Six companies have expressed interest in developing a new commercial district at Gwinnett County’s Infinite Energy Center in Duluth.
The county hopes to create a mix of retail, residential and office space at the 104-acre site off Sugarloaf Parkway near I-85. The Gwinnett Convention & Visitors Bureau, which runs the facility for the county, recently solicited qualifications from interested developers.
CEO Preston Williams told the bureau’s board of directors this week that five of the six companies that responded have agreed to present their qualifications at a meeting in June.
Williams said he could not name the companies because it’s too early in the selection process. But local developer Brand Morgan recently told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution he is involved with a group that expressed interest.
Infinite Energy Center is home to a 13,000-seat arena, a convention center, an exhibition hall, a ballroom and a 700-seat performing arts center. Nearly 1.3 million people attended events there in 2015.
Gwinnett has long hoped to create a commercial development there. A master plan calls for restaurants, retail shops, apartments, condominiums and offices. It also envisions a pedestrian-friendly entertainment district anchored by a “great lawn.”
The proposed commercial district is just part of the county’s plan to develop the area.
The Board of Commissioners recently approved plans for the Sugarloaf Community Improvement District. The district would initially include 43 commercial properties near the intersection of Sugarloaf Parkway and I-85. The owners have agreed to pay an extra property tax to pay for transportation, landscaping and other improvements.
About the Author
