North Point Redevelopment Will Not Move Forward Without NHL Team, Jamestown Says
Alpharetta’s North Point Mall redevelopment depends on landing an NHL team, Jamestown confirms after city zoning approval. No construction will start soon as planning continues quietly.
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Alpharetta’s newly approved vision for North Point Mall will not proceed in its current form unless the National Hockey League awards an expansion franchise to the site, Jamestown has confirmed to North Atlanta Star.
“The approved proposal will not move forward without an NHL team,” Frances Bohn, director of development and construction at Jamestown, said in written responses to the Star.
The statement draws a firm line between the Alpharetta City Council’s recent zoning approval and the beginning of an actual redevelopment. Although the vote cleared the proposed mix of uses, Jamestown does not intend to build the residential, retail, office and entertainment district presented to the city as a stand-alone project without its central arena and hockey component.
If the NHL does not select North Point, Jamestown would have to develop a different concept and seek approval from Alpharetta again.
“While we cannot say definitively what a new plan would look like if the NHL does not choose to expand to Atlanta, the site is still primed for a mixed-use destination with residential, office, retail, entertainment concepts and community gathering components,” Bohn said. “We would need to revisit our design plans and come back to the city of Alpharetta with an updated plan for review and approval.”
What Happens Next at North Point
Alpharetta City Council voted 4-3 following an Aug. 24 public hearing to approve zoning changes for the nearly 99-acre property. The plan envisions an approximately 20,000-seat arena, a 4,000-seat music and performing arts venue, two hotels, offices, shops, restaurants, 1,385 rental homes and 26 acres of parks, plazas and trails.
The approval allows Jamestown to begin the next stage of pre-development, including design, infrastructure planning and permitting. Teams will also conduct what Bohn described as “non-invasive site work” connected to the preliminary planning process.
That work will largely remain behind the scenes. Residents should not expect demolition, construction or another major physical transformation of the mall during the coming year.
“No major changes will take place over the next year,” Bohn said. “The mall will be open and operating as usual while behind-the-scenes planning progresses.”
The mall also plans to continue community programming, including North Point Mall Fall Fest on Oct. 17, the return of Santa during the holiday season and other seasonal events.
Construction Remains at Least a Year Away
The zoning decision has not accelerated the anticipated construction schedule. Jamestown said redevelopment activity is not expected for another year and could take longer, with no construction start date established.
If the NHL awards a franchise to the North Point group, the development would unfold in phases rather than opening all at once. Individual components would begin operating on a rolling basis, and the project could take approximately a decade to complete because of its size.
The NHL has not awarded an expansion franchise to metro Atlanta or announced that North Point will receive a team. The Alpharetta proposal is also competing with The Gathering at South Forsyth, another arena-centered development planned several miles north along the Ga. 400 corridor.
Jamestown was selected by mall owner New York Life earlier this year to lead pre-development work and pursue the approvals needed for an arena-centered district. The company’s original announcement described the property as a potential mixed-use destination designed specifically to attract an NHL franchise.
For shoppers and nearby residents, the immediate future will look far more ordinary than the renderings presented during the rezoning process. North Point Mall will continue operating, planning will advance out of public view, and the larger transformation will remain tied to a decision that has yet to come from the NHL.
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