Wednesday, March 2, 2022

[UPDATE] New Owner Reveals New Plans For North Point Mall

Trademark Property Company announced Wednesday its plans for the redevelopment of North Point Mall, now branded as simply “North Point.”  Similar to the recently revealed plans for the redevelopment of North DeKalb Mall, Trademark intends to introduce a "walkable street network" with greenspace and new mixed-use buildings to enhance and better activate the sprawling property. Under the plan, a large portion of the existing mall will be demolished, while the remaining exterior facades and interior spaces will be renovated and open out to create a more inviting experience.   Plans also call for reducing the amount of surface parking and transforming it into new streets, green spaces, trail way links and buildings.    

North Point Mall, developed by Homart Development Company, a subsidiary of former anchor Sears,  first opened in late 1993 and at the time was one of the largest malls in the county.  North Point featured more than 1.3 million square feet of retail space, five anchor stores at opening and more than 7,000 parking spaces.  

ToNeTo Atlanta wrote about North Point Mall in 2014, at the time the mall was celebrating its 21st birthday.  

Today North Point Mall is anchored by Dillard's, Macy's, Von Maur, JCPenney and a 12-screen AMC Theatres multiplex.  Of the current anchors, JCPenney is least likely to be part of the redevelopment.  JCPenney announced plans in May 2020 to close almost 30% of its then 846 stores as part of a restructuring under bankruptcy protection. Since then, 175 stores have permanently closed, including eight in Georgia including the one at Northlake Mall in Tucker.  Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (a sibling entity of former North Point Mall owner Brookfield Property Partners, LP) and Simon Property Group purchased JCPenney out of bankruptcy in late 2020.  

Among the updates planned for the re-imagined "North Point" are several outdoor areas including a 10,500 square foot "event plaza" that can accommodate more than 2,500 concertgoers.  Also planned are interactive water features, intimate pocket parks with art and soft seating, a village green space with outdoor dining and a variety of meandering paths and gardens, including a food and beverage garden with "a specimen tree."  The project is also expected to include a so-called "Sustainable Park" that collects and redistributes storm water.  

The first phase of the redevelopment is expected to deliver 85,200 square feet of new retail, restaurant, and service space, a 50,000 square-foot retail/entertainment anchor space, a 15,000 square-foot food hall, 25,000 square feet of entertainment space, 25,000 square feet of creative office/coworking space, and 320 multifamily residential units. 

Upon completion, the new "North Point" will introduce up to 315,700 square feet of new retail, restaurant, and creative office space, 120,000 square feet of office space, a 150 key hotel, 17+ acres of civic/amenity space, 36 townhomes and 900 multifamily residential units.  

Trademark has organized the master plan in three distinctive yet connected districts, designated as The Neighborhood, Village and Station. 

"'The Village is fun and full of social activity and takes the place of the demolished portion of the mall. The strategy for the Village is to design buildings that blend the old and new together. The pedestrian experience will be enlivened with patios, soft seating and covered outdoor space."

"The Neighborhood represents the residential experience, where the greatest amenity is being connected to the social village environment. Residents will enjoy connectivity with the AlphaLoop and the network of sidewalks and trails throughout the property. The sidewalk environment is to be brought to life with varied storefronts, signage and outdoor seating that creates unique design aesthetics throughout the neighborhood."

"The Station, the largest of the three districts, serves as the commercial hub and fronts North Point Circle. The Station plays a critical role in bridging the new East Entry and Event Plaza with the Village and Neighborhood. This is where the largest events will happen on property, such as seasonal festivals, farmers' markets and art fairs. Another key feature of the Station is the Great Porch, which will serve to transition the enclosed mall with the outdoor environment."     

The release shed limited light on any estimated timeline for the project saying only that it will be "developed in multiple phases over the next decade."  ToNeTo Atlanta sought further clarification as to when things might start to take shape and was told "a project of this size and scope will take years to complete, and we will have a better understanding of a timeline once Trademark completes the approval process with the city."  

While local residents will seemingly have to wait several years for anything significant to change at North Point Mall itself, several other nearby openings are far more imminent.  

Popular Malaysian restaurant Food Terminal plans to open their new North Point Parkway location [in a former Fuddruckers] March 8.  Tony's Sports Grill plans to open later this month in the former Hudson Grill building near PF Chang's. Bolay, a Florida-based quick-serve restaurant that is making its Atlanta area debut near North Point, plans to open their new outpost later this spring.  Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar will open third Atlanta area restaurant late this year at the corner of Haynes Bridge Road and North Point Parkway.  These restaurants are in addition to new locations of Cava, a rebuilt Chick-fil-A and a relocated Studio Movie Grill which have opened in recent months near North Point Mall.   

Are you excited for the changes planned for North Point Mall?  What types of tenants would you like to see added to North Point?  What is your fondest memory of North Point Mall in its heyday?  

Please share your thoughts below.  

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Over the years Northpoint Mall has been one of my favorite malls. I'm not excited about the changes to the mall area but I understand it is no longer viable as a mall. I haven't lived close enough to any of these new outdoor retail/living/concert areas to know if I would like it.
I bet parking will be an issue.
I miss the Northpoint Mall as it was 20 years ago with the different variety of stores.

Anonymous said...

I would be excited about the Northpoint development if I could live there but these kinds of places are unaffordable for most people. I hope they retain some of the department stores and Build a Bear. I can't believe how quickly Avalon ruined Northpoint... along with internet shopping.

Anonymous said...

So strange…. Me and my partner at the time moved to Atlanta to help open stores in 94 in Northpoint, Me County Seat stores and him JCPenney. It was fun to be involved in such a huge development at that time. My how times have changed…..

Anonymous said...

All the malls are becoming "Avalon"-ized

Anonymous said...

Not everyone can afford to shop at Avalon and parking is so difficult, I avoid it at all costs.

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