Independence Boulevard Business Closings

Businesses are closing in anticipation of Independence Boulevard's conversion to an expressway. The $172 million project that starts this summer will widen a mile and a half of Independence between North Sharon Amity and Wallace roads and add interchanges.

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Carolina Pavilion And Salisbury Marketplace Sold

Blackstone Real Estate Partners has purchased two Charlotte area shopping centers from Equity One Inc. Carolina Pavilion, a big-box center off South Boulevard at I-485, totals 875,000-sqft. It opened in 1995, and its anchor tenants include Target and Kohl's. Salisbury Marketplace is a 79,700-sqft neighborhood center on Statesville Boulevard. It is anchored by a Food Lion supermarket and a Family Dollar store. Charlotte Business Journal

Carmel Commons Undergoing Renovation

Carmel Commons shopping center, built in the late 1970's and in need of updates, is getting a $3.5-million face-lift. To make it more attractive from the roadside and more pedestrian friendly: new pedestrian lighting, sidewalks, landscaping, entrance signs, and parking lot repairs. In addition, the facade of the buildings are getting an overhaul: fresh paint, new roofing, new sconces, and new awnings. More than 30 tenants fill the 133,000-sqft shopping center owned by Regency Centers, such as The Jewelry Stop, Fresh Market, Party City, Chuck-e-Cheese, and various boutique shops. The goal is for all renovations to be finished by 2012-March.

GPS:35.08694,-80.84894 Carmel Commons Shopping Center is less than a mile from I-485, located along NC Hwy 51 / Pineville-Matthews Road, between Johnston and Carmel Roads. More than 33,000 drive along the portion of N.C. 51 near Carmel Commons, and more than 25,000 vehicles per day drive on Carmel Road, south of Quail Hollow Road. Read More at Carmel Commons getting $3.5 million facelift - South Charlotte News

Mosaic Village

Charlotte City Council agrees to subsidize a part of the Mosaic Village development, adjoining Johnson C. Smith University, the primary tenant. The $29 million mixed-use project will include:

• 6,800 sqft of retail space
• 80 student dorm room
• 45,000-sqft art learning center and office building
• 403-space parking deck with 223 public parking spaces

City subsidy of $3.2 million in exchange for spaces in a parking deck from city's Business Corridor Fund.
Reimburse the developer up to $181,860 for expenses from public right-of-way improvements.
In addition, the city pledging to build a streetcar line along West Trade Street.

Located on West Trade Street in the depressed northwest corner of downtown is to be built by Griffin Brothers.