The vacant Macy’s store at North Dekalb Mall. Photo by Dan Whisenhunt
By Dan Whisenhunt
The developer behind the redevelopment of North DeKalb Mall has big plans for the project.
Due to the project’s size, it will have to be vetted as a Development of Regional Impact by the Atlanta Regional Commission. The developer’s application, filed on Jan. 24, reveals new details about plans for the mall.
The developer, Edens, wants to create a mixed-use development with retail, a hotel, apartments and town homes. The developer plans for 300,000 square feet of retail space, 200,000 square feet of office space, a 150-room hotel, 1,700 apartment units and 100 town homes. The project’s estimated completion date is 2028.
Edens so far has declined to discuss the project with the media. Decaturish received a Zoom link to a meeting with the community held a few weeks ago from County Commissioner Ted Terry, but was asked to leave the meeting because the press hadn’t been invited.
Previously, Terry said he hoped the project would be an overall boon to the community.
“We want to see something that is going to be walkable, connected to the neighborhoods, something that’s going to be a community benefit, as opposed to a place for people to drive in and drive out of,” Terry said. “It’s got to have connectivity to the neighborhoods.”
Edens bought the North DeKalb Mall property last year and hopes to succeed where other developers have failed over the years. Edens is the same real estate developer that owns the Toco Hills Shopping Center on North Druid Hills Road.
The mall came close to a massive redevelopment back in 2018, which would’ve been anchored by a Costco. But that fell through.
The 2018 plan, which also required evaluation as a development of regional impact, was much smaller in comparison with what Edens is proposing. That plan proposed 425 apartments and 40 to 50 town homes.
Most of the mall’s tenants are now gone.
Since 2018, the mall has been used as a location for filming movies and TV shows. The empty parking lot has also attracted drag racers.
Read the original story on Decaturish.com.
