CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Eyewitness News was with interested developers as they got their first look inside the shuttered Eastland Mall that closed in the summer of 2010.
Steve Smith runs SHM Partners in Los Angeles. His business creates movie studios.
"Sound stages would need to be built outside the envelope of the building," Smith said.
Several other film studios representatives participated in the tour; however, city officials and developers have expressed doubt Hollywood would succeed here.
The current film tax credit in North Carolina is set to expire in 2015.
Smith said that is one reason he is concerned.
"It's a tax credit-driven business today," he said.
City officials are also looking for other options to eliminate the empty retail space and boost the economy, especially in the city's east side.
"What we don't want is a replica of this situation 10 years from now," said Patrick Mumford, the Neighborhood and Business director.
Noah Lazes' Charlotte company, ARK Group, developed places like the NC Music Factory.
"We need an aquarium. We need a zoo," Lazes said. "We need other big community service pieces other big cities have that we don't yet. Some of that could potentially go here."
There's no firm price tag on the property yet, but city officials, at the least, want to recoup the more than $13 million in tax dollars spent.
Interested developers must submit their qualifications to the city by mid-February.
City officials will then select a short list of businesses that can make proposals. Officials hope to start negotiations by mid-July.
Whoever wins, will be required to break ground on work within two years.