Gwinnett County has made a decisive move in the transformation of the Gwinnett Place Mall area by finalizing the purchase of Macy's properties at the site. The Urban Redevelopment Agency of Gwinnett County has acquired the 23-acre department and furniture store properties for $16.5 million as part of a broader plan to redevelop the mall into a mixed-use complex. With this purchase, as reported by Gwinnett County's official news release, the authorities now control a total of 76 acres at the mall's location.
The county's ambitions are clear: to quickly and effectively redevelop the aging mall site. "We are thrilled to officially secure the Macy's properties at Gwinnett Place Mall as we continue to make rapid and deliberate forward progress in the site’s redevelopment," said Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson, emphasizing their commitment to the area's future, as stated in the county's official news release. This latest acquisition aims to attract top development partners in the coming year, with a collective effort to revitalize the urban space for both residents and local businesses.
Community engagement has played a significant role in shaping the vision for the mall. Two public input studies, the Equitable Redevelopment Plan and the Gwinnett Place Mall Site Revitalization Strategy, identified the needs and aspirations of the surrounding area. The findings from these studies helped inform the approach towards creating a more prosperous community through the redevelopment project.
"This acquisition is yet another exciting milestone for the future of our community," Gwinnett County District 1 Commissioner Kirkland Carden told the county's news outlet. The official expressed optimism that the revitalization will positively affect local residents and businesses through the new economic opportunities and revenue streams it is expected to generate. In pursuit of this vision, Gwinnett County is set to collaboratively work with global real estate services firm CBRE to finely tune its redevelopment strategies and plans.
The process of selecting a development partner is anticipated to begin in 2025, with Gwinnett County planning to send out a nationwide request for proposals in the first quarter. Until early 2025, Macy’s department and furniture stores will continue to operate from their current locations at the mall under a leaseback arrangement with Macy's, ensuring a seamless transition as the redevelopment takes shape.
