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New Player Eyes Convention Center Site

CHARLOTTE-Considered somewhat unconventional in real estate circles, local developer Jim Gross is telling the city he's the right man to take on the old convention center.

By Robert Anthony | Updated on January 11, 2001

CHARLOTTE-In a recent meeting, developer Jim Gross told the Charlotte City Council he would gut the building, add a few floors and build 300 to 400 condominiums, with stores and restaurants on the first floor. Gross has developed a number of innovative projects Uptown, as well as in Dilworth and South End. He is willing to tackle projects that are often considered financially risky and promotes himself as the man who started Uptown’s housing boom.

Gross’ plan would have a chance of working only if the city sold him the property for less than the $13 million it’s asking. Gross says he won’t pay that price, but the prices he has attached to the condo units appear to be in line with Charlotte’s Uptown housing market. He’s quoting $125,000 to $200,000 for units with 1,000 sf to 1,500 sf.

The city-owned convention center has been in need of redevelopment since the new convention center opened in 1995. Last year, Spectrum Properties proposed offices and stores and offered $12 million. But the city was lured into a more ambitious plan proposed by Philadelphia-based LCOR, a deal that eventually went sour.

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