After 14 years of no development at old Eastland Mall site, new housing for seniors opens
For the past 14 years, the former Eastland Mall site has sat unused. For the past two years, it’s been a construction zone.
Now, a portion of the 80-acre development is home for seniors in need of affordable housing.
On Wednesday, city and community leaders celebrated the opening of Evoke Living at Eastland Yards, a 72-unit apartment building offering affordable housing for those 55 and older.
“Eastland has always been a place where community is strong. With this opening, we’re renewing that spirit,” said Council member Marjorie Molina, who represents the eastside in District 5. “By creating beautiful, affordable, and accessible housing, we’re ensuring that people from all backgrounds can live here and thrive here.”
From Eastland Mall to Eastland Yards
Eastland Mall used to be a popular hangout spot. Members in the crowd at Wednesday’s celebration reminisced about going on first dates, eating ice cream at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour and watching people ice skate in the mall’s center rink.
But the mall closed in 2010 and was purchased by the city in 2012.
Since then, it’s been an empty site of hope and contention with Charlotteans waiting to see what would become of the former gathering spot.
Plans for the site always centered around creating a mixed-income and mixed-use community with greenspace, local businesses, community centers and tourist attractions.
In 2018, things started moving. Developer Crosland Southeast was selected to lead the site’s redevelopment.
There would be housing, and a major sports focus run by Tepper Sports and Entertainment, creating, at its center, a new gathering spot.
New housing
In 2022, Crosland broke ground on the residential portion of the redevelopment. Evoke Living will provide a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments for seniors making 30% to 80% of the area median income. For a single person, that’s an income between $22,300 and $59,400.
Tim Sittema, Crosland’s managing partner, said it’s no coincidence that Eastland Yards’ housing portion would start with housing for seniors.
“I was moved in one of our neighborhood meetings many years ago where a resident said, ‘it seems that you’re not displacing anybody with this development but my guess is property values are going to go up and I’m on a fixed income. How am I gonna pay my rent?’” Sittema said. “That’s what motivated us to say, let’s lead with a senior component.”
As Charlotte continues to grow and housing costs continue to rise, some seniors on fixed incomes will have a difficult time finding housing.
About 47% of the estimated 215,400 households that rent in Mecklenburg County are either cost-burdened or severely cost-burdened, according to data released in September by the U.S. Census Bureau data. To be in either category means a renter is paying either 30% or 50%, respectively, of their income on housing.
Since 2020, the city has helped fund the construction of about 728 affordable units in multi-family senior housing, according to the city’s housing dashboard.
But there’s an estimated shortage of about 35,000 units that are both affordable and available for all renters in Charlotte making 50% AMI, according to the city’s Affordable Rental Housing Gap Dashboard. A family of four in the 50% AMI range makes about $53,000.
In short, the city needs a lot more affordable housing.
“By prioritizing the delivery of this inclusive housing as the first element completed within the Eastland Yards, Crosland South is demonstrating our steadfast commitment to our partners and the broader community to do what we can to improve and enhance upward mobility and preserve the dignity of our seniors in the city of Charlotte,” Sittema said.
He added that rents could possibly be as low as $600.
Evoke Living is an active living community for seniors with a fitness center, computer room, two terraces and a community space.
Sports, maybe. Housing, definitely.
Before construction began in 2022, Tepper pulled out of the project.
It’s still unclear why. Tepper’s group, which owns the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC, was set to use 22 acres for the soccer team’s academy complex for youth players, along with several soccer fields.
While Tepper’s decision to step away from the project stalled plans, it didn’t fully stop them.
In September, the Charlotte City Council agreed to provide additional funding for the sports side of things.
EDGE Sports Global, Charlotte Soccer Academy and Southern Entertainment are leading the new plan that includes indoor and outdoor sports facilities, dining, a fieldhouse, a fitness center and a community learning center.
More housing is also on the way to Eastland Yards.
Crosland is working on 270 units of workforce housing. Those will be marketed for people making 80% to 120% AMI. For a family of four, that’s an income level between $84,800 and $127,200.
That building will be anchored by first floor retail.
There will also be about 150 single family homes and townhomes that will sell for market rate value.
Along with housing, there will be a 5-acre park, more retail, commercial and restaurant offerings.
It’s a development that, within five years, will produce a new neighborhood.
“This community is part of what will be a truly mixed income, mixed age, sustainable, walkable development,” Sittema said.
This story was originally published November 21, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
