Belvedere Plaza, the tired strip center at 3479 Memorial Drive in unincorporated Decatur, is about to get a serious facelift. A developer-led overhaul is set to pour roughly $24.3 million into the property, with a key goal of reviving the large anchor space that has been empty since Kroger pulled out last fall. Decide DeKalb’s board has signed off on public support to help jump-start the effort, signaling a fresh push to steady the long-fragile Memorial Drive and Columbia Drive retail corridor after years of underinvestment.
According to Urbanize Atlanta, the Decide DeKalb Development Authority board unanimously approved a $3 million Urban Renewal Fund award to support Hutton’s planned $24.3 million renovation. The outlet reports that the funding details came from Tiffany Wills, Decide DeKalb’s vice president of redevelopment and strategic initiatives, who outlined how the public money will pair with private investment to get construction moving.
Where the money comes from
The $3 million in public support is expected to be drawn from the Avondale Mall/Columbia Drive Tax Allocation District, a county financing tool that captures new tax revenue generated inside the district and uses it to help pay for eligible redevelopment projects. As laid out by Decide DeKalb, Urban Renewal Fund awards backed by the TAD are reimbursement-based and tied to specific capital expenses. That setup is designed so developers spend first and get paid back only for eligible costs, which helps limit how much taxpayer money is exposed upfront.
How Hutton plans to rework the Kroger space
Urbanize Atlanta reports that Hutton plans to carve the former Kroger anchor into three new retail suites and then market a fourth space as another full-service grocery store for the Memorial Drive corridor. The developer’s stated aim is to land four national tenants, then lean on tenant improvements and fresh façade upgrades to make the aging shopping center competitive again in a crowded retail landscape.
Why this matters now
The timing is not accidental. Other county-backed grocery projects are already moving forward, including the Publix-anchored Candler Crossing, which broke ground earlier this month about three miles away. Atlanta Daily World reports that Candler Crossing is meant to improve food access in South DeKalb. Local leaders have cited Kroger’s exit from Belvedere Plaza as one more data point in a pattern of gaps in neighborhood grocery service, gaps that projects like Candler Crossing and the Belvedere overhaul are trying to close.
Who’s already at Belvedere Plaza
Broker listings and property records show that Belvedere Plaza is currently home to tenants such as Planet Fitness, Hibbett Sports, Value Village and Home Gallery. Several inline retail suites remain available for lease, according to commercial marketing materials. The shopping center’s listed address is 3479 Memorial Drive, Decatur, GA, and PropertyShark provides a snapshot of existing tenants along with leasing contact information for would-be retailers eyeing the site…