DURHAM, NC -- Northgate is turning shopping inside out! Demolition and pre-construction phases have already begun as Northgate makes a bold move in the marketplace providing the best of both worlds…shopping inside as well as outside. Northgate will be converting about 31,000 square feet of current indoor shopping space back to the great outdoors as well as constructing 33,000 square feet of new outdoor shopping and dinning.   There will be convenient store front parking, themed restaurants with outdoor seating, new specialty stores and a variety of year round entertainment and special events taking place in areas of the newly designed outdoor “Plaza”.  The outdoor “Plaza” will feature year round entertainment including national and local celebrities, art and music for children, evening concerts for the family, special community programs and a variety of activities and events for all ages and all cultures.

Reversing a long time all indoor shopping experience back to the great outdoors is territory that Northgate has actually “uncovered” before.  Originally built in 1960 by W. Kenan Rand Jr., Northgate opened its doors to Durham as a strip center with Colonial store supermarket and a variety store, Roses.  In 1974, Northgate responded to shopping preferences and enclosed the center converting it into the ever popular indoor shopping venue known as the Mall.   Anchors at that time included Sears and Thalhimers.  In 1986, another portion of the mall was constructed building new space for Thalhimers along with a new multi level parking deck.  1987 saw yet another area of the Mall built which included the current food court and lower level Business Center.  Hecht’s and Hecht’s parking deck were built in 1994 along with additional 53,000 square feet of enclosed mall retail space.                                                                   

And now, as irony would have it,   Northgate’s 45^th Birthday (2005) will be celebrated outdoors as outdoor shopping becomes popular once again!  Giving customers a wider range of shopping choices includes not only bringing the indoors outdoors but there will be more selection of stores from which to choose.

“Currently Northgate Associates is engaged in active negotiations to lease space with a variety of fashion, dining and entertainment prospects.  As leases are signed Northgate will make formal announcements to the public and members of the Press” says Virginia Rand Bowman, Managing General Partner for Northgate Associates. “This project has been on the drawing board for quite some time” says Bowman “…and we are proud to announce not only a new way of shopping but a significant alternative for family entertainment in Durham.”

Completion and Grand Opening of the multi-million dollar project is currently slated for October, 2005.

                

Fact Sheet

Northgate 2005 Redevelopment & Expansion

(Numbered Renderings Coincide with
 Phases of Development) 

Introduction

Northgate has been the dominant retail shopping complex in Northern Durham for the past 44 years.  The Development Team maintains a constant vision for the future making Northgate a never-ending “work in progress”.  Like many other regional malls around the country, Northgate is in a transition mode changing to provide a variety in merchandise, a broad choice of dining and entertainment venues, the best possible customer service and a pleasant shopping environment for all of its patrons.  Northgate will Turn Shopping Inside Out!

Redevelopment & Expansion Phasing 

1.    Northgate began its major renovation and expansion program with minor demolition and cosmetic improvements during this month.  A decorative fence and new parking lot lighting has been installed on the I-85 side of the mall.  A parking ratio reduction from the City of Durham Planning Department was approved in July.  Deck 1, built in 1974, is being torn down and replaced with an open field of parking prior to the 2004 holiday season. (see attached rendering #1) 

2.    Upon completion of a major traffic study in 2003, Draper Aden Associates recommended that the primary entrance into the mall at Gregson Street be modified to accommodate a “roundabout.”  The North Carolina Department of Transportation is working with Northgate’s engineers to design a smooth transition into the mall in conjunction with the construction that is also occurring on I-85.  NCDOT approval for these modifications is pending. (see attached rendering #2) 

3.    A new traffic plan for vehicles as well as pedestrians will be implemented the first quarter of 2005.  Vehicular traffic into Deck 2 will be drawn up to the higher levels with improved signage and ease of flow.  A second exit and improved internal movements within the deck will assist in creating better utilization of this previously unproductive parking structure.  New, brighter lights will be installed, concrete stairwells will be opened up, and an elevator enclosed in a clock tower will be added on the northeast corner of the structure.  Architectural features will be added to the façade of Deck 2 to make it more aesthetically pleasing to the public. (see attached rendering #3) 

4.    The initial site plan for the design of the property to accommodate a “lifestyle feature” was created by Sclater Partners.  This new design format has provided the “vision” for the overall project.  With Belk’s departure from the shopping complex in February of 2005, construction will immediately commence on the second floor of the building to accommodate a multi-screen, stadium seating, surround sound cinema complex.  The existing roof of the building will be raised approximately ten feet and ten additional structural columns will be designed and erected on the first floor.  The first floor will accommodate one or more junior anchor tenants.  (see attached rendering #4) 

5.    With the assistance of Lineberry Architectural Group, Ballentine Associates, and Lappas + Heavener Landscaping, Northgate Associates is aggressively moving forward with the overall design for the “lifestyle” portion of this project.  The mall area in front of Belk’s will be torn down and replaced with a “lifestyle” element with a variety of stores and restaurants (approximately 31,000 square feet) opening onto an open plaza area.  The “Plaza Area” (approximately 20,000 square feet) will become an entertainment feature for the shopping complex which will have the ability to accommodate art shows, musical performances, radio station events, civic and charitable functions on a periodic basis.  In addition, smaller specialty shops and fast casual dining operations (approximately 33,000 square feet) will be nestled into an area backing up to the mall shops from Center Court down to Mitchell’s Hairstyling. 
(see rendering #5) 

  The new outdoor “Plaza” will feature
a variety of amenities including:

• Three outdoor temporary kiosks
• Unique, illuminated canopies at the mall main entrances
• A staging area for major entertainment functions and civic events
• Convenient front door parking
• Lush landscaping with attractive benches and colorful planters will make the new “Plaza” a comfortable place for shoppers to relax and mingle
• Attractive graphics and directional signage
• Decorative pedestrian walkways
• Exciting new storefront design formats with improved visibility for stores and restaurants, both on the plaza and from Interstate 85

 

6.         As previously mentioned, traffic flow in and around the site will be dramatically improved.  With the improved access at Gregson Street, customers will be able to flow freely into the multi-level deck next to the new cinema complex.  Directional signs will allow patrons to easily maneuver the deck to park on the upper levels close to the cinema.  At grade level, vehicles will travel one way around the deck and into the plaza area.  Elevated crosswalks will enhance pedestrian flow.  (see rendering #6) 

7.         The interior of the mall will not be forgotten.  Current tenants have been encouraged to “dress up” their exterior facades by implementing Northgate’s “Streetscape” design criteria that provides for outside signage, display windows, awnings, and an upscale slate wall finish.  On the interior, many storefronts will be modified to incorporate elevated storefronts and individualized entryways with creative signage.  Furniture in the soft seating areas will be reupholstered; colorful decorative banners will provide color; a soft play area for children will be added; an additional restroom facility is being constructed across from the N.C. License Bureau; an array of new tenants that will begin to open in the spring of 2005.  Emphasis will continue to be placed on the success of existing merchants as well as attracting new retailers and eateries which currently do not have a presence in the Triangle.  These targeted retailers will offer unique assortments of merchandise which will make Northgate distinctly different from the other shopping complexes in the area.  (see rendering #7)

  OVERVIEW

Preliminary construction estimates indicate that Northgate Associates will be spending in excess of $13,000,000 on renovations to the shopping complex during the next 12 months.  It is anticipated that the bulk of demolition and construction will commence when Belk’s vacates its premises in February 2005.

A Grand Opening Celebration is slated for mid-October 2005 upon completion of all the improvements in the shopping complex.