NHL arena plans at North Point Mall moving forward

The Alpharetta City Council voted 4-3 to approve zoning changes for a major redevelopment of North Point Mall, with Mayor Jim Gilvin casting the deciding vote after more than six hours of debate. The proposed mixed-use development includes a 20,000-seat arena, a music venue, shops, restaurants, and over 1,300 apartments on the roughly 100-acre site. Developers hope the arena will eventually attract an NHL franchise, though the league has made no commitment to place a team in the Alpharetta or Atlanta area.