More Problems for Eastland Mall

My friends who grew up in Charlotte often recall the glory days of Eastland Mall, the indoor shopping mall at the corner of Central Ave. and Albemarle Rd. just east of Independence and five miles south of Uptown Charlotte. The ice skating rink was hopping, the stores were great quality and this, of course, all predated the newer, fancier SouthPark Mall.

But, since I've lived in Charlotte, Eastland Mall hasn't been on my shopping radar. With stores closing left and right, including Charlotte-based department store Belk, there just hasn't been anything there to spark my interest. And today's Charlotte Observer says that the current owner of the Eastland mall, Glimcher Realty Trust is walking away from the struggling property. After three unsuccessful years of trying to sell the property, they are now asking a court to appoint a third party to run the mall and eventually sell it.

What would you like to see happen to this property? Should it remain a shopping center? What can be done to revitalize this struggling area of the city?