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CHARLOTTE, N.C.–A pile of rubble is all that remains at the site where the Eastland Mall used to stand after the city spent about 14 million dollars for the property and demolition. Now, the plan to bring sound stages, shopping, a hotel, and an education complex here is in jeopardy.
At the City Council’s Economic Development Committee meeting Thursday, council members were frustrated about the little new information released about the project’s financing and cost. The developer requested $150 thousand worth of environmental and planning work, and a property tax refund. “I’m not inclined to give you anymore time. It’s time for this committee and this city to go in another direction and get something started there that will be viable for the public,”
said Charlotte City Council member Claire Fallon.
Studio Charlotte Development’s Bert Hesse says he has investors and corporations that don’t want to be revealed just yet. “I don’t want to provide them detailed information that has been proven to come back to be used almost against me,” said Hesse.
Hesse says the Studio Charlotte Development project isn’t dead. He’s prepared to announce a new location in the greater Charlotte area in the next 60 days, potentially leaving this property in the heart of East Charlotte with a very uncertain future. “Obviously if this movie studio is not actually gonna happen in East Charlotte, I think a lot of people will be disappointed, because they got their hopes up. But at the same time, if it’s not the right thing, it’s not the right thing,”said East Charlotte Community Activist Ed Garber.
No formal action was taken Thursday. A vote is scheduled in two weeks on the future of the city’s relationship with Studio Charlotte Development.
