Alpharetta receives grant for a walkable North Point neighborhood

This aerial photo from 1997 shows the sprawling North Point Mall in the background. The area around Ga. 400 would continue to grow and grow into one of metro Atlanta's most important arteries. (John Spink/AJC)

Credit: John Spink/AJC

Credit: John Spink/AJC

This aerial photo from 1997 shows the sprawling North Point Mall in the background. The area around Ga. 400 would continue to grow and grow into one of metro Atlanta's most important arteries. (John Spink/AJC)

Alpharetta plans to develop a pedestrian corridor near North Point Mall.

The city was awarded a $1.6 million grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission to improve a pedestrian section located on North Point Parkway between Mansell and Haynes Bridge Roads, a statement said. The city will add $400,000 to the project.

The final design will include wide sidewalks, bicycle paths, lighting and landscape enhancements.

The plans are part of the North Point Parkway Pedestrian Corridor Enhancements Project and the North Point Activity Center Livable Centers Initiative (LCI), a program that partners with the Atlanta Regional Commission.

The LCI is intended to create walkable, vibrant communities for residents with active lifestyles. Alpharetta officials want to create that type of neighborhood around North Point Mall’s nearly 900-acre landscape.

“This vision relies heavily on a series of pedestrian and multiuse trail connections that are needed to sustain and enhance the North Point District well into the future, and this grant is a big step forward in making that vision a reality,” Alpharetta’s Director of Community Development, Kathi Cook said.