Preview Event Thursday For Redevelopment Of North Point Area

ALPHARETTA, GA — The future of the North Point area will be on display this week as the city of Alpharetta moves forward with plans to update the area.

The City of Alpharetta is hosting an event on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 5-8 p.m. to celebrate and showcase plans for the revitalization of Alpharetta’s North Point District, the area centered around North Point Mall.

In 1993, with the opening of North Point Mall, the area of Alpharetta centered on North Point Parkway from Mansell Road to Haynes Bridge Road became a regional destination; drawing thousands of people each week to work, shop, play, and most recently live.

Until recently, what the city calls the North Point Activity Center served as the community’s primary shopping and dining destination. While the district continues to be a destination, however, new competitors are drawing more attention and its auto-focused design with oceans of parking lots has become less appealing to consumers seeking pedestrian-friendly experience centers, the city said.

In 2008, the city embarked on a planning project designed to create a future vision for the North Point Activity Center. The focus of that effort was on improving pedestrian connectivity and making better use of land that was currently occupied by large parking lots that were designed for peak Holiday shopping season. The city's hope was to get ahead of the coming tide of competition from mixed-use developments that were not yet on the horizon, experiential lifestyle centers such as Avalon.

Unfortunately, at a time when North Point Mall was attracting new and exciting tenants, when the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater was just opening, and residential development was beginning to occur, few residents and property owners saw a need for a new vision, the city said.

Still, the planning effort forged ahead, and the first North Point Livable Center Initiative was born. While the plan has had some influence on development within the district, however, its largest impact has been seen in pedestrian enhancements along Encore Parkway and a new bridge over Ga. 400.

The concepts for the area, classified as an “Eco-District”, will be on display, along with fun, social activities for the whole community. Free hot air balloon rides will offer a glimpse of the entire area set for redevelopment from 60-100 feet, while a bike riding track, a rock climbing wall, food and beverage vendors, and other fun activities will offer a sneak peek of the many concepts the community can expect once the refresh is complete.

“We are excited about what the development and placemaking plan will bring to the community of Alpharetta, as more people are looking for mixed-use spaces that prioritize pedestrian, bicycle and greenspace connections,” said City of Alpharetta Director of Community Development, Kathi Cook. “Development that prioritizes pedestrian infrastructure is attractive to residents as well as employees within a district. The North Point Eco-District will offer a new type of community experience, focused around sustainable building materials and landscaping, pedestrian and bicycle connections and creating additional greenspace.”

For more information about the vision for the North Point District, visit www.alpharetta.ga.us/lci.

The event is sponsored by the City of Alpharetta, the Alpharetta Convention & Visitors’ Bureau, the Atlanta Regional Commission, Accesso, Brixmor, The Providence Group, North Point Mall, CBRE Global Investors, Ashton Woods, Kimley Horn, and MKSK.