Abandon Shopping plazas off Freedom Dr (Charlotte, Gastonia: neighborhoods, shopping centers, Lowes)
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For the first time today I took I-85 (I was coming from Gastonia) to downtown Charlotte, and it had me go Freedom Dr (Route 27). I noticed a TON of abandon shopping plazas. The area looked pretty desolate. This a recent thing, or has this area been like this for years? It seems like it was once flourishing with stores and shopping centers.... now, just has a Kmart. What were some of the stores in these plazas? It looked like there were some major stores judging by the size of the buildings.
For the first time today I took I-85 (I was coming from Gastonia) to downtown Charlotte, and it had me go Freedom Dr (Route 27). I noticed a TON of abandon shopping plazas. The area looked pretty desolate. This a recent thing, or has this area been like this for years? It seems like it was once flourishing with stores and shopping centers.... now, just has a Kmart. What were some of the stores in these plazas? It looked like there were some major stores judging by the size of the buildings.
Freedom Dr is one of the worst areas of Charlotte. From the looks of it, Freedom was once like Independence, but the changing demographics in the area pushed it into decline and it has snowballed since. Independence in 10 years will almost certainly look like Freedom Dr does today.
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Originally Posted by DaysofThundr46
For the first time today I took I-85 (I was coming from Gastonia) to downtown Charlotte, and it had me go Freedom Dr (Route 27). I noticed a TON of abandon shopping plazas. The area looked pretty desolate. This a recent thing, or has this area been like this for years? It seems like it was once flourishing with stores and shopping centers.... now, just has a Kmart. What were some of the stores in these plazas? It looked like there were some major stores judging by the size of the buildings.
Since you already were on 74/Franklin Blvd in Gastonia, you could have just stayed on it. It becomes Wilkinson Blvd & is very easy to get to Uptown.
Freedom Dr is one of the worst areas of Charlotte. From the looks of it, Freedom was once like Independence, but the changing demographics in the area pushed it into decline and it has snowballed since. Independence in 10 years will almost certainly look like Freedom Dr does today.
For the first time today I took I-85 (I was coming from Gastonia) to downtown Charlotte, and it had me go Freedom Dr (Route 27). I noticed a TON of abandon shopping plazas. The area looked pretty desolate. This a recent thing, or has this area been like this for years? It seems like it was once flourishing with stores and shopping centers.... now, just has a Kmart. What were some of the stores in these plazas? It looked like there were some major stores judging by the size of the buildings.
I can only recall Target and Lowes as former stores. They were on the Northern end of Freedom. The Target is now city or county offices and I think the Lowes is still empty.
Freedom Drive is one of those areas that never really recovered from white flight in the 1970s. (The west side was always rough, though, even when it was white). The city leaders (all Myers Parkians) systematically concentrated less-than-desireable developments (freeways, noxious industry, etc) on the north and west side throughout the 50s-70s to keep the wedge of southeast Charlotte exclusive. Then bulldozed poorer black neighborhoods near downtown (where the courthouse is today was once) and relocated those folks to the westside. Lots of westside white folks left after that. Then even more left after they integrated West Charlotte High.
Freedom Mall (where the social services offices are now) opened in the 1960s and I think shut down in the 90s. You would be fine stopping there during the day (I shop at the Aldi and drop stuff off at the big Goodwill there all the time) but I would avoid at night.
LOL On my last visit, my wife and I cut into uptown from 27 off 85. (We were just popping in as we passed through back North from Greenville SC)
I told her this is one of the worst areas in town and she just kind of looked at me like I was pulling her leg. It was her first trip, and the area didn't actually look that bad compared to many area ins CT. How sad is that. lol
I got some answers thanks to a friend at Sky City Retail: Looks like one of the abandon buildings at the former Freedrom Drive Mall was a Richway (now the Target brand of stores). Does anyone know if Target ended up opening up after they purchased Richway?
I got some answers thanks to a friend at Sky City Retail: Looks like one of the abandon buildings at the former Freedrom Drive Mall was a Richway (now the Target brand of stores). Does anyone know if Target ended up opening up after they purchased Richway?
Tne building that was Richway/Target was gutted, and then reopened with County offices.
The Target store was closed due high theft rates, after it closed the other stores in that little mall quickly closed or left.
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