Gwinnett approves $34M purchase of movie-making economic catalyst site

Gwinnett County is two steps closer to owning more than 100 acres of a Norcross-area property that could be the future home of a transit center, a large mixed-use development, future movie production — or all three. The Gwinnett Board of Commissioners and the county’s Urban Redevelopment Agency — which are made up of the same members — both held Tuesday night the necessary votes for Gwinnett’s purchase of 104 acres of property from fiber optics company OFS Brightwave Solutions to move forward. County officials have said they have no specific plans for the future of the sprawling site near Jimmy Carter Boulevard and I-85, saying only that they see it as an important piece of property and an economic development opportunity. If the $34 million sale is completed, the county does plan to have the film production that already takes place at the site to continue. In fact, officials hope such production will cover the county’s payments on the bonds being issued for the purchase. After a due diligence periods, the county hopes to close on the purchase by mid-December. It would then plan on issuing a “request for interest” from private developers. The Board of Commissioners voted to approve a resolution in support of the purchase of the OFS property. The Urban Redevelopment Agency then voted to approve the actual purchase agreement. District 4 Commissioner John Heard was the sole “no” vote in each instance.

COURTESY GWINNETT COUNTY County officials have said they have no specific plans for the future of the sprawling site near Jimmy Carter Boulevard and I-85, saying only that they see it as an important piece of property and an economic development opportunity.