The Urban Redevelopment Agency of Gwinnett County has approved the $11.5 million purchase of the former Sears property at Gwinnett Place Mall, covering 11.5 acres. This acquisition, expected to close by the end of October, will bring the total land owned by the agency and Gwinnett County at the mall site to 87.5 acres.
Plans for redevelopment include creating a dense, mixed-use center that is connected and walkable while maintaining the area’s cultural diversity and character. The project also features the Gwinnett Place Transit Center, which was approved in March 2025 and is largely funded by the Federal Transit Administration. Completion of this transit center is projected for 2032.
“We’re building incredible momentum toward transforming this site into a hub for catalytic change and opportunity for our residents, entrepreneurs and businesses,” said Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson. “I’m proud of the purposeful progress we’re making and look forward to what’s ahead.”
This move supports goals outlined in Gwinnett County’s 2045 Unified Plan and follows recommendations from two public studies: the Equitable Redevelopment Plan and the Gwinnett Place Mall Site Revitalization Strategy. The Equitable Redevelopment Plan included eight months of community engagement with input from over 2,000 residents. The revitalization strategy involved collaboration among Gwinnett County, the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (CID), and the Atlanta Regional Commission.
“With this step, we’re excellently positioned to attract top development partners that will help us achieve our vision for this site,” said District 1 Commissioner Kirkland Carden. “This redevelopment will create economic opportunities for our residents and grow our county’s tax digest.”
The agency previously purchased a 39-acre portion of the mall in 2021 and another 23 acres on former Macy’s properties in 2024. CBRE, a global real estate services firm, has been selected as a partner to help align redevelopment strategies with community needs and market demand. CBRE will issue a nationwide request for proposals later this month to find suitable 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,” said County Administrator Glenn Stephens. “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.”
Gwinnett County continues to see steady growth in its population as reflected in its schools’ enrollment figures—there was less than a 0.1% increase during the 2022-23 school year compared to previous years (https://www.gadoe.org/). In that same period, county schools enrolled more than 190,000 students (https://www.gadoe.org/), with white students making up about 18% of those enrolled (https://www.gadoe.org/).
