The broader plan eventually calls for about 2.5 million square feet of development, roughly 1,700 multifamily units, 92 townhomes, and 320,000 square feet of retail, restaurants, and entertainment.

For anyone who remembers North DeKalb Mall in decline, this is one of the clearest examples of metro Atlanta converting obsolete retail land into a mixed-use district.

The 78-acre Lulah Hills redevelopment has moved well beyond demolition: Publix is standing, Refuge Coffee is open, and Novel Lulah Hills is rising.