The state has completed the purchase of land for a new Alpharetta campus for Gwinnett Technical College that one day could serve up to 10,000 students, an education official confirmed Thursday.
The campus at Old Milton Parkway and Ga. 400 will be across the street from Avalon, a massive mixed-use development that is among the more closely watched projects in the metro area.
The Technical College System of Georgia approved Gwinnett Tech’s purchase of 25 acres for a north Fulton satellite campus in October. The site is expected to have four three-story instructional buildings and parking.
Gwinnett Tech currently has one campus in Lawrenceville and has more than 10,500 students, making it the third largest technical college in the system.
System spokesman Mike Light said the state paid about $6.2 million to buy the site from an affiliate of Avalon developer North American Properties. The Legislature last year approved $25 million to purchase land and build the campus, Light said. The land deal closed in late December. Construction on the campus could start later this year.
In addition to expanding Gwinnett Tech’s capacity, the planned north Fulton campus ultimately will serve as a gateway of sorts to Avalon and a source of young clientele for its attractions.
North American Properties said this week it will break ground on the $600 million retail and residential district Jan. 28.
The project, once called Prospect Park, stalled under its previous developer, Stan Thomas. North American Properties, the company behind the revival of Atlantic Station’s town center, took control of the property in 2011. The firm plans to build a town center with a luxury hotel, movie theater and Whole Foods grocery, plus apartments and single-family houses.
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