Charlotte, N.C., airport seeks bids on CLT Destination District

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a commercial hub on nearby airport-owned land to be known as the CLT Destination District.

Initially announced over four years ago, The CLT Destination District will comprise over 65 acres of developable land split into 22 parcels, including nine food and beverage outlets, fast food joints and high-end dining establishments alongside breweries. Additionally, the development is set to feature light-industrial and multi-tenant spaces. A convenience store, gas station, medical office and pharmacy are also planned.

Proposals are due Feb. 22, and award notifications will be sent by April 2.

The RFP coincides with the broader Destination CLT initiative, a $4 billion capital investment to revamp the airport’s infrastructure to bolster terminal and airfield facilities to meet projected growth and demand through 2035.

The larger vision for the district is to create a sustainable, adaptive reuse of airport-area land. To do so, airport officials plan to explore a range of contracting strategies, including the sale or lease of land and the formation of public-private partnerships. Officials pointed to the Amazon Robotic Fulfillment Center, once part of the airport’s land but developed in 2019, as a model for future employment and revenue-generating opportunities at the district.

CLT is the world’s seventh busiest airport, handling over 505,000 flights and serving nearly 48 million passengers in 2022, a year-over-year growth of 10.3%. The airport generates billions in tax revenue, supports over 150,000 jobs and contributes 5% to North Carolina’s GDP. The new development is expected to bolster CLT’s growth by 2% to 3.5% annually over the next 15 years.

The global airline industry continues to rebound, reaching 72.5% of pre-pandemic travelers in 2022.

^{Strategic Partnerships, Inc.}^{can provide information on contract opportunities, plus existing and future government funding. For more information, contact}^{research@spartnerships.com}^.