Georgia Nominates Census Tracts for Opportunity Zones
The nominations include the Gwinnett Place Mall site, which is slated to add 3,800 housing units under a proposed redevelopment.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Commercial
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Georgia has nominated 235 census tracts for the Opportunity Zone 2.0 program, including the site of the upcoming Gwinnett Place Mall redevelopment. This initiative aims to spur investment in these areas, potentially supporting a project that includes 3,800 new housing units.
Why it matters
The program helps developers secure funding for projects in challenging economic areas, which is critical as rising financing and construction costs have previously limited development progress at sites like the Gwinnett Place Mall.
Georgia submitted 235 tracts for the program, including 13 in Gwinnett County. The planned Gwinnett Place Mall project expects to deliver 3,800 housing units and 55,000 square feet of retail space.
The players
Brian Kemp
The Governor of Georgia who oversaw the submission of the state's census tract nominations.
Department of the Treasury
The federal agency responsible for overseeing the national opportunity zone program designations.
The details
The Opportunity Zone 2.0 program allows investors to redeploy capital gains into projects within designated tracts to defer taxes, creating an incentive for private investment. By designating areas like Gwinnett Place Mall, the state creates a pathway for developers to access this capital, which can offset high construction and financing costs. This structure is intended to help revitalize low-income communities through long-term infrastructure and residential improvements.
Timeline
September 2026: Georgia submitted its nominated census tracts for the program.
January 2027: Certified zones are expected to take effect.
The Home Front
The Opportunity Zone 2.0 program continues the investment model first established by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. These designations serve to attract private capital to large-scale residential and retail redevelopments that might otherwise stall due to rising costs.
If you reside near the Gwinnett Place Mall redevelopment, monitor public planning meetings for updates on the 3,800 planned housing units. Homeowners should track how these large-scale commercial improvements may influence regional property development and local infrastructure planning.
The takeaway
This program creates a financial bridge to help complex projects like the Gwinnett Place Mall transition from plans into active construction. Residents should follow the official state certification process to see which local tracts ultimately qualify for this investment.
What happens next
Certified Opportunity Zone 2.0 designations are expected to take effect in January 2027, with new designations scheduled every decade starting January 1, 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about local commercial developments and market trends at Georgia Commercial.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bisnow.
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