They’ve waited years. Now, 200 from east Charlotte join petition urging city to act
From Idlewild Farms to Eastway, east Charlotteans made their opinion clear in a new petition about what developers should build where Eastland Mall once stood.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 200 residents, business owners and community leaders signed a petition saying they want to see an indoor sports complex on the site. Representatives from the Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association, the Latin American Coalition, coaches and public school officials and Manolo’s Bakery are among the signees.
The indoor sports complex, which includes basketball, volleyball and pickleball courts, is one of two proposals still being considered by the Charlotte City Council. The other is an outdoor sports venue that would also serve as festival grounds with an indoor esports venue beside it. The council briefly considered and eliminated a recreation facility paid for only with public money.
Representatives from neighborhood group Charlotte EAST, which includes many east Charlotte neighborhood groups, are calling on the City Council to move forward with the indoor sports complex and complete phase one construction by the end of 2024.
“As presented, this option will spark sustainable economic growth for the East side and create a family-oriented destination that will be governed by (and accessible to) the East Charlotteans who’ve waited two decades for the corridor’s revitalization,” a Charlotte EAST news release says.
Neighbors in the group have been frustrated by how long the site sat vacant — and pressured the council to make a decision as it received bids over the past several months. For years, the city-owned land sat empty and undeveloped until construction began on residential development on the west side of the property in August.
What’s in preferred Eastland choice?
A group of sports consulting companies and developers are proposing the 100,000-square-foot sports venue. They include Charlotte-based Synergy Sports, developer RADD Sports and designer EDGE Sports Group.
Here’s what the proposal presented to Charlotte’s economic development committee for phase one included:
▪ 10 full-size hardwood basketball courts
▪ 20 volleyball courts
▪ 40 pickleball courts
▪ The ability to overlay a 200-meter track while keeping other courts reserved for different sports
▪ Space for cheer and gymnastics
▪ Concessions and bar
▪ Fitness center
▪ Space for a doctor or physical therapy group
▪ Two FIFA-regulation soccer pitches
▪ Playground
▪ 700 parking spaces
▪ Outdoor basketball courts
▪ Jogging trails
The other proposal for east Charlotte
QC East leads the other finalist development proposal. It includes Charlotte Soccer Academy, Southern Entertainment and Carolina Esports Hub.
In the proposal, Charlotte Soccer Academy would anchor and manage six artificial turf fields that would also be festival grounds. Developers expect the festival grounds to hold up to 5,000 visitors for major music festivals, local and national headliners and cultural festivals.
An indoor space on the property would serve as a technology hub for esports and STEM education. It could also fit up to 2,500 people for events and concerts.
City Councilman Tariq Bokhari is a minority stakeholder in Carolina Esports Hub, but not a stakeholder in this specific development, according to a June 5 memo from City Attorney Patrick Baker. Bokhari originally planned on recusing himself from the vote, but told the Observer he has to vote because he doesn’t have any conflict of interest.
