Two development groups originally competing with separate development proposals for the remaining 29 acres of the old Eastland Mall property merged their proposals into one. Charlotte City Council voted unanimously to endorse the revised proposal and approved up to $30 million for reimbursement of expenses associated with public infrastructure improvements and the sports facilities.

The Complex is the project's working title and will take more than three years to complete. It will be part of Eastland Yards, an 80-acre mixed-use project by the City of Charlotte and developer Crosland Southeast.

EDGE Sports Global, Charlotte Soccer Academy and Southern Entertainment are the partners for The Complex which will include indoor & outdoor sports, arts and entertainment uses, restaurants and retail. The outdoor amphitheater that was planned for the site has been removed. No hotel is included but could be added at a future time.

 The latest site plan includes:

• A 120,000-square-foot indoor sports facility with multipurpose courts that can turn into 10 basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts or 30 pickleball courts.
• A gym.
• An ice rink.
• Leasable space for medical and physical therapy offices.
• A STEM education and eSports center.
• A community learning center.
• Six multi-sport artificial turf fields for soccer, flag football, lacrosse and field hockey.
• Around 6,000 to 12,000 square feet for food and drink.
• Around 800 parking spaces.

City council’s support indicates that the east side will get the economic boost it has been waiting for. Community organization CharlotteEAST chair Greg Asciutto says, “We’ve been kept up to date weekly on how things are progressing, so we’ve been able to see firsthand how the partnership is working.” City staff estimates The Complex will have a $169-million economic impact and create 500-plus jobs.

After several disappointments with previous development proposals being withdrawn for the old Eastland Mall site, I am thrilled we have a mixed use project approved that meets many of the desires of our Eastside residents!