The Gwinnett Place Mall may have a completely new look before too long. The team that is working on development plans for the area has released the latest design idea. According to the latest plan, the mall would become more of a residential area, with less retail and office space than in earlier drafts.
The new mixed-use development was renamed “Global Villages” as a nod to the diverse community surrounding the area. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, more than 500,000 people are projected to move to Gwinnett County over the next two decades, making housing a necessary part of the project.
The design will include multi-family housing with seven “residential villages.” Each of the villages will contain plaza and trails to the central park. The development will center around a park and a cultural center that will host events and an international library.
Most of the current mall will be demolished, but Macy’s, Mega Mart and Beauty Master will remain in their buildings. The rest of the 90-acre site off Interstate 85 will include retail space, international restaurants and cultural stores. There will also be commercial office space.
A greenway trail would also be incorporated into the mix using a current road that circles the mall. The site would connect to the countywide trail network via McDaniel Farm Park and Venture Parkway.
The county is also studying a proposed bus rapid transit line that could link the site to the Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Sugarloaf arteries.
The project is estimated to take a decade to complete.
