Historic Uptown Charlotte building to be replaced with data center
A historic 100-year-old Court Arcade building in Uptown Charlotte is being demolished to make way for a data center by Digital Realty. Preservation leaders are expressing concern over the loss of historic landmarks due to rapid development and are advocating for a role in future development decisions. The demolished building was eligible for historic landmark status but was not officially designated.
A historic building in Uptown Charlotte, formerly known as the Court Arcade building on East Trade Street and about 100 years old, is being torn down to make way for a new data center. The demolition process continued on Wednesday, drawing concern from preservation leaders.
Stuart Gray, who helps protect old buildings in Mecklenburg County, led efforts to preserve the building's facade and arches. He had believed there was an agreement with Digital Realty, the company developing the data center, to preserve the front of the building and construct behind it. However, the plan changed, leading to the full demolition of the property. Gray emphasizes the need for legal protection for properties, noting that not everything can be designated as a landmark.
Gray advocates for "adaptive reuse" as the best way forward for such developments and hopes this incident brings more attention to preserving historic buildings, suggesting incentives for developers. A city spokesperson confirmed that the Court Arcade was eligible for historic landmark status but was not officially designated, which ultimately allowed the demolition to proceed.