The Alpharetta City Council has given the green light to a transformative project that will turn the aging North Point Mall into a bustling sports and entertainment district. This ambitious redevelopment, led by real estate firm Jamestown on behalf of owner New York Life, aims to create a year-round destination for community engagementcultural events and economic activity.
The project is expected to generate over $2 billion in construction spending and create more than 13,000 temporary jobs during the building phase. Additionally, it will add over 6,000 permanent jobs and significantly boost the local tax base.
Planning and Community Engagement
The approval process involved extensive community meetings, traffic and parking studies, public hearings, and reviews by city staff, the Planning Commission, and the City Council. The development team collaborated with community members and consultants to address concerns about transportationparkingpublic spacesdesign and construction phases.
Jamestown, Machete Group, and New York Life can now proceed with the planning, designing, and development of the project. HKS Architects will handle master planning and architectural design, while Kimley-Horn will provide civil engineering, traffic, and transportation services.
Key Features of the Redevelopment
The proposal includes a 20,000-seat NHL-ready arena and a 4,000-seat music hall and performing arts center. It also features a 2,000-seat community hockey rink and a 1,100-seat movie theater. The redevelopment will be built in phases if the NHL awards a franchise to the North Point site.
The plan includes a 35,000-square-foot hotel conference center and up to 650 hotel rooms across two hotels. It will also have about 565,000 square feet of retail and dining space. The mixed-use district will feature 1,385 multifamily rental units and more than 20 acres of public parks, plazas, and multi-use trails.
Georgia Square Mall Redevelopment: Community Concerns and Future Plans
Meanwhile, the redevelopment of Georgia Square Mall in Athens is facing its own set of challenges. The old mall model is no longer viable, and the redevelopment team, The Leaven Group, is working to create a mixed-use development that meets modern needs.
At a recent town hall meeting, residents expressed a desire for a mall similar to what they remember, but the developers emphasized the need for a more flexible and modern approach. The Athens-Clarke County government approved a binding site plan for a mixed-use planned development in 2026, but financing issues have arisen due to the restrictive nature of the plan.
The developers are now seeking a less restrictive overlay district that would allow them more flexibility in what they build and when. The revised version of the overlay district will come to the planning commission on September 3 for an up-or-down vote. The county commission will vote on the planning commission’s recommendation in October.
If approved, the developers will hire market specialists to research the types of housing, restaurants, and retailers to attract. The earliest date for construction to start would be the fall of 2027. The project will likely be built in phases over a long period, as market conditions dictate.
