The One Northlake Plan survey has received input from over 1,000 participants since its launch in August. The survey, interactive map, and comment board received thousands of views and interactions covering topics ranging from housing and transportation to green space and redevelopment opportunities. The full results of the survey will be shared at a public information open house at Tucker City Hall on October 1.
Since the 1970s, the Northlake area has been the largest retail and commercial hub along the eastern I-285 corridor between Dunwoody and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The decline of shopping malls nationally and the rise of online shopping have changed the consumer experience, but the strength of the location and the spending capacity of the surrounding residential community have not waned.
Nearly 90% of those who participated in the survey live nearby.
“It’s no surprise that people care about the area,” said Matthew Lee, executive director of the Tucker-Northlake Community Improvement District. “Through the One Northlake Plan, we’ve given them an opportunity to have a voice in determining its future. By including an interactive map and a public comment board we have allowed people to identify specific problems and opportunities in their own words. “The interactive map and a open ended public comment board have given people space share specific problems and opportunities in their own words.”
Regional planning for the area began in the 1960s in preparation for the construction of I-285, the new bypass to divert freight and other traffic away from downtown Atlanta. Investors quickly understood the opportunity to create retail and employment destinations on the new perimeter, including along Lavista Road in Tucker.
Aerial images of the Northlake District in 1952, 1968, 1972, and 2002. Select any image to enlarge.
One of the biggest questions residents have had for years “What will happen to Northlake Mall?” was answered in part this summer when The Centurion Foundation acquired the majority of the property to support the expansion of Emory Healthcare. The purchase has effectively taken most of Northlake Mall out of the market for retail space. Centurion’s forthcoming investment in the property will not only bring more Emory employees to the area, but also allow broader planning efforts and public attention to shift toward the surrounding properties.
The One Northlake Plan is helping people redefine the perception of “Northlake” as a larger commercial and residential area rather than just the Mall. Residents in the area are moving beyond nostalgia for what once was, and beginning to envision a better future that is within reach.
The public information open house will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Tucker City Hall, 1975 Lakeside Pkwy Ste 350, Tucker, GA 30084. Ongoing updates can be found at onenorthlake.com.
