There has already been an immediate effect to the city’s decision to partially fund a new Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League): developers are making offers to Uptown property owners.
Joanna Sikiotis, owner of Green’s Lunch, says she’s been approached by developers who want to buy the 86-year-old eatery and redevelop the property. She’s not selling, but the game plan from the developers is clear: they’ll looking to build restaurants and hotels to take advantage not only of the fans attending Knights games but also Charlotte Bobcats (NBA) games.
Last night the City Council voted 7-4 to contribute $8 million over 20 years toward a new Uptown ballpark — $7.25 in tourism taxes and $750,000 from Central City Partners. If all goes well, we should see a groundbreaking this fall and a 2014 opening.
Rendering courtesy of the Charlotte Knights.
RELATED STORIES: Charlotte approves $8 million for new Knights ballpark; Reese to try once again to torpedo new Charlotte ballpark; Majority of Charlotte council members supports Knights ballpark funding; Knights notch another major sponsor; Knights sign BB&T for new-ballpark naming rights; City OK’s Knights funding request, at lower level; Charlotte outlines ballpark funding plan; Knights: We’ve met big condition for new ballpark; Reese returns with another anti-Knights lawsuit; Economics of new Charlotte ballpark iffy: Mayor; Economic of new Charlotte ballpark questioned; Knights make economic case for city funding of new ballpark; Charlotte may help fund new Knights ballpark;More legal silliness in Charlotte; Back from the dead! Mecklenburg Co. moves forward with Knights ballpark; Rising from the ashes: A new Knights ballpark
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