As an economically challenging year comes to a close, signs of new life have begun to emerge in southwestern Gwinnett County along I-85. These signs of life are a direct result of efforts championed by the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District, or CID, through partnerships with the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce, county government and the city of Norcross.
In November, Wal-Mart announced plans to build a 150,000-square-foot superstore in the vacant Greens Corner Shopping Center, at the corner of Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Rockbridge Road. This investment will create 250 to 300 new jobs.
The shopping center, formerly a thriving hub of commerce in the early ’80s, was home for a number of small, independent businesses that originally were anchored by Kmart.
Since losing its anchor tenant many years ago, the center declined significantly, and has endured further disinvestment in the form of a 90 percent vacancy rate.
As the property declined over the years, the overall community suffered, too. Greens Corner Shopping Center became a hotbed for illegal dumping, graffiti and temporary nightclubs.
Perhaps that explains the excitement expressed by residents and business owners about Wal-Mart — a giant retailer whose plans to build in some communities garners groans and protest cries — developing the site.
Wal-Mart captured the vision of the resurgence in the community as outlined by the Gwinnett Village CID. That includes targeting vacant or struggling shopping centers and replacing them with new, more sustainable facilities. Wal-Mart officials indicated their excitement about the potential of this area of Norcross, and that spurred them to invest and address a hole in their retail scheme, even in tough economic times.
Wal-Mart plans to make improvements to specific failing infrastructure in the area. And a priority of the company’s redevelopment plans is to connect neighboring businesses and nearby residents. The company plans to fully demolish the site and connect the store and community with pedestrian-friendly amenities.
On the heels of the Wal-Mart announcement, Gwinnett County also celebrated the opening of Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas Inc., which brings 100 jobs to Norcross. Moreover, the Gwinnett Village CID eagerly awaits the opening of the new $55 million FedEx facility in 2012, with its 300 jobs.
The CID model focuses on leveraging investments as well as those of our local, state and federal partners to attract private capital that translates to redevelopment and increased employment opportunities. Construction will begin on several road, safety and pedestrian-related projects in the area, and trash and graffiti removal continues on a daily basis.
Crime is down for the fifth year in a row due to county, city and CID patrols.
As shown by Wal-Mart, the new wave of interest in the area gives us a peek into the future of a new urban activity-employment center in Norcross, where land use and mobility go hand in hand to provide a climate ripe for new business investment.
Chuck Warbington is executive director of the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District.
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