The Charlotte City Council's economic development committee is recommending the city hire Jacobs, a Dallas-based construction and engineering firm, to attract developers to invest in the former Eastland Mall site. A full city council vote on the contract is slated for March 27, the Charlotte Business Journal reports.

In 2012, the city of Charlotte acquired the '70s-vintage dead mall, which is on 80 acres, for $13.2M. The next year, the structure was razed. Various proposals have been made since then, but nothing has jelled. The cap on the value of the contract with Jacobs would be $575K.

Fifteen firms responded to the city's request last year for statements of interest and qualifications from consultants, from which the Texas company was selected. If Jacobs is hired, the company would spend this spring leading workshops and forums with neighborhood groups and developers to ascertain what is needed to spur private investment at the site.