The owners of Gwinnett Place Mall dream of redevelopment to revitalize the area, but plans are years down the road.

Gwinnett Place Mall has lost tenants and customers to other, newer malls in the area.  JC Penney closed its anchor store earlier this month. 

Originally owned and developed by Simon Property Group, the mall was acquired by Moonbeam Capital Investments in 2013.  A Moonbeam executive tells the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the company would like to lease a big-box space to a medical facility. 

Shawl Pryor, senior vice-president of Moonbeam Leasing and Management, envisions office and medical tenants, restaurants, a hotel and residential space.  Part of the parking lot has been approved for high-rise residential construction, if tenants agree. 

The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District advocates green space as a critical component to make the area more attractive for development.  Moonbeam believes green space could make the mall feel more like Atlantic Station. 

It could be 2016 or 2017 before work goes forward.  "We're restricted in terms of what we can do today." Moonbeam CEO Steven Maksin tells the AJC.  "A full redevelopment is five years down the road."

Gwinnett County Commissioner Jace Brooks says Moonbeam has been in contact with the commission to update the status of its plans.  In his comments to the AJC, Brooks calls the mall "critical" and a major priority for the county.