Gwinnett Commissioners have given their approval to an updated plan, backed by Falcons star Julio Jones, to bring a mixed-use development to a 16 acre property adjacent to the Mall of Georgia in Buford.
The new site plan (pictured) includes adjusted conditions, which commissioners approved 4-0 at a public hearing Tuesday evening, with District 4 Commissioner John Heard abstaining.
The updated application now includes a four-story hotel, instead of the originally planned 25-story building, which would have been the tallest building in Gwinnett County, along with 285 luxury apartments, down from an original figure that exceeded 500.
"I'm told the hotel operator [has been] lined up. It's a national brand, a national flag, a high end hotel. They are ready to come online as soon as possible," said Shane Lanham, a lawyer representing the developer.
The new plans also includes a trail head to the Ivy Creek Greenway, something originally left out of the initial plans. Developers are planning to add amenities like water fountains and places for dogs to get a drink, too.
"We see the greenway as an amenity that not a lot of folks are using," said Lanham.
A few other tweaks were also thrown in, to reflect the smaller scale of the $200 million development, including a restriction that no more than 5-percent of the apartments be three-bedroom units (down from 8-percent) and complete prohibitions on drive-thru windows and extended stay hotels.
Another change came to the ground-level units, which will now be designed to commercial occupancy standards. They will initially be marketed as loft-style apartments for lease, but can eventually be turned into commercial units.
Designers are also changing the plans to try to "hide" parking in the complex, making it so that buildings will be facing the streets, instead of parking spots.
