redevelopment concept, please visit the Gwinnett Place To Be website here.