Major Redevelopment Planned for Gwinnett County, Georgia

A massive redevelopment project along Georgia's Buford Highway "will unite the diverse city of Norcross with new homes, retail, parks and office space, if all goes to plan, officials say." Tyler Wilkins reports on the proposal, which could start construction as early as next year, but "could take anywhere from 10 to 20 years to complete."

To prepare the area for anticipated development, the "Norcross City Council unanimously approved a high-level guide for the properties located near the road from Jimmy Carter Boulevard to Beaver Ruin Road." City officials "hope to attract nearly 1,000 apartment units and townhomes, some with luxury price points and others more affordably priced" to the area, with the plan also calling for "mixed-use buildings with residential units, office and retail space and stormwater parks."

The full cost of the plan is as yet unclear, but William Corbin, economic development director for Gwinnett city, says that "developers will front most of the bill." Meanwhile, "[o]fficials plan to apply to a variety of federal, state and local funding sources to pay for city-managed projects like streetscape enhancements, parks and trails." Supporters of the plan see it as an engine for future economic growth.

"Norcross is one of the most racially and ethnically diverse cities in Gwinnett County, which is the most diverse county in the state." With the highway serving as an "unofficial divider" between the historic downtown and lower-income households, "[c]ity leaders say they want to repurpose the highway to unify their residents rather than divide them."