[adsanity id=”52748″ align=”aligncenter” /]

The vacant Macy’s store at North Dekalb Mall. Photo by Dan Whisenhunt

The DeKalb County Commission will soon have the opportunity to vote on zoning for a development that would tear down North DeKalb Mall and replace it with a Costco-anchored mixed-use project.

The Atlanta Regional Commission recently completed its review of the project as did the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority. Both organizations provided recommendations to improve pedestrian, transit and traffic access in and around the project.

The exact number of residences that will be included in the project is not clear. The original zoning application showed that the mall – which opened in 1965 – will be torn down and replaced with a mixed-use development that includes 500 multi-family residential units (450 apartments and 50 town homes) a 150-room hotel, 300,000 square feet of retail (including Costco), 46,000 square feet of restaurant space, a 14,500 square foot food hall and 50,000 square feet of office space.

Records obtained via the ARC say the project say the project will have 360 apartments and 45 town homes.

[adsanity_group num_ads=1 num_columns=1 group_ids=2447 /]

[adsanity id=”31844″ align=”aligncenter” /]

Attempts to clarify those numbers with an attorney for Sterling Organization, which owns the mall, have so far been unsuccessful.

The AMC movie theater will stay on the property, as will Burlington Coat factory and Marshall’s. The first stores could open as early as 2020.

Atlanta Regional Commission provided a lengthy list of comments for the developer to consider moving forward. To read the ARC’s recommendations, click here.

The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority also released recommendations for traffic improvements.

GRTA is requiring the developer to:

• Provide sidewalks along the property frontage along Lawrenceville Highway
• Provide sidewalks on both sides the east-west shopping center roadway
• Provide sidewalks on at least one side of Sweetbriar Road
• Provide pedestrian crosswalks along all driveways on Sweetbriar Road
• Provide a pedestrian crosswalk across Sweetbriar Road at the stairwell to Tract 2
• Provide direct pedestrian connections between all uses
• Provide a bus shelter along Sweetbriar Road, as coordinated and approved by MARTA

GRTA is also requiring the following roadway improvements:

• Intersection 8: North Druid Hills Road at Oak Tree Road
–   Northbound: Restrict existing driveway to restrict left-turns out
• Intersection 10: Lawrenceville Highway (US 29/SR 8) at Shopping Center
–  Eastbound: Restrict existing driveway to restrict left-turns out

To read the full decision by GRTA, click here.

To read the traffic study for the project, click here.

[adsanity id=32721 align=aligncenter /]

[adsanity id=33719 align=aligncenter /]