CHARLOTTE — On Nov. 9, The city of Charlotte approved a new development at the old Eastland Mall site. The east Charlotte property will no longer be home to Charlotte FC’s headquarters, but it will still be a destination for Charlotte FC supporters.
🎉🎉 A decade in the making. Finally a major project and economic catalyst is coming to the eastside. #CLTCC unanimously approves the Eastland development
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) November 9, 2020
"It reboots east Charlotte's brand while championing east Charlotte's diversity" - @MattNewtonfor5 https://t.co/Z5JSbdvvjL pic.twitter.com/UJUCgni1pH
Instead of a team headquarters, Eastland will be home to Charlotte FC Elite Academy’s headquarters. Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC owner David Tepper said the Major League Soccer team is still heavily investing in Eastland. But because of the swap, the city of Charlotte believes there will be more public use opportunities and investment at the site.
“I can’t help but think this development has something for everyone and, at the same time, a whole lot for the city of Charlotte,” Councilman Matt Newton said.
['It’s a long time coming': City of Charlotte files plans for old Eastland Mall site]
The Elite Academy will be 15,000 square feet and employ between 20 and 25 full-time workers and 30 to 40 part-time employees. There will be at least 100 annual programmed days not including community play. Eastland will still have an MLS regulation-size field that fans can watch Charlotte FC use during open practices. It will also be used by international teams preparing for matches at Bank of America Stadium. Eastland will still feature community fields, which will be used for tournaments and camps. Atrium Health is planning a 10,000-square foot facility on-site that will employ 20 to 30 people.
“This is so great to see we are so close to building a catalyst not just for the east side but for the whole region,” Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera said.
The city of Charlotte is also no longer providing $110 million in tourism funds to Tepper Sports. The amount now sits at $35 million, with $10 million of that to be dedicated to Eastland. The other $25 million will be slated for uptown development. The Panthers are not part of the deal.
Charlotte FC Elite Academy is one portion of the first phase of Eastland redevelopment. Other plans for phase one include a 3-acre park, apartments and retail space.
It is unclear where the new Charlotte FC headquarters will be.
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