Are you interested in knowing what may be the next big thing in the Queen City? Read on and check out Crystal Lagoons.

Founded by a biochemist-turned-real estate developer, Crystal Lagoons builds Carribean beach experiences ANYWHERE. You name it: Palm Springs, Dallas, Chile, Abu Nabbi, Charlotte. I’ve been exploring alternatives with their executives and our conversations have given me some insight into their business. I see huge potential for the Carolinas.

For example, in Plano, Texas, an ailing shopping center is being replaced by a $1 billion mixed-use project that will include a Crystal Lagoon. In all, this 100-plus-acre site along U.S. Highway 75 will include shopping, entertainment, housing, hotel, and office buildings. The 1.5-acre Crystal Lagoon water feature will be a prominent feature as people enter the development. Developers and city officials have said they believe residents and companies will be attracted to the project because of the amenities, including the lagoon and other pools. The amenities will also result in higher rents.

That got me thinking: What is the future for Carolina Place Mall? Northlake Mall?? Or even SouthPark??? Wouldn’t you like to relax in pristine waters or take a paddleboard ride during your lunch break?

If a Caribbean-style lagoon can end up in an old mall in the ‘burbs of Dallas, what is the likelihood that something similar here?

Regional malls enjoyed their heyday in the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s. But store closures and bankruptcies, along with changing consumer shopping habits (Amazon! -and other eCommerce) have weakened many regional shopping malls nationwide.

There are lots of cool facts about Crystal Lagoons.

• Crystal Lagoons sets its sights on big cities
• Communities with Crystal Lagoon amenities show increased sales value
• The nation’s first Crystal Lagoon opened late last year in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Residents have access to the 7.5-acre man-made lake and white sand beaches, and non-residents can pay a fee for limited access.

Crystal Lagoons says that their destinations are sustainable and eco friendly. They promote that their man-made, fresh-water lakes require a minimum amount of additives and energy.

Other fun facts from the folks at Crystal Lagoons:

• A Crystal Lagoon uses up to 30 times less water than a golf course and 50% less water than is required by a park of the same size.
• The lagoons use any type of water: salt, fresh or brackish water.
• These systems consume only 2% of the energy needed by conventional swimming pool filtration systems.
• The technology allows capturing rainwater that falls into the lagoons, reducing the amount of water necessary to compensate for the evaporation.
• The company can even construct floating crystalline lagoons without using land. These lagoons are located in natural or man-made lakes with low water quality. Imagine: A floating lagoon within a lake!

These lagoons also do something important for the economy: they create premium value for an underused property.

Could people one-day water ski where a department store or a sea of asphalt and parking spots sit in Pineville? I like to think so.

Crystal Lagoons is expanding here through collaborating with municipalities, developers and landowners. If this may make sense for you, let me know and I will make an introduction!