More:(Dec. 3, 2019) - The Gwinnett County Convention and Visitors Bureau (GCVB)announced today that it is pausing the proposed mixed-use development on the campus of the Infinite Energy Center to reevaluate aspects of the project and select a new development partner. The venture was being developed in partnership with North American Properties Atlanta (NAPA), but both sides agreed to part ways as NAPA refocuses its efforts on other areas of its business.
The proposed Revel development was slated to be located next to the InfiniteEnergy Center in Duluth and was set to add 300,000 square feet of retail space, 865,000 square feet of office space and 900 apartments to the 118-acre campus. GCVB is committed to moving the project forward, once the reevaluation process is complete and a new development partner is selected.
Other activities currently in development on the campus of the Infinite Energy Center will proceed as planned. The GCVB is nearing completion of the second parking deck on the property, while moving forward with an expansion of the Infinite Energy Forum and construction of the adjacent Westin Atlanta Gwinnett Hotel, which is being built in partnership with Concord Hospitality.
“Sometimes the hardest decision involves not rushing an exciting project, but we are confident in this choice. We have one chance to get this right, and we are confident in the long-term viability of a mixed-use project on this site,” GCVB Chief Executive Officer Preston Williams said. “The response in the marketplace to what is happening on this campus has been extremely positive and we look forward to bringing on another development partner in the coming months to carry it through to completion. North American Properties helped us cast the vision for what this campus could become, and we are grateful for that, but we both agree that a new partner will be needed to carry it through to completion.”
“We are realigning our strategy to focus on the acquisition and repositioning of mixed-use destinations and the ground-up development of multifamily communities. North American Properties Atlanta has a significant track record of success in both areas,” said NAPA’s Mark Toro. “Gwinnett County has been a great partner and the future redevelopment around the Infinite Energy Center will be a wonderful addition for the residents of Gwinnett and the greater region. We wish everyone involved the very best and we will work closely with Gwinnett as we transition away from Revel. This has been a very difficult decision for NAPA; however, our strategic realignment requires we deploy our resources in different ways as we create community with the repositioning of existing mixed-use destinations rather than new ground-up retail development.”
The expansion of the Infinite Energy Forum will proceed as planned, which includes 60,000 additional square feet of meeting space, as well as upgrades to the convention space and ballroom, which will add capacity to the already busy facility that hosts more than 600 events and conferences per year bringing in nearly 1.2 million visitors. In addition, two new parking decks will be completed by the end of 2019, creating nearly 3,500 parking spaces to support events at the expanded convention and entertainment venue.
In January, Raleigh-based Concord Hospitality will break ground on the new four-star Westin Atlanta Gwinnett Hotel, which will feature 348 guest rooms, including 12 suites and a Presidential Suite offering guests a blend of comfort and sophistication. The hotel will offer 25,000 square feet of ultra-modern meeting and event space and a 12,000 square foot rooftop space, which will feature three separate bars, making it an ideal spot for private parties and large receptions, accommodating hundreds of guests.
"Concord Hospitality has been strategically expanding its footprint in the greater Atlanta market and we have had our sights set on finding the right location in Gwinnett County for some time. The success of bringing such a premier hotel brand like Westin to Gwinnett is a direct result of successful collaboration on the part of the county and the key leaders at the Infinite Energy Center, and the dedicated team within the Explore Gwinnett Tourism Office,” said Mark Laport, president and CEO of Concord. “We are proud to not only bring the Westin Atlanta Gwinnett Hotel to this vibrant area, but humbled by being part of adding both job growth and ongoing incremental economic impact through state and local tax revenue."
"The expansion of the Infinite Energy Center is an exciting project for Gwinnett County. A tremendous amount of work has gone into the planning and execution of the master plan for the business and entertainment center of our county," said GCVB Board Chair Richard Tucker. "We wish North American Properties Atlanta the very best as they move forward with other projects while welcoming Concord and Westin Hotels as they break ground on a flagship hotel for our campus. We remain excited and diligent in our continued efforts to expand the business and entertainment opportunities for the Infinite Energy Center."
Infinite Energy Center
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