Brand Tweaks Large Buford Development Pitch, Adds More Commercial Space

Brand Properties is headed back to county officials to change its development plans for a wooded parcel just north of the Mall of Georgia, adding some more commercial space to the lineup.

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners tabled Brand’s application to rezone nearly 40 acres along Hamilton Mill Road in Buford, some 40 miles to the north of Atlanta. Brand is eyeing a development with 700 apartments and 15K SF of commercial space.

Since last year, Brand has been seeking to allow mixed-use on the site, which is owned by Jackson Electrical Membership Corp. and zoned for agricultural and commercial uses and home to a cell tower, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported. At the time, Brand was asking for 10K SF of commercial space. 

Brand's proposal was scheduled for a public hearing at the board's Aug. 22 meeting, but the hearing was tabled until the commissioners' Sept. 26 meeting, according to minutes from last week's meeting.

Gwinnett County's Board of Planning and Zoning also tabled its discussion of the project to Sept. 5, although it has recommended approval of Brand's vision. 

Atlanta-based Brand is planning to include a dog park, a clubhouse and pool, courtyards and a “decorative plaza with seating areas located around the perimeter of the commercial building,” according to the proposal.

A prolific developer across the Southeast, Brand is also developing The Mason, a 312-unit luxury apartment project off Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth, the 264-unit District at Parkview apartment complex off Stone Mountain Parkway, and the nearly 300-unit Emmett on Montague in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Brand also recently teamed up with Highwoods Properties in developing a 130K SF boutique office building in Buckhead called 2827 Peachtree Road, which is set to deliver in September and is 92% pre-leased. 

Brand didn't return calls seeking comment as of press time.