CHARLOTTE — After receiving major blowback from dozens of Eastland open-air market vendors and longtime skaters of the Eastland DIY Skatepark, the city says it is working with both groups to find alternative sites.
[PAST COVERAGE: ‘It’s so sad’: City of Charlotte to close Eastland skate park March 3]
The announcement came during Monday night’s Charlotte City Council meeting. No specific locations were mentioned but more information is expected in the next one or two weeks.
The city is looking at land it owns that may be suitable for a skate park. It is possible Charlotte will pursue the Asheville model, where the skaters form a 501c3 and lease a location from the city. That would allow the skaters to continue to grow and develop their skatepark without worrying about its future.
“We are doing a search for existing city properties that could be utilities to relocate the skatepark,” Assistant City Manager Brent Cagle said.
Wow. @DimpleAjmera just brought the heat during the #CLTCC meeting, slamming the city for displacing the open air market vendors. "We have failed them," she said. "We have subsidized large businesses but we cannot find a way to make vendors be a part of it?"
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) March 8, 2022
The city is in deep talks with open-air market vendors about a new home. Leaders have heard from the private sector about possible spots. Dozens of vendors have been pleading with the city to help them find a place to operate. On Monday night, they found no stronger ally than Council member Dimple Ajmera. Ajmera slammed the city for displacing the mainly immigrant business owners.
“We got to figure out a way to include these entrepreneurs in the Eastland redevelopment project. This is a catalyst for the site. So many immigrant families are depending on this site, and we cannot displace them,” she said. “They have brought traction. They have brought opportunities and now all of the sudden, they are displaced. That is a serious issue.”
Ajmera said the city’s response is not enough for her and said the city has subsidized businesses before, so they have no excuse to not include the vendors in future plans.
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Councilman Ed Driggs said the city should have better prepared for this situation.
Groundbreaking at the Eastland site is expected soon. The lease expired for the open-air market vendors in September but the city allowed them to continue to use the space until last month. The city ordered the skate park closed last week.
(Watch the video below: Vendors want to keep open-air market at former Eastland Mall site)
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