2021
Real Estate Notebook: From dying retail to a neighborhood of the future
January 8, 2021 – Gwinnett County has agreed to buy the sprawling sea of dying retail that is Gwinnett Place Mall.
2020
After county agrees to buy Gwinnett Place Mall, officials begin looking to its future
December 26, 2020 – Gwinnett Place Mall has long been a source of consternation for local officials and ridicule among some residents who have derisively called it an eye sore or a dead mall.
What has been proposed at Gwinnett Place Mall?
December 22, 2020 – The owners of Gwinnett Place mall suggested they had big plans: the addition of green space, to feel more like Atlantic Station. More outdoor restaurants, and even the demolition of part of the building.
Days are number for Gwinnett Place Mall, once a magnet for county
December 22, 2020 – Mike Lowrey stood in a Costco Friday afternoon, getting choked up as he thought about the Wiggles.
The future of Gwinnett Place Mall
December 22, 2020 – Barring a star turn in the latest season of the hit Netflix show “Stranger Things,” Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth has been on the decline for the past decade and a half, with most of its stores closing down and those remaining run-down and avoided by most locals.
County buys 39 central core acres at Gwinnett Place Mall site
December 18, 2020 – Gwinnett County government has purchase 39 acres of the Gwinnett Place Mall site for an Urban Redevelopment Agency (URA) make-over.
Gwinnett Place Mall has a new owner
December 16, 2020 – On December 15, 2020, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners agreed to buy Gwinnett Place Mall from Moonbeam Capital.
Gwinnett County acquires Gwinnett Place Mall for $23M, not including four anchors
December 16, 2020 – The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners voted to acquire 39 acres at Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth, including the portion of the mall that houses most of the mall’s inline tenants, food court and the shuttered Belk-Perisian store.
County commissioners approve $23M purchase of Gwinnett Place Mall
December 16, 2020 – Gwinnett Place Mall may finally received a plethora of overdue renovations to once again make it a premier shopping center now that county commissioners have agreed to its purchase.
Gwinnett County purchases 39-acre Gwinnett Place Mall property
December 16, 2020 – The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners approved the Urban Redevelopment Agency of Gwinnett County’s (URA) purchase of 39 acres of the Gwinnett Place Mall site.
Gwinnett County acquires Gwinnett Place Mall for $23M, not including three anchors
December 16, 2020 – The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners voted to acquire 39 acres at Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth, including the portion of the mall that houses most of the mall’s inline tenants, food court and the shuttered Belk-Parisian store.
Gwinnett County purchases Gwinnett Place Mall property
December 15, 2020 – On December 15, 2020, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners approved the Urban Redevelopment Agency of Gwinnett County’s purchase of 39 acres of the Gwinnett Place Mall site.
The Gwinnett Place Mall finally has a buyer: Gwinnett County
December 15, 2020 – After years of decline and decay, the suburban Atlanta mall where Stranger things was filmed is getting new ownership.
Gwinnett County agrees to purchase Gwinnett Place Mall property for $23 million
December 15, 2020 – Gwinnett County commissioners on Tuesday agreed to purchase Gwinnett Place Mall.
Gwinnett County commissioners vote to purchase Gwinnett Place Mall
December 15, 2020 – Gwinnett Place Mall has been maligned by residents, business leaders and elected officials in recent years because of its struggles as tenants and shoppers left, but it may be about to turn a corner.
Gwinnett County to buy Gwinnett Place Mall
December 15, 2020 – After years of urging from frustrated residents and business leaders, Gwinnett County commissioners on Tuesday agreed to buy the struggling Gwinnett Place Mall.
Gwinnett County Purchases 39-Acre Gwinnett Place Mall Property
December 15, 2020 – At its Tuesday meeting, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners approved the Urban Redevelopment Agency of Gwinnett County’s (URA) purchase of 39 acres of the Gwinnett Place Mall site. The property is being purchased for $23 million from Gwinnett Place Mall GA, LLC, which has owned the parcels at the core of the 90+ acre retail development since 2013.
Gwinnett Place CID had a $13.4 billion economic impact in 2019
December 1, 2020 – Although its namesake mall has had its well-publicized troubles and lost much of its value, the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District is having a big – and growing – impact on Gwinnett County’s economy.
Gwinnett Place CID releases report showing $13.4 billion economic impact
November 30, 2020 – The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District recently announced the results of a report prepared for the CID by the Bleakly Advisory Group showing the Gwinnett Place area had an annual economic impact of $13.4 billion in 2019, reflecting a 41% increase from $9.5 billion measured in 2017.
Gwinnett Place CID plays a significant role in Georgia’s economy
November 27, 2020 – “We were excited to work on the economic impact analysis for Gwinnett Place because it’s an area that needs to be recognized for its success.”
After MARTA defeat, new Gwinnett chairman going back to drawing board
November 23, 2020 – The Gwinnett County Commission will have a new chairman next month, but the woman who will hold the county’s top post will start her term knowing voters rejected her preferred plan to expand transit into the fast-growing Atlanta suburb.
Pandemic, long ballot, confusion may have cost Gwinnett transit vote
November 12, 2020 – When Gwinnett County voters rejected a transit expansion plan last year, most people thought the timing doomed the proposal.
New Roundabout
October 9, 2020 – A new roundabout at the intersection of Day Drive and Venture Drive near Steve Reynolds Boulevard is on track to be finished before the end of the year.
WSB-TV: Gwinnett Place Mall redevelopment and District 1 Gwinnett County Commissioner District 1 candidates forum
October 1, 2020 – Tony Thomas with WSB-TV reports on Gwinnett Place Mall
Gwinnett Place, Sugarloaf CIDs preparing to host county commission District 1 candidates forum
September 22, 2020 – Residents in Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners District 1 will get a chance to hear form the candidates vying to be their district commissioner later this month.
Gwinnett County District 1 Commissioner candidates weigh in on the mall, transit and the future of Gwinnett Place
September 16, 2020 – In the race for the three seats on the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, transit and redevelopment are major campaign topics, especially in a county that is projected to be the state’s most populous by 2040 with 1.5 million residents.
ULI Atlanta’s Center for Leadership team delivers 7 impactful metro Atlanta Projects
August 31, 2020 – Stranger Things Mall Redevelopment: Gwinnett Place Mall Re-Imagined. The title is fashioned from being the home for the ‘Stranger Things” show but the need was centered around positioning the 90 acre Gwinnett Place Mall site for redevelopment and for securing partners that will enhance the community, strengthen the business district, and facilitate long-term growth in the County.
Beyond concrete: How improvement districts strengthen resiliency
July 21, 2020 – In metro Atlanta, Community Improvement Districts (CIDs), public-private entities better known for building roads and improving local parks, have stepped up in recent months.
Leo Wiener, Jill Edwards re-elected to new terms on Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District board
July 19, 2020 – Two members of the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District Board of Directors were recently re-elected to new terms on the board.
Candidates for Gwinnett County Chair offer different paths on density, transit, pandemic
July 14, 2020 – The field in the race for the Gwinnett County Commission chairmanship seat this November has been narrowed to two candidates who offer starkly different paths for the future of one of Georgia’s most populous counties.
OcuPrep Staff and Training Solutions opens headquarters near Gwinnett Place Mall
July 13, 2020 – An eye-care and e-care staffing company has opened its new headquarters in the Gwinnett Place area, officials at Partnership Gwinnett and the Gwinnett Chamber announced.
Reporter’s Notebook July 10: Gwinnett Place CID relects two board members
July 10, 2020 – Leo Wiener, president of Ackerman Retail, the retail division of Ackerman & Co. and Jill Edwards, commercial lending division manager for United Community Bank, will continue on the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District board, after a July 8 board vote.
Bisnow: Reopening Gwinnett County
June 30, 2020 – GPCID Board Chairman and Ackerman Retail President Leo Wiener and Partnership Gwinnett Vice President Andrew Carnes discuss the reopening of Gwinnett County.
County, three CIDs team up for first BRT study in Gwinnett
June 26, 2020 – To accommodate current mobility needs and anticipated growth in the coming decades, Gwinnett County, in partnership with the Gwinnett 85, Gwinnett Place and Sugarloaf Community Improvement Districts and the Atlanta Regional Commission, is embarking on an integrated land use and transportation plan for its first proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor.
Gwinnett Place CID launches new mobile business channel
June 23, 2020 – Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (CID) has launched a mobile channel www.visitgwinnettplace.com.
Gwinnett Place CID launches mobile business directory
June 16, 2020 – Residents and visitors interested in exploring Gwinnett Place’s variety of unique eateries and businesses will benefit from Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District’s recently launched mobile channel: www.visitgwinnettplace.com.
Making connections: With new initiatives, Gwinnett CIDs bring businesses and people together.
June 1, 2020 – While leaders of most Georgia business know what the letters CID mean, the acronym might not exactly be a household word.
Gwinnett candidates seek to improve mall area, handle budget shortfall
May 29, 2020 – In races for two Gwinnett County commission seats, a struggling local mall and expected budget constraints from the coronavirus pandemic are key issues.
Gwinnett commissioners approve warehouses on former Dave & Buster’s land
May 27, 2020 – A shuttered Dave & Buster’s near Gwinnett Place Mall is slated to become warehouses.
How the heart of Georgia’s most diverse county is reopening for business
May 26, 2020 – Each morning at the Chick-fil-A Dwarf House on Pleasant Hill Road, a line of vehicles still forms around the restaurant as people wait for breakfast sandwiches and coffed orders via touchless pickup.
Georgia roundabout to alleviate traffic in Gwinnett County
May 21, 2020 – The roundabout is one of three projects planned by the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District.
Video helps drivers navigate new roundabout in Gwinnett Place area
May 19, 2020 – The roundabout at Venture Drive and Day Drive in the Gwinnett Place area is now fully operational.
CID: Roundabout at Venture, Day Drives near Gwinnett Place Mall is now operational
May 18, 2020 – The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District made a big announcement about transportation near Gwinnett Place Mall on Monday: the Venture Drive at Day Drive roundabout that CID officials have been anxiously anticipating is now operational.
Dead malls tend to come back as retail and mixed-use
May 13, 2020 – The most common redevelopment use for a shuttered mall is some other kind of retail, according to a new survey by the National Association of Realtors.
Gwinnett commission chairman candidates discuss how they’d handle a COVID-19-related budget hit – if one occurs
April 25, 2020 – If Gwinnett County’s budget revenues take a hit in 2021 because of lingering effects from the COVID-19 coronavirus disease pandemic, candidates vying to be the county’s next commission chairman offered a variety of solutions this past week.
Five Gwinnett County CIDs will co-host online commission chairman candidates forum
April 19, 2020 – Gwinnett County residents are still sheltering-in-place because of the COVID-19 coronavirus disease pandemic, but they will get a chance to hear from nearly every candidate running to be the next county commission chair from their homes next week.
Gwinnett CIDs offering online candidate forum
April 16, 2020 – With Gwinnett set to elect a new County Commission Chair this fall, the five Gwinnett County Community Improvement Districts (CID), Gateway85, Gwinnett Place, Evermore, Lilburn and Sugarloaf, will be hosting a virtual online candidate forum 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22.
MARTA: Federal aid needed to avoid drastic service cuts
March 24, 2020 – Joe Allen, the executive director of the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District, signed the letter. He said many of the 25,000 people who come to work in the district each day use public transportation to get there.
Gwinnett Place, Sugarloaf CIDs planning Commission District 1 candidates forum
March 7, 2020 – Voters who live in Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners District 1 will soon get a chance to hear from the candidates seeking to represent them on the commission.
Gwinnett Place CID officials urge caution around new, under construction Venture Drive roundabout
March 6, 2020 – Drivers who use Venture Drive to get between Pleasant Hill Road and Steve Reynolds Boulevard may notice they have to do some swerving these days.
Drivers begin navigating new roundabout in Gwinnett Place CID
March 4, 2020 – Drivers making their way to and from Pleasant Hill Road on Venture Drive near Gwinnett Place Mall area will be navigating a new roundabout at Day Drive.
New roundabout at Gwinnett Place CID
March 4, 2020 – Drivers will find a change to their normal route around Gwinnett Place.
Gwinnett Place area getting new apartment complex, The Rey
March 3, 2020 – Some 286 new apartments are coming to the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District.
Quintus to open $49M apartment complex in Metro Atrlanta’s Gwinnett County
February 28, 2020 – Atlanta-based Quintus Corp. is set to open The Rey on Reynolds, a $49 million, 286-unit apartment complex in Duluth.
One of the largest retailers of new & pre-owned vehicles bringing headquarters to Gwinnett
February 28, 2020 – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced this week that Sonic Automotive Inc., a Fortune 500 Company an one of the largest retailers of new and pre-owned vehicles in the United States, will locate a dealership and regional headquarters for EchoPark Automotive in the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District.
Gwinnett CIDs partner with county on transportation studies
February 28, 2020 – It’s no secret that Gwinnett County has major transportation issues to address.
Gwinnett Place-area mixed-use development with 286 apartments nearing completion
February 27, 2020 – Apartments in a new mixed-use development on the edge of the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District are pre-leasing and construction on the project is expected to be nearing completion, officials at the CID announced Thursday.
Former Fry’s Electronics site to become EchoPark Automotive regional headquarters, dealership; 130 jobs to be created
February 24, 2020 – A Fortune 500 Company that Gov. Brian Kemp’s office said is also one of the nation’s largest vehicle retailers is coming to Duluth – and it’s bringing 130 jobs with it.
I-85 BRT corridor study advances after firm hired to conduct it
January 22, 2020 – A study that has been in the works for months to look at a possible bus rapid transit corridor that would run parallel to Interstate 85, roughly between the OFS site and the Infinite Energy Center, now has someone to conduct it.
Could a trail network breathe new life into Gwinnett Place?
January 21, 2020 – The autocentric work of Gwinnett Place could be getting a pedestrian makeover.
Seven organizations receive technical assistance through ULI Atlanta’s Center for Leadership
January 13, 2020 – Leadership is a team sport.
2019
Gwinnett Place Mall needs redevelopment strategy, not hope
December 20, 2019 – In its hey-day, Gwinnett Place Mall was a mall of firsts.
Gwinnett Place CID plans to install license plate reading cameras in 2020
December 17, 2019 – The board of directors for Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District announced a multi-year partnership with Flock Safety this past week to install a “large number” of automatic license plate reading cameras in 2020 with the option to add more.
License reading cameras go up near Gwinnett Place Mall
December 13, 2019 – At least 50 license plate reading cameras are going up near Gwinnett Place Mall to help police fight crime.
Gwinnett Place CID to invest in license plate reading cameras
December 13, 2019 – The board of directors for the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (CID) announces a new multi-year partnership with Flock Safety for an automatic license plate reading (ALPR) camera system for the area.
Finally, some movement at Gwinnett Place Mall
December 12, 2019 – Gwinnett Place Mall has been many things in recent years.
License plate cameras planned for Gwinnett Place business district
December 12, 2019 – At least 50 license plate reading cameras are going up near Gwinnett Place Mall in the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District
Gwinnett Place CID partners with Flock Safety to stop crime
December 11, 2019 – WSB-TV news cast
CIDs progress means economic growth
December 1, 2019 – Since the inception of the first Community Improvement District (CID) in 1988, there’s no question these self-taxing districts, public-private partnerships have become a popular method of promoting economic growth.
Military veteran, author among officers patrolling Gwinnett Place CID during holidays
November 27, 2019 – A typical shift for Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District security officer Tom Reilly entails driving around, looking for suspicious or illegal behavior and helping stranded motorists.
Despite earlier holiday shopping trend, Black Friday still expected to be big for retail
November 26, 2019 – Don’t underestimate the tradition-fueled draw of going shopping after chowing down on Thanksgiving turkey.
Gwinnett Place CID providing holiday shopping security patrols
November 20, 2019 – According to the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District, incidents of crime continue to decrease in the district.
Atlanta malls look to adapt
November 15, 2019 – Joe Allen likes to imagine a different image of Gwinnett Place Mall than the dying retail area he has dedicated years to revitalizing.
Mall For Sale: In Gwinnett Place, a gargantuan opportunity with risks to match
October 31, 2019 – After years of stagnation, Gwinnett Place Mall is up for sale.
Local officials watching Gwinnett Place Mall sale with interest
October 27, 2019 – Gwinnett Place Mall is technically outside Duluth’s city limits, but don’t think that means city officials aren’t watching the likely sale of the mall with interest.
Closing Gwinnett country club could be transformed into housing
October 14, 2019 – A 225-acre country club three miles from the Gwinnett Place Mall could be transformed into new homes if future developers follow proposed county plans.
Gwinnett Place Mall to be sold
October 11, 2019 – Rumors of the potential sale of Gwinnett Place Mall have swirled for a while, but it seems there is some validity to that now.
That mall featured in the third season of ‘Stranger Things’ is up for sale
October 10, 2019 – The Georgia mall featured in the third season of the Netflix show “Stranger Things” is up for sale.
Gwinnett Place Mall, most recently featured in ‘Stranger Things,’ goes up for sale
October 10, 2019 – Moonbeam Capital Partners is ready to sell its portion of the long-struggling mall.
Long-struggling Gwinnett Place Mall will soon be up for sale
October 10, 2019 – Gwinnett Place Mall opened in the mid-1980s and did a booming business for decades.
Long-struggling Gwinnett Place Mall will soon be up for sale
October 8, 2019 – For a few years now, local business leaders have urged the owners of Gwinnett Place Mall to sell off, move out and give someone else the chance to redevelop the long-struggling shopping center.
Owner putting Gwinnett Place Mall up for sale
October 8, 2019 – Rumors that Gwinnett Place Mall was going to be put up for sale by its owner, Moonbeam Properties, have popped up periodically over the years.
Atlanta Mall’s Brush with Fame
October 1, 2019 – In recent years, many mall owners have redeveloped their malls or re-positioned a portion of the site for other uses.
Gwinnett Place CID to focus on redevelopment of fading retail locations
September 4, 2019 – Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) utilize self-imposed taxes from local commercial businesses to improve and enhance local communities.
Northwood Ravin has green ambitions for the Stranger Things mall
August 27, 2019 – The owner of the Gwinnett Place Mall’s shuttered Sears store envisions a chunk of the struggling mall being transformed in the area’s version of Central Park.
ShoppingTown owner’s malls across U.S.: A “Stranger Things” set and lots of empty talk.
August 26, 2019 – When Moonbeam Capital Investments bought the struggling Gwinnett Place Mall near Atlanta in 2013, local officials got their hopes up.
Government, business officials ponder future Gwinnett MARTA vote at development forum
August 23, 2019 – As he juggled his hats as Lawrenceville’s city manager and a member of the Atlanta Regional Transit Link Authority board Thursday, Chuck Warbington expressed certainty about the chances of a future MARTA in Gwinnett County.
Elliott Brack’s perspective: What’s happening at Gwinnett Place Mall?
August 20, 2019 – Once booming Gwinnett Place Mall is much of an embarrassment these days, with it appearing to be only about 20 percent of retail space occupied.
Could eminent domain be the zombie mall slayer?
August 18, 2019 – After 45 years in business, and recent years of struggle, the Swansea Mall in the town of Swansea, Massachusetts, closed its dors for good in April.
Stranger Things mall needs more than Hollywood magic to come alive again
August 8, 2019 – Gwinnett Place Mall and its immediate area needs to go on an asphalt and retail diet.
Opinion: I don’t think Hollywood can save Gwinnett Place Mall
July 26, 2019 – In recent days, I can’t open my Netflix app without seeing the promotion for season 3 of “Stranger Things,” with the outline of Starcourt Mall featured prominently in the graphic.
A new roundabout means safer driving and more walkability at Gwinnett Place
July 18, 2019 – One of the busiest intersections in Gwinnett Place, the junction of Venture Drive and Day Drive, is set to be replaced by a roundabout, with construction underway.
County officials warn drivers to prepare for roundabout construction near Duluth, Snellville
July 5, 2019 – Gwinnett County’s website contained a warning for drivers in the Gwinnett Place and Snellville areas this past week: Road construction is coming.
Another Moonbeam mall sits nearly empty in Georgia
July 4, 2019 – Moonbeam, the company that owns Shoppingtown, has one more day to pay up millions of dollars in back taxes.
Two new roundabouts coming to busy Gwinnett intersections
July 2, 2019 – Gwinnett Department of Transportation will begin soon to convert two busy intersections into roundabouts — one at Ridgedale Drive and Pharrs Road in Snellville and one at Venture Drive and Day Drive in Duluth.
This is what the redevelopment of the Gwinnett Prado site near Gwinnett Place Mall might look like
June 26, 2019 – New images of the mixed-use development that is planned to replace the Gwinnett Prado shopping center on Pleasant Hill Road have turned up on Partnership Gwinnett’s website.
New renderings for $250M mixed-use project near Gwinnett Place
June 25, 2019 – New renderings have emerged for a $250 million mixed-use project that officials hope could help revitalize the Gwinnett Place area.
Gwinnett Place transportation projects underway
June 12, 2019 – Multiple transportation and infrastructure projects will take place throughout the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (GPCID) this summer.
Several transportation projects coming to the Gwinnett Place area
June 4, 2019 – The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (GPCID) will be the site of multiple transportation and infrastructure projects this summer.
CIDs spout up and work wonders around Atlanta
June 4, 2019 – I want to warn all of you, this article caters pretty much to community development nerds.
New intersection coming to Venture, Steve Reynolds Blvd.
June 3, 2019 – The Venture Drive at Steve Reynolds Boulevard Intersection Improvement project is scheduled to begin in late June.
Gwinnett Place: Summer brings transportation projects
June 3, 2019 – This summer will usher in the start — and sometimes, the finish– of several transportation projects in the Gwinnett Place area.
Boosting Business: Gwinnett CIDs tackle common challenges to improve transportation and recreation
June 1, 2019 – Streetscapes, sidewalks and trails are the bread and butter of many community improvement districts (CIDs), and those in once-suburban Gwinnett are no exception.
Transportation improvements coming to Gwinnett Place area
June 1, 2019 – The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District is preparing for multiple transportation and infrastructure projects that are slated to begin around the district this summer.
ARC awards $566,000 in grants to Gwinnett communities
May 7, 2019 – The Atlanta Regional Commission announced it is awarding two livable centers initiative grants, worth a combined $470,000, to the Gwinnett community to tackle two different forms of mobility while a third grant will hep a city on the county’s outer edge study downtown development.
Gwinnett approves agreements with CIDs for BRT study funding
May 7, 2019 – Gwinnett County commissioners formally agreed to partnerships with three local community improvement districts to help fund a bus rapid transit corridor study Tuesday.
More than traffic lights and turn lanes: Gwinnett Place is open for development
April 25, 2019 – Drivers and pedestrians exploring Gwinnett Place this spring will notice more than a few changes.
Gwinnett Place CID re-elects two board members, releases annual report
April 19, 2019 – The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District, a self-taxing district that uses additional property taxes to accelerate infrastructure improvements, security enhancements and economic development in the Gwinnett Place area, recently re-elected two board members.
Two Gwinnett Place CID board members re-elected
April 13, 2019 – The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District announced that two of its board members who were up for re-election this past week will be sticking around for three more years.
Title and escrow services company adding 1,000-plus new jobs in Gwinnett
April 10, 2019 – A nationally recognized title insurance and escrow provider that has a headquarters near Gwinnett Place Mall plans to add more than 1,000 jobs as it expands its operations in Gwinnett County, according to local and state officials.
Gwinnett seeking money to study BRT route connecting Jimmy Carter, Sugarloaf
March 28, 2019 – Even though voters rejected a proposal to extend MARTA into Gwinnett last week, plans are moving forward to study a bus rapid transit corridor that would run parallel to Interstate 85 between Norcross and Duluth
After another failed MARTA vote, proponents still see Gwinnett Transit as inevitable
March 21, 2019 – For MARTA, the third time still was not the charm in its efforts to expand into Gwinnett County.
Media report: Gwinnett Place Mall may be sold, converted to cricket stadium
February 27, 2019 – Gwinnett County’s first mall may soon be turned into a cricket stadium, according to a media report that surfaced Monday.
Gwinnett Place Mall might be sold– and become a cricket stadium?
February 26, 2019 – An investor who wants to buildig a 20,000-seat cricket stadium at Gwinnett Place Mall says he has a contract to purchase most of the once-proud retail center.
Cricket league owner agrees to buy Gwinnett Place Mall for 20,000-seat stadium
February 26, 2019 – An ailing mall close to Atlanta is on the verge of being repurposed into a stadium to watch one of the world’s most poular sports.
Boehringer Ingelheim headquarters move bringing 75 jobs to Duluth
February 9, 2019 – The impact of Boehringer Ingelheim’s headquarters move to Duluth will have on the local job market became clear this past week.
Boehringer Ingelheim, maker of Heartgard, to create 225 new jobs in Georgia
February 7, 2019 – Today, Governor Brian Kemp announced that Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA, Inc., a leading animal health company, will create 225 jobs and invest more than $120 million in Gwinnett, Clarke, and Hall counties.
Gwinnett Place CID begins final phase of Pleasant Hill streetscaping
January 31, 2019 – Drivers on Pleasant Hill Road may have noticed some construction taking place lately along the roadway in the Gwinnett Place area, and the work is giving Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District officials a reason to celebrate.
A new Gwinnett County referendum could put public transit back on track
January 30, 2019 – When voters in Gwinnett County, Georgia, go to the polls on Tuesday, March 19, they will have the opportunity to revolutionize the county’s transportation mobility, spur economic development and help redevelop the region’s aging infrastructure.
Gwinnett Place CID increases efforts to clean-up district
January 25, 2019 – The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (GPCID), along with help from its partners including its property owners, Georgia Power, Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, Jackson EMC and Gwinnett DOT, work to ensure the district is clean and well-kept for its community members and visitors.
Next Pleasant Hill Road streetscape improvements begin in Duluth
January 21, 2019 – The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District and Gwinnett DOT have begun the fifth phase of the Gwinnett Place CID’s Pleasant Hill Road Streetscape project along Pleasant Hill Road from Old Norcross Road to Club Drive in Duluth.
2018
Gwinnett, metro malls increase security patrols for the holidays
November 19, 2018 – This week many of you will head to malls and stores as early as Thanksgiving for great deals.
Gwinnett Place CID emphasizing increased security during holiday season
November 18, 2018 – Pulling up next to a car parked behind the Esplanade at Gwinnett Place Shopping Center, Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District Security Patrol Officer Tom Reilly rolled down his window, motion to the other drive to also lower his window.
Georgia considered Gwinnett spots for possible Amazon HQ2 sites
November 14, 2018 – Documents released by the Georgia Department of Economic Development this week show state officials were, at one point last year, looking at the mall as one of several potential sites for Georgia’s bid for Amazon HQ2.
Gwinnett residents and businesses participate in walk to learn more about their community
November 13, 2018 – While some communities were celebrating Oktoberfest, the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District decided to do things a little differently.
Gwinnett Place CID elects one new board member
September 20, 2018 – Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District, a self-taxing district that uses additional commercial property taxes to accelerate infrastructure improvements, security enhancements and economic development in the Gwinnett Place area, recently elected on new board member.
Gwinnett to build sidewalks along Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth
September 17, 2018 – The Gwinnett Board of Commissioners recently awarded a contract to make close to a $1 million investment in sidewalk improvements on Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth.
Gwinnett to start building sidewalks along Pleasant Hill Road
September 14, 2018 – The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners recently awarded a contract to make close to a million dollars’ worth of sidewalk improvements on Pleasant Hill Road.
Official from developer that bought Sears space at Gwinnett Place Mall joins CID board
September 12, 2018 – Wile luxury apartment developer Northwood Ravin’s plans for the former Sears lot at Gwinnett Place Mall remain a mystery, the company will be at least somewhat involved in efforts to improve the area.
County adding sidewalks near Gwinnett Place Mall in $1M project
September 12, 2018 – Gwinnett County commissioners approved a contract Tuesday for nearly $1 million to add new sidewalks along Pleasant Hill Road, according to a release.
Gwinnett County: Grows Up
September 1, 2018 – Gwinnett Place. A little ways down I-85, Joe Allen, executive director, is inviting developers to the Gwinnett Place CID, which, he is quick to point out, is not synonymous with the faded mall.
Gwinnett Prado redevelopment plans include hotel, residences and food hall
August 24, 2018 – About two years after new owners bought the mostly derelict Gwinnett Prado shopping center near Duluth, plans have surfaced which show the property’s potential future.
Gwinnett PD takes first step toward high-tech ‘crime response center’
August 21, 2018 – The Gwinnett Police Department has taken a first official step toward the creation of a new high-tech “situation awareness and crime response center.”
Gwinnett Place CID gets big win with 32-acre redevelopment
August 20, 2018 – Strip malls fell out of favor about 15 years ago and the pipeline for building emptied quickly.
County chairwoman: Revel won’t cannibalize momentum for Gwinnett Place Mall redevelopment
August 17, 2018 – Gwinnett Place Mall’s travails began when Simon Property Group built two other major enclosed malls within 13 miles of the nearly 1.3M SF behemoth in the 1990s.
Skyrocketing construction costs pushing apartment developers into burbs
August 15, 2018 – As construction pricing and land costs continue to escalate, multifamily developers are pushing into the suburbs for new projects.
‘Connect Gwinnett’ proposes new transportation future for Gwinnett County
August 14, 2018 – The Gwinnett Place Mall might one day be the site of a new transit-oriented redevelopment project.
Transit, new blood sparking new hope for a Gwinnett Place Mall area transformation
July 20, 2018 – The heart of one of Gwinnett County’s major commercial hubs has been ailing for sometime.
Developer plans to revive Gwinnett Place Mall
June 13, 2018 – Redevelopment could be the key to reviving the dying Gwinnett Place Mall located off I-85 and Pleasant Hill Road.
Could Gwinnett Place’s closing Sears become apartments?
June 13, 2018 – Could part of one of Atlanta’s most ailing malls be heading for a multifamily conversion?
Gwinnett Place Mall’s Sears property bought by luxury apartment developer
June 12, 2018 – Sears announced it was closing its Gwinnett Place Mall only two weeks ago, but plans are already starting to form for the luxury apartments tha tmay go in its place.
Gwinnett Place: Apartment developer buys soon-to-cose Sears store
June 12, 2018 – A luxury apartment developer has purchased the soon-to-be-closed Sears building at Gwinnett Place Mall.
The Sears at Gwinnett Place Mall is closing. That may be a good thing.
June 1, 2018 – The longtime Gwinnett Place location was among dozens of “non-profitable” stores named Thursday in the latest round of cuts for Sears and sister company K-Mart.
Assurant unveils $2.2 million facility investment
May 31, 2018 – “Alexa, turn the lights yellow.” In front of an audience, the lights in the room changed from emitting blue light across the room to a pale yellow.
CIDs are driving economic growth in Georgia
May/June 2018 – Since the inception of the first Community Improvement District, CIDs have become an increasingly popular method of promoting economic growth in Georgia.
Why employers call Gwinnett Place home
May 15, 2018 – On a brisk afternoon last January, Kaiser Permanete’s plan to bring 800 jobs to Gwinnett County moved closer to reality with the opening of its new facility at Gwinnett Place.
Gwinnett Place CID names new director, vice chairman
April 20, 2018 – Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (GPCID) elected on new board member and named a new vice chairman during its annual Caucus of Electors on April 12.
Gwinnett Place CID elects new board member, names new vice chair
April 19, 2018 – Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District, a self-taxing district that uses additional commercial property taxes to accelerate infrastructure improvements, security enhancements and economic development in the Gwinnett Place area, elected one new board member and named a new vice chairman during its annual Caucus of Electors on April 12.
Kempner: A mall’s long fall
January 10, 2018 – The horrific discovery puts another spotlight not only on the agonizing decline of Gwinnett Place, but also the limits of what government leaders and surrounding property owners are able to do about its downfall.
2017
Gwinnett Place an economic powerhouse for the county
December 5, 2017 – Gwinnett Place is less than 1% of Gwinnett County’s land area, but it plays a much greater role in Gwinnett’s overall economy.
Gwinnett Place CID officials looking at conceptual mixed-use
redevelopment of area
December, 2017 – Hotels that are up to seven stories tall, green spaces placed between multistory buildings, arches over entrances and buildings that contain mixes of office, retail or residential spaces. That’s the kind of concept Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District officials see as the potential future of the Mall Corners shopping center site at Pleasant Hill Road and Interstate 85.
Study: Gwinnett Place CID is $9.5 billion economic engine for county
December 5, 2017 – The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District has an annual economic impact of 9.5 billion, according to a new study.
The 37- page report, completed by Bleakly Advisory Group, showed Gwinnett Place’s direct economic impact this year is $4.5 billion, while the CID is responsible for $5 billion in indirect spending.
Here’s what the Gwinnett Place area may (sort of) look like (one day)
December 6, 2017 – The renderings are merely conceptual–hypothetical, theoretical, pseudo-suggestions for what could be built in place of existing, aging shopping centers. But they represent a very real conversation that’s being held about the future of the area surrounding Gwinnett Place Mall.
Gwinnett Place CID touts $9.5 billion total economic impact
December 7, 2017 – Gwinnett Place Mall is the oldest of the three malls in Gwinnett County, but that doesn’t diminish its contributions to the county’s economy, officials at the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District announced this past week.
Shoppers urged to support local businesses role in the economy on Small Business Saturday
November 23, 2017 – If not for the small guys in the business world, Gwinnett residents would see a lot more empty storefronts as the retail landscape shifts and the national retailers scale back and, in some cases, go out of business, one local business official said.
Whatever happened to those Gwinnett Place Mall redevelopment plans
November 24, 2017 – The Gwinnett Place Mall is still open for business, despite having multiple vacant stores. It was purchased in 2013 by Moonbeam Capital Investments, which also purchased several other malls across the country.
Gwinnett Place CID increases security patrols for the holidays
November 27, 2017 – As part of its ongoing efforts to increase public safety in Gwinnett’s central commercial core, the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District will once again provide increased community security patrols for shoppers and visitors beginning on Thanksgiving night and throughout the holiday shopping season.
Gwinnett Place CID increasing security patrols to keep holiday shoppers safe
November 21, 2017 – As Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District security patrol officer Joan Sammond drove around the parking lot of the Gwinnett Marketfair shopping center Monday, she came across an opportunity to help a stranded motorist.
Gwinnett Place CID increasing security patrols to keep holiday shoppers safe
November 21, 2017 – As Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District security patrol officer Joan Sammond drove around the parking lot of the Gwinnett Marketfair shopping center Monday, she came across an opportunity to help a stranded motorist.
BOC acquires land for future transit center expansion at Gwinnett Place Mall
Octoberr 16, 2017 – Gwinnett County officials used condemnation proceedings against three properties–including one they are already leasing–and are buying a fourth property to acquire land for future expansion of the county’s transit center at Gwinnett Place Mall.
Survey results give Gwinnett Place CID hope
Octoberr 13, 2017 – A summer survey conducted by the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District shows the area around the fading mall has potential to grow if redeveloped. For CID executive director Joe Allen that means even if the mall itself sinks, the rest of the CID can thrive.
Installation of “don’t block the box” signs
September 18, 2017 – The Gwinnett County Department of Transportation in partnership with the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District recently installed 13 “Don’t Block the Box” signs and pavement markings to remind drivers to keep the intersections clear so traffic can flow smoothly.
Gwinnett’s community improvement districts: A commitment to future success and prosperity
September 18, 2017 – It’s a new sidewalk. It’s an improved intersection. It’s new landscaping. It’s a . . . Community Improvement District or CID, which includes all of these elements and more inside a specified geographical area.
Gwinnett Place CID finished second streetscaping phase near mall
September 24, 2017 – The Satellite Boulevard corridor near Gwinnett Place Mall is looking a little different these days. The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District has wrapped up the second phase of it’s streetscape improvement in the area around the mall.
Gwinnett Place CID completes second phase of streetscaping project
September 24, 2017 – The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District has completed phase two of its Satellite Boulevard streetscape project along both sides of Satellite Boulevard from Pleasant Hill Road to Old Norcross Road.
Gwinnett Place CID completes phase of streetscape improvements
September 21, 2017 – The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (GPCID) recently completed phase two of its Satellite Boulevard streetscape project that included the construction of pedestrian enhancements along both sides of Satellite Boulevard from Pleasant Hill Road to Old Norcross Road.
Gwinnett Place CID seeks image feedback
July 13, 2017 -The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District wants to find out what people who live, work and shop in the area really think about the community, so it is gathering feedback through an online survey this month. CID leaders know the mall itself doesn’t have a great reputation, but they will look to find out how much of that negative perception spreads to the surrounding area.
Gwinnett Place CID seeking survey responses
July 13, 2017 -“The Gwinnett Place CID wants to ensure the plans and changes we make going forward reflect the needs of the community of people who live, work and play in Gwinnett Place,” said Joe Allen, Executive Director of the Gwinnett Place CID.
Gwinnett Place CID officials want public input on area
July 7, 2017 – Is the Gwinnett Place area a good place, or does it need some work? That question is at the heart of a new online survey campaign by the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District to gather feedback from people in the area.
Gwinnett Place CID seeks participate from area in opinion survey
July 7, 2017 – Now is your chance to share your opinion about Gwinnett Place by taking a survey. The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (GPCID) is inviting the wider community to participate in a market research survey to share perceptions of the Gwinnett Place area as well as shopping and dining patterns.
Redevelopment: Planting the seeds of future success
June 26, 2017 – Twenty-one years ago, many of us were excited that the 1996 Summer Olympics tennis venue was in Gwinnett County at the edge of Stone Mountain Park.
Gwinnett Place Mall owner responds to criticism from business leaders
June 15, 2017 – Nick Massino was seated in the audience Thursday morning when someone asked the panel assembled before him what could be done to revive Gwinnett Place Mall.
County’s top economic official: Gwinnett Place Mall owners should be replaced. CID backs up frustrations about mall’s direction
June 16, 2017 – Years of frustration for local officials over the direction Gwinnett Place Mall has taken–came out to the forefront on Thursday when the count’s top economic development official said he wants the mall’s owners replaced.
Chamber official: Gwinnett Place Mall owner need to go
June 16, 2017 – The struggles of once proud Gwinnett Place Mall are no secret, and the shopping center’s current owner, Moonbeam Capital Investments, LLC, has thus for done little to stop the bleeding.
Gwinnett Place area hopes to reverse decline
May 22, 2017 – Gwinnett Place Mall’s name carries such a stigma that the group trying to revitalize the area around the mall won’t rule out a name change.
Building the next generation at the Gwinnett Place CID
April 27, 2017 – One a warm Georgia weekend in April, the parking lot of Gwinnett Place Mall filled with the sights, sounds and flavors of the 75 nationalities represented in Metro Atlanta.
Gwinnett Village, Gwinnett Place CIDs announce new board members
April 22, 2017 – Officials with the Gwinnett Place CID welcomed Kaiser Permanent Government and Community Relations Manager Trey Ragsdale and Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Customer Experience Director Craig Hudson to its board..
Gwinnett Place CID adds 2 new board members
April 25, 2017 – Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (GPCID) has elected two new board members during the annual Caucus of Electors as a part of its monthly board meeting.
Iconex opening corporate headquarters in Gwinnett Place CID
April 11, 2017 – A company that specializes in label and tracking technology is moving into a new location in the Gwinnett Place area.
Iconex announces relocation of corporate headquarters to Gwinnett County
April 11, 2017 – “The team at icon is thrilled to be making the transition to our new facility in Gwinnett Count,” said Eddie Nowl, CEO of Iconic. “We couldn’t have chosen a better business focused community where we can confidently carry out our mission of keeping commerce moving.”
Gwinnett Place CID works to improve walkability
April 11, 2017 – Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District has two innovative projects for 2017, one that will be completed this year, and another that extends to years down the road.
On the money; Leo Wiener with the Gwinnett Place CID
February 22, 2017 – Gwinnett Place’s commercial properties form the central business district of Gwinnett County, Georgia — a focal point for retail, office, shopping, dining and hospitality experiences. The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (GPCID) is a self-taxing district organized in March 2005 comprising 239 commercial properties.
Gwinnett Place hhgregg location among 88 set to close amid cutbacks
March 3, 2017 – The Gwinnett Place Mall area is losing another one of its national retail chains after appliance retailer Hhgregg announced Thursday that its Duluth store is one of 88 locations across the country slated for closure this spring.
The tale of a successful CID
March 3, 2017 – Gwinnett Place Mall near Duluth, just off Interstate 85, was “the center of the universe when it first opened,” remembers Joe Allen, executive director of the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (CID).
Small investment. Big improvement
February, 2017 – The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (CID) is a self-taxing district that uses additional property taxes to accelerate infrastructure improvements, security enhancements and economic development initiatives.
Connecting the dots. Community Improvement Districts along Atlanta’s eastern edge are working together to improve the whole region
February, 2017 – What once was a jewel left behind the 1996 Olympics, the old Olympic tennis center near Stone Mountain hasn’t host a tournament in years. While there were plenty of grand ideas along the way on how to use the facility after the close of the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, there was no money to fund them.
After a successful 2016, the Gwinnett Place CID looks ahead to further improvement projects
February 6, 2017 – Gwinnett County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S. At its center, the commercial properties at Gwinnett Place serve as a growing focal point for retail, office, shopping, dining and hospitality throughout the entire area.
Gwinnett Place wants county ok for new redevelopment plan
January 23,, 2017 – The new owner of Gwinnett Place mall says it has settled on a new redevelopment plan it will submit to the county officials in March.
Can Gwinnett’s ‘sad mall’ get its smile back?
January 23, 2017 – “Sad Mall” is what wife calls the place that used to be one of metro Atlanta’s go-to places to spend money..
Community voices: What is a CID and does it affect me?
January 23, 2017 – I hear a lot about community improvement districts lately, so I’ve been wondering how they might affect me as a resident of Gwinnett County.