North Point Mall's mini-city makeover faces key vote

Driving the news: The Alpharetta City Council will vote this evening whether to approve the zoning changes needed to build the project.

Zoom in: Jamestown, the company behind Ponce City Market and Buckhead Village, wants to build up to 1,385 apartments, 650 hotel rooms and more than 1.3 million square feet of office, retail and restaurant space.

Reality check: Atlanta has a hockey history (and present) but hasn't had an NHL team since the Thrashers left for Winnipeg in 2011.

• The arena is part of an ongoing effort to land a franchise.

The conflict: The proposal to include apartments has drawn opposition from some city leaders who argue that Alpharetta shouldn't upset its ratio of mostly owner-occupied housing and rentals, the AJC reports.

• Alpharetta's Planning Commission narrowly recommended approval this month, voting 4-3 in favor of the plan with nearly 75 conditions.
• One proposed condition would give the developer a five-year deadline to land an NHL franchise before residents could occupy the apartments, the AJC reports.

Another mixed-use development north on Ga. Hwy. 400, The Gathering at South Forsyth, is also positioning itself for a pro hockey team.