Charlotte City Council approves plan to shape Eastland Mall site redevelopment

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The Charlotte City Council voted Monday to approve a plan for services to shape the redevelopment of the city-owned Eastland Mall property.

City Council voted to authorize City Manager Marcus D. Jones to negotiate and execute a contract with Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

Phase One of the contract is designed to identify and understand challenges that currently prohibit redevelopment. This portion of the contract costs $145,000 and would occur throughout April and May. Findings of this portion of the contract will be shared in a future Economic Development committee meeting, as well as a City Council dinner briefing. City Council will then make a determination as to whether the scope of the contract will be expanded further.

The city purchased roughly 80 acres of the former Eastland Mall property in August 2012 as an opportunity to aid economic development and neighborhood stabilization in the area. Eastland Mall was demolished in 2013.

Some of the goals used to guide redevelopment of the site include:

• Enhancing the perceptions of the Eastland area and East Charlotte;
• Unifying local communities;
• Creating connectivity and walkability for surrounding neighborhoods;
• Taking advantage of natural features; and
• Create opportunity for civic development and equitable economic development.

On Nov. 15, 2016, the City issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to solicit teams to assist efforts in redeveloping and revitalizing the former Eastland Mall property. In response to the RFQ, the City received 15 proposals from interested service providers. City staff evaluated the proposals and determined that Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., best met the City’s needs.