Branch Properties plans to reimagine Gainesville’s Lakeshore Mall into a walkable, open-air destination. The mixed-use redevelopment will retain key retail tenants while introducing new residential and retail elements. The first step in the extensive, multi-year planning process is filing the Development of Regional Impact (DRI), which supports community input. 

Originally opened in 1970, Lakeshore Mall currently comprises 492,798 square feet of retail space. Dick’s Sporting Goods and Belk will remain active throughout the process, and Dick’s Sporting Goods will be relocated on the property. At full buildout, Branch proposes 305,444 square feet of retail space, 652 units of multifamily residential units and 38,200 square feet of outdoor community greenspace. Lakeshore will also have the capacity for a hotel and townhomes in future development. 

Branch Properties acquired the asset in 2022 and plans to break ground on the redevelopment in late 2026. Franklin Street’s Len Erickson will handle retail leasing in partnership with Branch Properties.

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Wellstone Health System has brought in The Integral Group to spearhead the effort to redevelop the shuttered Atlanta Medical Center. Construction will begin in the next few weeks.

The 22-acre campus vision includes a mixed-use neighborhood with affordable housing, residential properties, community and public green space, neighborhood-level retail, new street access, commercial uses, and health and well-being resources.

Over the next few weeks, Integral will develop an implementation plan and engage with neighbors and community stakeholders to gather further feedback. The revitalization effort will take place in phases over several years, with community input at every stage. In response to the neighborhood’s desire to see progress quickly, Integral expects to apply for permits soon with the goal of beginning the demolition of certain aging structures in the first quarter of 2025.

Wellstar closed Atlanta Medical Center in November 2022. Wellstar blamed the closure on falling revenue and increasing costs for staff and supplies.

Gwinnett County and CBRE are working together to redevelop the decaying Gwinnett Place Mall.

The county bought most of the Gwinnett Place Mall property for $23 million in April 2021. In February 2023, Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners approved a plan to redevelop the mall, voting to partner with CBRE on the project.

Most of the mall — with the exception of the Macy’s, Beauty Master and Mega Mart anchors — will be demolished, and the property will be redeveloped as a mix of new retail, a cultural center, green space and residential uses.

The former Sears anchor is privately owned by a luxury apartment developer who is expected to tear it down and build new housing.

The 20-year plan for the property has called for the property to get between 2,700 and 3,800 residential units, 55,000 square feet of new retail space, 50,000-square-foot of commercial office space, 12 acres of park space and a 50,000-square-foot cultural center.

Greystar was selected, along with the development firm’s nonprofit partner, Provident Resources Group, by the University of Washington’s Board of Regents to lease four University-owned student housing properties.

In addition to taking over management of the Nordheim Court and Radford Court buildings, Greystar will also redevelop Blakeley Village and Laurel Village into larger housing properties. CBRE’s Northwest multifamily team advised UW in its search for a developer.

Greystar began the preliminary permit process last month, submitting paperwork to redevelop the two older student housing properties which are located near the campus. Provident will serve as the lessee and borrow the proceeds of tax-exempt bonds to fund the redevelopment. 

Redevelopment plans include updating the 80-unit Blakeley Village into an approximately 1,000 single-student apartment property and transforming Laurel Village from an 80-unit student family building into a community of nearly 350 apartments. Both are expected to be completed by the summer of 2028.