Charlotte Approves Ambitious New $30 Million Plan For Old Eastland Mall Site

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Yesterday the Charlotte City Council greenlit an ambitious new $30 million development plan for the old Eastland Mall site.

This decision is a significant turning point for the once-thriving Eastland Mall, which the city of Charlotte purchased in August of 2012 for $13.15 million, and then destroyed a year later.

Over the past several years, numerous projects were proposed and then tabled for the site, including an indoor swimming pool, a tennis complex, an indoor amateur sports arena, and an e-sports hub.

In a strategic move, city officials urged the two final developers to combine their visions for the site.

The newly merged blueprint now boasts a sprawling 120,000-square-foot indoor amateur sports facility, complete with an ice-skating rink. This versatile structure can also double up as an e-sports center. Additionally, the outdoors will feature sports fields and areas designated for intimate festivals.

Yesterday, the council voted to earmark $30 million for this ambitious project, with more additional public funding possible in the future.

While the collaboration dynamics between Crosland Southeast, Southern Entertainment (champions of the e-sports hub and amphitheater), and Eastland Yards Indoor Sports (the brains behind the indoor sports complex), remain to be seen, the city promises a detailed update by year-end.