You must be joking…
Merchandise Mart eyes new location
Updated: 2/9/2006 7:34 AM
By: Adam Shub, News 14 Carolina
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Merchandise Mart, which recently agreed to sell its facility on Independence Boulevard, wants to partner up with the public sector and build a new exhibition center off Wilkinson Boulevard.
All the revenue would go to the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department, which owns the proposed site along the Catawba River. Private developers would turn their profit from a hotel, residential units and retail shops.
“You have a synergy, located on Wilkinson Boulevard, that wouldn’t be there otherwise,†said Edna Chirico, who represents the Merchandise Mart.
Most of the site would be green space, though.
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Parks Helms, the chairman of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners, likes the concept.
“I think it would be a major benefit to the citizens of this county if it’s done right and if we can do it at the right price,†he said Wednesday.
But Helms said any deal would have to clear several hurdles first. After all, taxpayers would have to sign a bond referendum to pay for the center’s construction.
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