County staffers tell GlobeSt.com Pan has told Gwinnett commissioners the project's final development cost could reach $300 million. Pan couldn't be reached by GlobeSt.com's publication deadline to learn additional details of the project.
However, county sources tell GlobeSt.com the architect's conceptual plans show Asian Village Atlanta would include an Asian history museum, performing arts center, Chinese garden, retail stores, restaurants, a hotel, sports complex, residential condos and office buildings. Pan sees the project as a major tourist attraction that could create up to 3,000 new jobs in the area, according to county sources.
Pan's credentials include designing high-rise apartments and condos in China; a subdivision in Sugar Hill, GA; and a public Chinese garden in St. Louis, according to Atlanta area sources in a position to know. Those sources tell GlobeSt.com the 106 acres envisioned for the project could require special zoning status by the county. To manage the project, Pan has set up the nonprofit East West Cultural Exchange Foundation, funded by cultural ministries in China.
The idea for Asian Village Atlanta comes as Atlanta developer Peter Chang, managing partner of Atlanta Chinatown Investments LLC, anticipates completing the first 260,000-sf phase of his group's $70 million, 500,000-sf International Village next to the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport by fall.
DeKalb County's growing international corridor already houses Asian Square, Korean Garden and La Americas in Doraville; Atlanta Chinatown in Chamblee; and Plaza Fiesta on northeast Buford Highway in Atlanta.
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