During her March 6 State of the County address, Gwinnett County Chair Nicole Love Hendrickson said strong roots make the area a predictable place to raise a family and foster smart growth.
Hendrickson’s biggest announcement is a redevelopment opportunity in unincorporated southwest Gwinnett County at the corner of Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Interstate 85. The county-owned site, coined the future Gwinnett Gateway, is a 106-acre property just outside the city of Norcross.
“Gwinnett County has a history of proactively investing in sites with significant redevelopment potential and seeking partners to transform these underutilized spaces into vibrant places that foster economic growth and enhance quality of life,” Hendrickson said. “The Gateway Gwinnett site offers a tremendous opportunity for high-quality redevelopment that will contribute to the revitalization of the area.”
Gwinnett looks for redevelopment
The Gwinnett County Urban Redevelopment Agency, in partnership with global commercial real estate firm CBRE, is requesting proposals to redevelop the property.
The county acquired the property from fiber-optic cable manufacturer Lightera, formerly OFS, which will continue to operate its facility adjacent to the site, according to a press release.
County officials say the site is prime for redevelopment with assembled parcels within the Gateway 85 Overlay Zoning District and upgraded transportation access.
Project leaders envision the future Gwinnett Gateway as a “mixed-use destination.” High-rise buildings that promote higher density and mixed-income opportunities are preferred, while enhanced mobility options, pedestrian-oriented development, and placemaking are encouraged.
The county’s release says the property is located within a tax allocation district and state and federal opportunity zones, increasing the availability of substantial incentives to support large-scale investment, along with other local economic development incentives.
County’s foundations are strong
Hendrickson said Gwinnett’s fiscal discipline continues to position the county as one of the most stable local governments in the Southeast, highlighting its triple-A bond rating and commitment to maintaining all core services.
Hendrickson centered her address on the theme “Rooted in Gwinnett,” sharing her vision for continued economic stability, opportunity regardless of ZIP code, focused redevelopment, and public safety. She shared her story, arriving as a college student 20 years ago, planting roots, and growing her family.
More than 1,100 people attended the March 6 address at 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, including state and local elected officials, business leaders, residents, and the Shiloh Middle and High School Marching Band.
Hendrickson touted Partnership Gwinnett, a public-private, nonprofit economic development organization, that brought in more than 1,100 new jobs and about $395 million in capital investment last year.
Other programs, helping small businesses compete for county contracts and funding an entrepreneurial center, address additional workforce needs.
Chair wants ‘smart growth’
The address highlighted work to redevelop Gwinnett Place Mall, where the county is advancing plans to transform the former mall into a mixed-use destination with housing, retail, and green space.
Other long-term investments include the Rowen Foundation’s progress on the Convergence Center, the gateway to a 2,000-acre innovation district focused on collaboration across agriculture, medicine, and environmental sciences.
Hendrickson said the county is committed to long-term stability and sustainable economic development.
“There’s a perception that progress in Gwinnett requires the removal of our natural beauty,” she said. “Historical data show that as Gwinnett transitioned from rural farmland to suburban development, overall tree canopy declined. That’s part of our history, but over the past two decades, strengthened environmental standards and strategic investments have reversed that trend. We’re now adding canopy.”
Unified around public safety
Hendrickson held a moment of silence for Gwinnett County Police Officer Pradeep Temang, who was killed in the line of duty Feb. 1, and MPO David Reed, who is still recovering in the hospital.
“To Chief McClure and our command staff, thank you for leading this department in the storm,” she said. “Our police department will continue to protect this community with courage and resolve. We will not be deterred.”
Hendrickson said people across the country are searching for belonging and “confidence that the ground beneath their feet is firm,” which they can find in northeast metro Atlanta.
“The future of Gwinnett is not a distant dream; it’s a decision,” Hendrickson said. “So let us choose wisely, let us build boldly, and let us remain rooted in principle and united in purpose.”