- Trammell Crow Residential, part of Crow Holdings, has proposed a 495-unit apartment development on 11 acres at Northlake Mall in Tucker, Georgia.
- The proposal marks a significant shift toward residential-led mixed-use redevelopment at aging malls in the Atlanta metro area.
- Tucker City Council is cautious about approving the housing component without a comprehensive master plan for the entire 1M SF site.
A New Life For Northlake Mall
Crow Holdings is the latest developer targeting metro Atlanta’s struggling malls for residential reuse, reports The Real Deal. Its multifamily arm, Trammell Crow Residential, has filed plans for 495 apartments across three five-story buildings on a northeast section of Northlake Mall. The 11-acre project, located near the former food court, is positioned as an early catalyst for broader redevelopment.
Retail To Residential, One Step At A Time
Dallas-based ATR Corinth Partners owns the 1M SF property, which opened in 1971 and was once the largest mall in the Atlanta area. The site has seen incremental change since ATR acquired it in 2016 from Simon Property Group—most notably Emory Healthcare’s 2020 lease of 200K SF in former Sears and Kohl’s space.
But the latest move toward multifamily housing raised concerns from the Tucker City Council. City officials expressed skepticism about greenlighting standalone residential use without a full master plan. Mayor Frank Auman said approving the apartments in isolation could set a precedent that leads to piecemeal residential takeover.
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Bigger Trend, Bigger Questions
An attorney for the mall’s ownership group called multifamily “the savior for most malls,” citing the role residential plays in revitalization. Still, Tucker leadership remains wary.
The proposed apartments at Northlake would follow the example set by other mall conversions across the metro:
- Gwinnett Place Mall: 3,800 homes in the pipeline.
- North DeKalb Mall: 1,800 homes planned.
- Lakeshore Mall (Gainesville): 650 apartments and a mixed-use master plan.
Why It Matters
With many aging malls struggling to remain viable retail destinations, developers and landlords are increasingly turning to multifamily components to drive foot traffic, revenue, and long-term value. But success often hinges on municipal alignment—and full-site planning.
What’s Next
Crow Holdings must convince Tucker’s city leaders or present a full redevelopment plan before moving forward with the apartment project. Either way, Northlake Mall is part of a growing national trend where obsolete retail is reimagined as mixed-use housing hubs.
