Mint Hill Times
Posted on Mon, Oct. 29, 2007
Bridges Closer To Reality
Written By: Adam Huston

Could it finally be here? According to Mayor Ted Biggers, ground will officially be broken some time in November for the Bridges at Mint Hill mall at Interstate 485 and Lawyers Road. Last week, a representative from the mall gave town staff an update on the progress. Currently, they are in the final process of getting permission from Mecklenburg County to begin grading.

Several stores were officially announced for the mall. Belk and Dillard’s are in, as is Barnes and Noble bookstore. Consolidated Theaters is also on board. According to Biggers, many stores are interested, but mall officials want to find the right blend of quality restaurants and shops.

And if everything goes accordingly, this will be the most unique mall in the area. If you are imagining something similar to South Park Mall, you are half-right. The Bridges at Mint Hill has placed emphasis on high quality shopping and restaurants like South Park, but the structure will be nothing like the big, enclosed box variety.

Mall officials said they want more than 50 percent open space to give the mall a more natural setting. A mall representative told town staff last week they are at 48 percent. Not too shabby.

Of course there’s still questions about traffic along Lawyers and Bain School roads, and other arteries leading to the mall. And for those who see the mall as unwanted development in Mint Hill, news of the groundbreaking is not good.

But from every indication, the developers have gone out of their way to make the Bridges at Mint Hill something not only the town will benefit from by having quality shopping closer to home, but something the town can be proud of. It’s nice to see it’s finally becoming a reality.