The Urban Redevelopment Agency of Gwinnett County on Tuesday approved the $11.5 million purchase of the former Sears site at Gwinnett Place Mall, adding 11.5 acres to the County’s footprint in the area.
Gwinnett County officials said the acquisition, expected to close by the end of October, brings the total publicly owned land at the site to 87.5 acres.
The purchase is a major step toward the County’s plan to transform the aging mall into a dense, walkable, mixed-use hub that reflects the area's cultural diversity.
The redevelopment will also incorporate the future Gwinnett Place Transit Center, approved earlier this year and largely funded by the Federal Transit Administration. The center is scheduled to be completed in 2032.
“We’re building incredible momentum toward transforming this site into a hub for catalytic change and opportunity for our residents, entrepreneurs and businesses,” Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson said. “I’m proud of the purposeful progress we’re making and look forward to what’s ahead.”
The redevelopment supports Gwinnett County’s 2045 Unified Plan and is guided by two community-driven studies, the Equitable Redevelopment Plan and the Gwinnett Place Mall Site Revitalization Strategy, which gathered input from over 2,000 residents.
“With this step, we’re excellently positioned to attract top development partners that will help us achieve our vision for this site,” District 1 Commissioner Kirkland Carden said. “This redevelopment will create economic opportunities for our residents and grow our county’s tax digest.”
CBRE, a global real estate firm, is partnering with the County to lead the developer selection process. A nationwide request for proposals (RFP) is expected to launch later this month to attract top-tier development partners.
“Partnering with CBRE will accelerate our redevelopment process and ensure visibility among the type of world-class partners we are seeking in Gwinnett,” County Administrator Glenn Stephens said. “By leveraging the resources of local government and a best-in-class private sector partner, we will ensure the redevelopment of the Gwinnett Place Mall site meets the Gwinnett standard.”
