In early 2024, our team began the strategic planning process for a greater Eastland area business district. Spurred by the redevelopment of the Eastland Mall property, our business community voiced the need to organize, unify, and elevate its collective voice. Thanks to $220,000 in support from the City of Charlotte via its Start-Scale-Sustain (S3) Grant, we are embarking upon a three-year process to create an owner-centered network of businesses and landlords working to market and improve the economic vitality of the area.

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With such a large geographic footprint, we have split the district into nine tentative "nodes" or hubs for commerce, each with unique strengths, needs, and futures:

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• Albemarle/Sharon Amity node (2024 priority focus)

  • Defining characteristics: diverse array of businesses (industry and demographic served); proximity to residential with 550+ MF units coming on board by EOY 2025; three banks (WF; 5/3; Chase)

  • Future outlook: Sharon Amity businesses most immediate at-risk of displacement due to Eastland development; Reddman property management willing to invest in center (100% occupancy)
     

• ​Central "Main Street" node (2024 priority focus)

  • Defining characteristics: high visibility; walkable; recognized citywide as "international corridor" layout conducive to MSA approach; array of services (grocery, accounting, dining, legal, dentist, automotive); proximity to parks (Evergreen and Kilborne) and strong neighborhoods (Winterfield, Eastway Park/Sheffield-Park, Windsor Park)

  • Future outlook: increased investment in affordable housing (Ascent); risk of business displacement is high
     

• Eastway node (2024 priority focus)

  • Defining characteristics: strong property owner willing to wait and invest in tenants; eclectic "vibe" comprised of former Plaza Midwood tenants, many of whom are eastside residents; retail provides strong middle-class appeal; multiple "third spaces"

  • Future outlook: stable
     

• Hickory Grove node (2025 focus)

  • ​Defining characteristics: two strong shopping centers with grocers as anchors separated by industrial strip along W.T. Harris; local property owners willing to invest in their spaces and work with community; strong mix of businesses with significant office space and key tenants within (Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce, Honduran Consulate); some property crime with violent crime on fringes; businesses geared toward serving low/mid income

  • Future outlook: Stable with room to increase retail offerings in southeastern section

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• Farm Pond node (2025 focus)

  • Defining characteristics: high concentration of fast-food and other retail chains mixed with Hispanic and Asian-owned food businesses; property owners are not local; many businesses (as chains) do not have a strong connection with community; neighbors vocal about wanting increased retail offerings; significant problems with vagrancy

  • Future outlook: relatively stable; do not anticipate significant short-term changes due to Eastland redevelopment
     

• Eastland Yards (2026 focus)

  • Defining characteristics: regional economic driver for tourism; expected to bring consistent, higher-income business to area

  • Future outlook: 400+ residential units by 2026; minimal retail by 2025; 4.7 acre park to open mid-2026; indoor sports complex with concession tenant + restaurant pad by late 2026
     

• ​Citiside node (2027 focus)

  • ​Defining characteristics: one commercial center with 100% occupancy anchored by grocer with international appeal and mom-and-pops; second commercial center impacted by blight with tenants offering value/affordable retail; high property crime and vagrancy; high visibility at intersection of two roads with highest VPD in district

  • Future outlook: short-term is stagnant; mid-term plans to convert to mixed-use with tie-in to Eastway Regional Recreation Center
     

• Milton node (2027 focus)

  • ​Defining characteristics: high-crime and blight; multiple fish arcades and high-traffic drug corridor; increasing vagrancy; tenants are closing their doors due to crime; some restaurants bring traffic from outside community

  • Future outlook: concerning; node is in relatively "hidden" pocket of district that will not benefit directly from development of Eastland or its arterial streets. Work being done currently with private and public partners to address crime and vagrancy
     

• Independence node (2027 focus)

  • ​Defining characteristics: 8-story historic Ervin building with 4 floors of coworking space and draw of rooftop bar; 3,600 sq. ft. new restaurant space on same lot; two national breakfast/coffee chains with 100,000 VPD traffic; standalone vacant restaurants; dated strip malls with mix of retail

  • Future outlook: NCDOT widening of Independence Blvd. will have impact on properties; Ervin rooftop expected to be a citywide draw​​
     

Click on the interactive map below to see the businesses within each "node" as well as those in the greater footprint that fall outside of a defined node.