CHARLOTTE, NC — 100 new stores, more than 900 new jobs and millions of dollars in economic impact. The Charlotte Premium Outlets are set to open in 15 days.
The shopping excitement is building, but so are concerns about traffic and the future for surrounding neighborhoods.
“It’s close enough that I can go every day if I want to,” says Steele Creek resident Chanita Horton.
Chanita Horton lives just behind the new Premium Outlets in Steele Creek. Like many, she’s excited about the stores that will open July 31st, and the boost it will bring to the area.
WCCB took a tour of the construction Wednesday. The work is rolling right along, the traffic flow around the mall, not so much.
“I think a lot of traffic just because they’re doing construction,” says Horton. “Like they waited until after they built the mall to fix the roads to handle the traffic, so that’s a bit annoying.”
“We’ve been working hand in hand with the North Carolina DOT and the City of Charlotte to come up with a great plan for parking and keeping the flow of traffic going on and off the exit, as well as into the Steele Creek area and into downtown,” says Holly Roberson with the Charlotte Premium Outlets.
Bonnielyn Reid lives close by. She and other neighbors are concerned about other projects planned around the outlets.
“They were thinking of removing some of the trees back there, and some of the berm area,” says Reid. “And so a lot of people in the community are getting together and trying to talk to the developer.”
Despite the concerns, consensus is that the Premium Outlets will be a plus for this once secluded section of Charlotte.
“It’s nice to have the shopping really close by. I’m sure it will be like a tourist attraction. A lot of jobs will come in,” says Reid. “It just might be a little bit of traffic issues, but i think overall it will be a very positive thing for the area.”
Tanger Factory Outlets and Simon Property Group teamed up for the project off I-485. The city and county kicked in more than $5 million in tax rebates over 10 years. The outlet mall is expected to bring in about $10 million in annual sales tax revenue.
