Homes are going up in Eastland Yards, but some longtime residents are scoffing at the exorbitant prices, saying it’s the latest sign of Charlotte being unaffordable.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Homes are officially rising at the site of the former Eastland Mall — now known as Eastland Yards — but not everyone is celebrating. Some east Charlotte residents say the $500,000+ price tag for new single-family homes and townhomes feels out of step with the neighborhood’s needs.
“It’s ridiculous,” one anonymous neighbor said. “I don’t see how they can get that much.”
The new development, dubbed Central Village at Eastland Yards, will include 38 homes as part of the first residential phase of a massive 78-acre redevelopment plan. The broader vision includes not just housing, but also retail, office space and a future sports and entertainment complex.
While the project is meant to represent progress and opportunity, many longtime residents worry it’s another sign of east Charlotte becoming unaffordable.
“With the way Charlotte’s growing, they’re making it unaffordable,” another anonymous resident said.
The homes are being developed by Saussy Burbank, which describes the project as a “thoughtfully designed neighborhood” intended to help shape the future of East Charlotte.
Adam Danneman, division president at Saussy Burbank, says community interest has been present, but not overwhelming.
“A number of like 30 or 40 people so far,” Danneman said. “Obviously you’ll have a couple of people push back on the price point, and say, ‘Hey it’s a little bit more than they hoped,’ but I’d say the collective masses say that doesn’t seem to be our challenge. I think the area is one of those redeveloping areas. The city is starting to grow and push out.”
Charlotte City Council member Marjorie Molina, who represents the area, says community sentiment is split.
“Some would say we have too many affordable units, and some would say we need as many as we can get,” Molina said.
Still, Molina believes Eastland Yards offers the right balance of housing types.
“Again, it’s a mixed development — for sale, for rent, diversity of age, diversity of income, diversity of offerings,” she said. “I think it’s a decent mix.”
The home construction is expected to take roughly four years to complete.
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