Here's an excerpt from Thomas Monigan's blog at the gazette on the new center. FWIW, the rezoning was approved so the center has the green light from everything I understand:
SOMETIMES THE WHOLE DAY CHANGES WHEN THE PHONE RINGS. Some days are netter than others in this regard. Thanks to my Mystery Caller (You know who you are) who supplied the tip on The Shoppes at Gastonia. This will be on McLean Family land close to Ashbrook HS and the intersection of South New Hope and Redbud. Plans call for 128,500 square feet of retail space on 17.3 acres. Plans for The Shoppes at Gastonia will be presented at the June 7 meeting of the Gastonia Planning Commission. If approved, completion would be targeted for late 2009. Stanberry Development, based in Columbus, Ohio, would be leasing the land from Les McLean, who grew up in a house on that site. Greg Hall, Stanbery