Vertical construction has begun on the first residential components of the 78-acre Lulah Hills mixed-use development set to rise on the site of the former North Dekalb Mall in Decatur.
Crescent Communities is developing NOVEL Lulah Hills, a 303-apartment community with a host of retail offerings, while Empire Homes is developing 92 for-sale townhomes.
The larger Lulah Hills development will encompass 2.5 million square feet, including 320,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, 1,700 multifamily units, 100 townhomes, a new Publix grocery store and multiple green spaces. The existing AMC Theater, which is being reconfigured with 11 screens, will remain open during development, as will the Marshalls store.
The overall project is the work of EDENS, a national retail owner, operator and developer. EDENS acquired the North Dekalb Mall in 2021, began demolition in 2024 and master site work in 2025.
EDENS recently announced the first slate of retailers: Anthropologie, Design Within Reach, Herman Miller, Solidcore, Firepit Pizza Tavern, Honeysuckle Gelato, Les Mains Nail Bar, LaserAway and Refuge Coffee.
“We’re excited to partner with this best-in-class group of retailers as Lulah Hills takes shape as a vibrant, connected neighborhood,” EDENS Managing Director Herbert Ames said. “The quality of this group, and more to come, reflects the passionate community that is established here and the realization of a world-class shopping district for DeKalb County and the east Metro Atlanta community.”
NOVEL Lulah Hills will offer a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and over 39,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. The six-story community will feature a mix of amenities, including The Mercantile Club, an interactive resident hub; a resort-style courtyard and pool with cabanas; a fitness studio known as The Rose Room; and The Gathering Place, a diner-inspired lounge.
The first group of retail offerings will open in in the first quarter of 2027, while the first residences will be delivered later that year.