North DeKalb Mall to be demolished
North DeKalb Mall is expected to be demolished in late 2023 to make way for a new multi-use development dubbed Lulah Hills, according to developer EDENS.
National real estate owner and developer EDENS also announced the change in name from North DeKalb Mall to Lulah Hills, a 73-acre mixed-use redevelopment project in north Decatur, on May 11. The developer said the project will bring “significant economic activity and strengthened connectivity for the area.”
A news release states that the proposed Lulah Hills development will total 2.5 million square feet, including 320,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, 1,700 multifamily units, 100 townhomes, a 150-room hotel, and a Path Foundation trail connection to Emory University.
Demolition of the mall is expected to begin later this year and initial phases of the project should be completed by 2025, according to the developer. DeKalb County Board of Commissioners previously approved the project and rezoned the property to fit the project in 2022.
“Lulah Hills is the evolution of community. When it opened in 1965, North DeKalb Mall was a pioneering retail achievement, a one-stop shop for commerce and entertainment under one roof,” said EDENS Managing Director Herbert Ames. “With our redevelopment, we are designing a retail-focused, mixed-use destination that reflects the character of this community and inspires those who visit.”
Lulah’s developer said that North DeKalb Mall was the first fully enclosed mall open for business in Atlanta in 1965. EDENS acquired the property in 2021 and “found success in moving the project forward by engaging closely with the surrounding community to ensure the vision aligned with their priorities and those outlined in the DeKalb County Comprehensive Plan,” according to the news release.
“This place will once again enrich [this] community through innovative design, thoughtful curation and active engagement, just as it was known for almost 60 years ago,” added Ames. “We look forward to our continued partnership with DeKalb County, Decide DeKalb, and this community.”
EDENS also owns and operates approximately 1.5 million square feet of retail in the Atlanta area, including Toco Hills, Merchants Walk, Andrews Square, Buckhead Marketplace, Moores Mill, and Park Place.
