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Owners outline residential‑focused vision for Northlake Mall parcel; council presses for master plan
Summary
Representatives for Northlake Mall presented an incremental redevelopment concept that would add up to 495 multifamily units on an 11‑acre northeast pod and a new one‑acre green space; council welcomed the concept but emphasized the need for a comprehensive PUD/master plan to ensure mixed uses and walkability.
Representatives of the Northlake Mall ownership team briefed Tucker City Council on June 23 on high‑level redevelopment concepts focused on introducing a residential component to the mall site.
Jim Webb, speaking for the ownership and development partners, described a phased concept for the mall's northeast quadrant: "We're talking about adding multifamily to the mall—495 units in total through three buildings," he said, describing phase 1 as two 5‑story buildings totaling about 315 units and phase 2 as one 5‑story building of roughly 180 units. Webb said the proposed density on the phases would be roughly 45–51 units per acre on the 11‑acre pod under discussion.
The ownership team emphasized incremental redevelopment tied to placemaking: a new green space of about an acre, streetscape improvements, pedestrian connections to the Tucker Trail and repurposing some anchor footprints (including partial demolition of JCPenney) to create a "live, work, play" environment. Webb said there was no pending application at the time and described the presentation as an early‑stage concept intended to solicit council input.
Council members welcomed residential ideas but repeatedly urged a comprehensive master‑planning approach before approving piecemeal entitlements. The mayor and council asked the owners to pursue a coordinated PUD or master plan for the entire site rather than isolated approvals that could yield a largely residential campus without supporting amenities. "We want to know what else is going to follow," the mayor said, stressing a need for clarity on complementary uses, infrastructure commitments, and long‑term phasing.
Owners said they are prepared to pursue a master plan and PUD process but also noted timing constraints; they described a parallel approach that could allow a faster entitlement for a residential pod (via special land use permit/SLUP) while preparing a more robust PUD/master plan that would involve a Division of Redevelopment Impact (DRI) review and take longer.
Council members pressed for a vision that prioritized walkability, mixed uses, and active public spaces rather than a parking‑dominated redevelopment; they also raised questions about parcels outside city limits (the Macy's parcel at the front of the site) and legal/annexation implications. Staff said the city is open to a collaborative master‑planning process and reiterated that a proposed PUD would be the appropriate route for a large, mixed‑use redevelopment.
Owners and council agreed to continue discussions. Staff and the ownership team said they would follow up with a package that captures council preferences for incorporation into a future master plan or entitlement application.
