Partnership Gwinnett and the Council for Quality Growth hosted the 12th annual Metro Atlanta Redevelopment Summit, presented by Northside Hospital, at Studio Movie Grill in Duluth on Oct. 13. More than 200 business, community and industry leaders attended the premier regional redevelopment event that awards industry leaders, highlights current projects and shares revitalization best practices and trends.

“Projects around the region are improving peoples’ lives and enhancing our sense of place and it’s an exciting time to be a Metro Atlanta resident,” said Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson. “I can promise you that the Board of Commissioners are making intentional investments in the future of Gwinnett, which will no doubt yield significant returns for the entire region.”

The awards ceremony recognized exceptional projects that have a significant economic impact and honored an individual who has dedicated their career to successfully advancing redevelopment:

Small Redevelopment of the Year (less than 1 acre) – Woodstock Downtown Development Authority for Made Mercantile, a creative collaborative space for retailers to produce and test product
Finalists: 12Hundred Studios, Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center, Old Town Splash Pad and StillFire Brewing and Station Park
Medium Redevelopment of the Year (1 to 9 acres) – Paces Properties for Atlanta Dairies, a mixed-use development with dining, entertainment, office, residential and retail space
Finalists: Empire Stein Steel, The Grove at Towne Center, Lawrenceville Arts Center and Stockbridge Amphitheater
Large Redevelopment of the Year (more than 10 acres) – Suwanee Downtown Development Authority and Terwilliger Pappas for Solis I and II, a mixed-use development with dining, office, parking, residential and retail space
Finalists: Clayton County Public Schools Arena, Empire Zephyr, Hugh Howell Marketplace Center and Westside Paper
Redevelopment Champion Hall of Fame – Lyn Menne, retired assistant city manager for the City of Decatur and executive director for Legacy Decatur, developed Decatur 101 and helped form the Decatur Arts Alliance, Business Association and Education Foundation during her 36-year career with the city and now oversees a foundation that creates and supports a positive legacy for Decatur

“Community redevelopment creates a sense of place, enriching and supporting the entire region,” said Partnership Gwinnett Vice President Andrew Carnes. “We congratulate the award winners and finalists and appreciate their dedication to driving economic prosperity in Metro Atlanta.”

The event also featured ongoing redevelopment projects in the City of Fayetteville, City of Austell and City of Douglasville, as well as two panel discussions and a keynote speech. The Deconstructing Malls into Unique Opportunities Panel discussed how to develop a shared vision and overcome challenges while the Using Art for Community Development Panel explored how to create policies and positively impact residents. The Art of Downtown Revitalization Keynote delivered by Jessica Worthington with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs shared how downtown development creates a sense of place and improves quality of life, as well as how the Main Street Approach guides communities through the revitalization process.

“Our state has one of largest and most robust main street programs in the country, contributing more than 15% of the total impact,” Worthington said. “I will hold our community against another community any day.”