Eastland Mall
Redeveloping a ‘corridor of crap’
10:21 PM EST on Thursday, March 8, 2007
By WCNC Staff E-mail Us: 6NEWS@WCNC.com
New identity for an old mall
A $180-million plan to redevelop Eastland Mall was unveiled Thursday morning, as city leaders contemplate the future of the 32 year-old “centerpiece” of east Charlotte.
The mall, which opened in 1975 and was remodeled in 1990, has recently seen the closing of its Belk department store. Several storefronts near the mall are shuttered.
Addressing an audience of more than 100 people Thursday morning, Mayor Pat McCrory said he hopes to revitalize the eastside area that he said was poorly planned when construction began in the area more than three decades ago.
“We built crap. We built pure crap. I call it corridors of crap…and we’re paying for it now,” McCrory said.
The 1 million square-foot mall would be torn down to make way for hundreds of condos and town homes along as well as restaurants and shops. The project would be about one-third the size of the current mall, with the remaining space becoming park land and open space.
Some neighbors who attended the plan’s unveiling expressed skepticism after seeing other failed attempts to revitalize the area in recent years.
Vincent Frisina, who has lived in east Charlotte since 1979, said he had heard previous plans for a multiplex movie theater and restaurants.
“There was the joy that something was going to be done and then the realization that nothing was actually getting done,” Frisina told WCNC.
Glimcher Realty Trust, based in Columbus, Ohio, owns most of the 90-acre mall site. City leaders say the company has not made a commitment to redevelop the property.
“They’re participating, they’re evaluating their stances, and they’re supportive,” Council member Nancy Carter told WCNC.
The Urban Land Institute, a Washington-based non-profit group specializing in land redevelopment, drafted the plan for city leaders. A proposed timetable says construction could begin in five years with construction complete by 2019.
ULI planners recommend dropping the ‘Eastland’ name. They said recent media reports of crime near the mall have created a stigma surrounding the name.
Several neighbors said they are hopeful the project will become reality.
“This time we’re planning on holding them to the burner and make sure that something starts taking place,” neighbor Darrell Bonapart told WCNC.
Later Thursday evening, McCrory further explained his description of the area as “corridors of crap.”
"Excuse the term; I refer to them as corridors of crap,” McCrory said. “I'm not talking about the businesses -- I’m talking about the design.”
Tiffani Huntley, who owns a shop at Salon Central on the east side, said she had mixed feelings about the comment.
“I understand where he's coming from, but I wouldn't say that it's crap,” Huntley said.
References
New identity for an old mall 1:35 PM
01:35 PM EST on Thursday, March 8, 2007
By NICOLE KONKAL / WCNC E-mail Nicole: NKonkal@WCNC.com
Reinventing Eastland Mall
Thursday a panel outlined what they think should be done to redevelop Eastland Mall to make it the new heart and soul of the eastside.
The Urban Land Institute Advisory Panel revealed its recommendations for Eastland Mall Thursday morning at the Government Center. Mayor Pat McCrory stressed that the recommendations will take time, money, and the patience of nearby residents when he opened the meeting.
McCrory said the changes needed on the eastside are vital to Charlotte. He also asked residents to look at the big picture, saying he wants to make this 1970’s mall work for the next 50 years.
The panel started off by saying Eastland Mall, and the 90 acres it’s situated on, needs a new identity. They want it to be the heart and soul of the eastside. It should be a spot not just for retail and the name “Eastland” must go.
From there they revealed three scenarios they considered:
1. Remodel and re-tenant to make a sub regional mall 2. Selective demolition and general site redevelopment 3. Total redevelopment
The third option, they say, is the most viable for the area. The panel recommends this site to be totally transformed with new street names and a new layout. They want it to be a mix of civic, retail, and open space with residential units attached. More specifically, they want the area to be a central gathering place with an interactive fountain. Eastland should also be a place for events, festivals, and seasonal expos. They also suggested building a new ice skating rink if the public supported the idea.
Click here to go to Charlotte's Economic Development Office where you can find future maps and pictures of what the area could look like and also to learn the cost, funding options, and project timelines of Eastland Mall.
We are following these recommendations and will have the very latest on what they mean for the eastside bringing at 4:30 this evening.