Yesterday, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners adopted the Gwinnett Place Mall Site Revitalization Strategy for transforming the Gwinnett Place Mall site into a mixed-use development called Global Villages. The plan, which incorporated 18 months of extensive community outreach, dialogue and feedback as well as economic feasibility studies and analysis, was developed from a partnership between Gwinnett County, the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (CID) and consultant firm VHB.

“I want to thank the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners for their vision and support. Last night was the culmination of our shared efforts to create a roadmap for a vibrant and economically prosperous future for the mall site,” said Joe Allen, Executive Director - Gwinnett Place CID. “But now the real work begins as we continue our partnership to make the plan a reality.”

In total, the team engaged more than 3,000 people at in-person events throughout Gwinnett County and documented 3,624 online interactions as part of the outreach process. Global Villages incorporates the overarching feedback from the community, which included the following:

• Celebration and support of an international mix of cultures

• Redevelopment with multi-generational families in mind

• Development of a “live, work, play, and eat” community

• Creation of community gathering spaces

• Inclusion of 4-7 story buildings that support transit access

• Encouragement of authentic international restaurants and food incubators

• Inclusion of affordable office spaces for entrepreneurs and multicultural non-profits

• Health services for multi-generational families

• Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

• Infrastructure to support multiple modes of transit including trails, biking paths and sidewalks with wide landscaped buffers and lighting

• Greenspaces, including large central greenspaces, pocket parks, community gardens and green infrastructure incorporated along streets

• Affordable arts and cultural center with event and performance space

• Artist and food market spaces

• Creative playscapes for children

The resulting Global Villages is predominantly residential with modest amounts of new retail and office with an international culture and community center and central park space at the core. The Global Villages design will include:

• Residential: 2,700 – 3,800 new units

• Retail (new): 55,000 square feet (SF)

• Commercial (office): 50,000 SF

• Cultural center: 50,000 SF

• Parks: 12.7 acres