A developer says 'yes' to native plants
Plus: Tax filing deadline pushed back; Tryon Medical makes changes for heart patients; Podcast on helping teens achieve goals; Pollen outlook; Thousands protest; Life-sized interactive Monopoly
Good morning! Today is Monday, April 7, 2025. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
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Today’s Charlotte Ledger is sponsored by T.R. Lawing Realty:
A county commissioner wanted environmentally friendly landscaping. A developer wanted tax incentives. They struck a deal — ‘I wanted to hug him’
The Providence Square redevelopment along Providence Road in south Charlotte will feature native plants, thanks to an agreement between Mecklenburg commissioner Elaine Powell and developer Daniel Levine.
by Michelle Crouch
Mecklenburg County commissioner Elaine Powell said she is not often inclined to approve tax incentives for developers.
But in January, she found herself voting yes for a $12.1M county tax incentive grant for the massive $560M Providence Square redevelopment in south Charlotte.
A big part of her change of heart? Native plants.
Powell, a self-described environmental advocate, said what sealed the deal for her was developer Daniel Levine’s commitment to landscape the 110-acre mixed-use project using native trees and plants — an unusual commitment for a project of that size.
The development by Levine Properties and Northwood Ravin includes about 1,900 housing units, restaurants, a grocery store and other retail along Providence Road at International Drive.
In exchange for $19M in city and county tax incentives, the developers committed to improvements that include upgrades to the McAlpine Creek greenway, transportation enhancements, 108 affordable units, $1M toward park activation and 4.4 acres for public parks.
But before the vote, Powell saw an opportunity to ask for something more.
She knew that large developments typically landscape with plants that harm local wildlife, require excessive watering and depend on chemical fertilizers, while native plants support pollinators and thrive naturally. For example, Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica) — a popular landscaping shrub in Charlotte — has berries that are poisonous to local birds. Wildlife-friendly alternatives include native shrubs like American Beautyberry or Spicebush.
So Powell pushed for the use of native plants and trees — and Levine agreed.
“Every time I pass a landscaping truck, there are all kinds of invasive species on it that people plant, and it just causes problems throughout the county,” Powell said at the Jan. 22 meeting before she voted. “So it makes me happy you’re making that good-faith commitment to do it, because it’s going to make a difference.”
Levine told The Ledger last week that he agreed because he wanted a unanimous vote, but that he didn’t really know exactly what he was agreeing to: “I said, ‘Look, as long as my landscape doesn’t look like The Munsters’ front yard, I am willing to embrace this.’”
After the meeting, Levine sent Powell an email acknowledging he had never considered the environmental impact of landscaping in his 40 years in the development business.
“I am older but never too old to learn new things,” he wrote.
That email led to a two-hour sit-down with Powell and county natural resources experts, who walked Levine and his business partner, Daniel Malino, through the do’s and don’ts of responsible landscaping.
Powell described the meeting as “one of the greatest moments” since she’s been elected. “I could tell he really wanted to learn,” she said. “I had such a sense of connection. I wanted to hug him.”
Powell, a Democrat who has represented north Mecklenburg since first elected in 2018, connected Levine to Dearness Gardens Nursery & Landscaping of Huntersville, which specializes in native plants and trees.
Levine told The Ledger he’s already hired Dearness Gardens to update the landscaping at two smaller sites: at 8600 McAlpine Park Drive in east Charlotte where Charlotte FC has its headquarters, and along Coltsgate Road in SouthPark, as part of a landscape refresh to 2545 Sharon Road.
“The shocking thing was, Elaine said I was the very first developer to agree to do this on any terms,” Levine said. “At first I thought, ‘What did I agree to?’ But the more I’m learning, I’m kind of excited about it.”
Michelle Crouch is a longtime reporter in Charlotte. Reach her at mcrouch@northcarolinahealthnews.org.
Today’s supporting sponsor is Landon A. Dunn, attorney-at-law in Matthews:
Good news for tax procrastinators: Mecklenburg residents have until May 1 to file
If your to-do list for this week includes wrapping up your taxes ahead of the annual April 15 deadline, you should know that if you live in Mecklenburg County, you actually have an additional couple of weeks.
After Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina last fall, the Internal Revenue Service and the N.C. Department of Revenue said taxpayers in counties that were designated as part of the disaster area can file until May 1 without penalty.
Mecklenburg was added to the designated disaster area largely because of the flooding near Mountain Island Lake. But anybody in the county is eligible for a postponement, even those whose houses didn’t flood.
The federal government declared 39 counties in North Carolina to be eligible for disaster relief in connection with Hurricane Helene, including other Charlotte-area counties such as Union, Cabarrus, Iredell, Gaston and Lincoln.
Local tax lawyers and accountants have recently been telling their clients that they have a little more time to finish the job. —Tony Mecia
Tryon Medical Partners drops heart patients who don’t also use their primary care doctors
Tryon Medical Partners is cutting ties with cardiology patients who don’t also use a primary care doctor within the practice, according to letters sent to patients and shared with The Ledger.
While it’s common for health care groups to encourage patients to see doctors within the same practice, it’s unusual for it to be a requirement.
Tryon, the area’s largest independent physician practice, said in the letter that the change will help it manage the demand for its cardiologists and improve care coordination.
Dale Owen, CEO of Tryon Medical Partners and a cardiologist himself, said it wasn’t an easy decision, but that Tryon’s cardiology group was having to turn away about a third of the referrals that came from its own physicians because the cardiologists were so overbooked.
“That doesn't work well with what we're trying to do — to coordinate care and improve quality,” he said. “It was a decision we talked a lot about, and we decided it was time that we made the call to prioritize the care and coordination of the patients from Tryon Medical Partners.”
The change left some long-time patients frustrated and scrambling to find new heart specialists.
Denise Slavich’s 87-year-old mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease and a pacemaker, had been seeing a Tryon Medical cardiologist for years. She previously saw a primary care doctor at Tryon, too, but switched in 2023 to the in-house doctor at her Charlotte area assisted living facility, Slavich said, because that doctor can see her on site and coordinate in real time with her other care providers there.
Now, under Tryon’s new policy, Slavich’s mother must either give up her on-site physician and return to a Tryon Medical primary care doctor or find a new heart doctor.
“After years of being a patient (at Tryon Medical), they’re just pushing her aside,” Slavich said. “This will directly hinder her continuity of care at a time when she is at her most vulnerable.”
Owen said Tryon Medical is trying to hire more general cardiologists (who don’t specialize in cardiac imaging or electrophysiology) to expand capacity, but it’s tough amid a national shortage.
He said the policy change was not related to its recent partnership with a private equity firm, which he emphasized is involved only on the business side of the practice — not clinical care.
About 110 patients have received letters about the change, Tryon said. —Michelle Crouch
🎧 New podcast: Showing teenagers the path to a brighter future
Growing up, Courtnie Coble’s Saturdays were filled with day trips to Charlotte. Her mother, a self-made entrepreneur who never went to college, would load Coble and her siblings into the car and take them to open houses in Charlotte’s gated communities.
Coble would see glimpses of a life that at the time felt worlds away from her small town of Burnsville, N.C., in Anson County east of Charlotte. But to Coble’s mother, these trips weren’t just outings; they were lessons.
“It’s hard to have what you don’t see,” Coble said.
Today, as the visionary and CEO of The Academy of Goal Achievers, she’s passing down that same lesson — showing young people that their futures can be bigger than they ever imagined. Founded in 2015, the organization helps prepare high school students and families for success after high school.
On a recent episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Coble talked with Ledger podcast host Steve Dunn about the importance of opening up students’ horizons. They also discussed:
The programming and long-term support the Academy of Goal Achievers provides students from freshman year through college completion or career entry.
The importance of community in shaping perceptions of what is possible.
Coble’s experiences growing up around Black women entrepreneurs who inspired the belief that exposure to different lifestyles and career paths can expand young people’s ambitions.
This episode is sponsored by AC Creative Collective, which specializes in end-to-end marketing and learning and development services — from social media strategies to workshops and brand launches.
The Charlotte Ledger Podcast features conversations on local topics including business, nonprofits, education and more. It’s available on major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Check it out!
Quotable: Charlotte’s pollen outlook
WCNC chief meteorologist Brad Panovich, writing on X (formerly Twitter) over the weekend, about how long pollen in Charlotte will last, and how to clean decks and porches:
I’m getting a lot of questions about when the pollen will end. Can I clean off my deck or porch? If it was May 5th, I’d say we are past the worst and almost done.
The problem is it’s April 5 and we're in the peak of pollen season. We have a long way to go.
My advice is to do 2 cleanings each Spring, sometimes 3. One early in the season that is heavy duty to clean off both pollen and winter dirt. Then, a water-only cleaning in early May once we are towards the end just to get the pollen again. This way, I can enjoy the outside more without sitting in heavy pollen until May.
Join us Tuesday for a free webinar on ‘The Art of Aging Well’ with Caregiving Corner + The Ledger
There’s still time to register for a free webinar on Tuesday, April 8, from 10-11 a.m. packed with expert insights to help you prepare for aging with confidence. You’ll come away with practical strategies and objective information, whether you’re planning for yourself or an aging loved one.
This webinar will be a conversational-style program featuring Jennifer Szakaly, president and CEO of Caregiving Corner, which is a Charlotte-based geriatric care management and counseling firm, and Cristina Bolling, managing editor of the Charlotte Ledger.
Can’t make it live? Register for the event, and the webinar will be recorded and sent to you in an email after the event.
You might be interested in these Charlotte events: Storyteller’s Night, Walk the SouthPark Loop, Derby Days with mint juleps
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
THURSDAY: “Storyteller’s Night at Jesse Brown’s,” 6-8 p.m., Jesse Brown’s, 4732 Sharon Road, Suite 2M. Come hear true tales of adventure, personal experiences and life-changing moments at Storyteller’s Night, which has brought the Charlotte community together for over a decade. This event features three incredible stories from three local people: Dave Hamme, owner of Lost Worlds Beer; Dan Nance, local historical artist; and David Fleming, national author. Free.
SATURDAY: “A Walk in the Park: Hike SouthPark Loop,” 9-11:30 a.m., Jesse Brown’s, 4732 Sharon Road, Suite 2M. Jesse Brown’s hike guide leads this popular 4-mile walk through the SouthPark neighborhood. This beautiful part of Charlotte is known as a bustling business, shopping and entertainment district of SouthPark, and it also has a rich history that we learn as we walk The Loop. See where the evangelist Billy Graham and news broadcaster Charles Kuralt’s school building existed, visit an African-American cemetery and see where the businesses of the past meet present-day titans of industry. Comfortable shoes and water are needed. Free.
MAY 2: “Derby Days,” 3-6:30 p.m., Mint Museum-Randolph. Join us in 2025 for an unforgettable day as we gather with over 300 of Charlotte’s young professionals! Enjoy live music, refreshing Mint Juleps, a selection of open wine and beer, delicious food trucks and exciting contests. $65.
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
In brief:
Thousands protest government cuts: Thousands of people gathered in front of the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services in Charlotte on Saturday to protest cuts to federal programs. The protest was part of a national day of protests, with similar events in other cities. (WFAE)
Charlotte Catholic accreditation: After Charlotte Catholic High School switched accreditation to a program with more of an emphasis on Catholic teachings and values — a move that angered some parents — colleges say the switch isn’t a factor in admissions. (Observer)
Building searched in Asha Degree case: Law enforcement officers searched an old school building in Lincoln County on Friday in connection with the case of Asha Degree, the 9-year-old who went missing in 2000. (WBTV)
No evidence of hate crime: The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office said Friday that they have found no evidence of a hate crime in regard to a highly publicized fight at Ardrey Kell High in March: “At this time, there is no indication that the conduct implicates any federal laws, and in particular federal hate crimes laws,” they said in a joint statement. (WBTV)
‘Ballantyne Bolt’ shuttle service: Northwood Office, owner of the Ballantyne Corporate Park, said it is starting a free microtransit shuttle service for office tenants and Oro and Towerview apartment residents to get around the 535-acre campus. The rides will be in electric Volkswagen ID Buzz SUVs, and the service will be called the “Ballantyne Bolt.”
Body identified after nearly 30 years: The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police cold case unit said it has identified a murder victim whose remains were discovered in a wooded area by Bank of America Stadium in 1996. The body was identified using DNA. The woman had been reported missing in the early 1990s. (WSOC)
Life-sized Monopoly: Blumenthal Arts is bringing an interactive life-sized Monopoly game to Blume Studios in South End beginning May 6. It is hiring about 30 improv actors, and participants will solve escape-room style puzzles and collect properties like Boardwalk and Park Place. There’s also a bar with Monopoly-themed drinks and snacks. Tickets are $40. (Axios Charlotte)
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I love this exchange & kudos to Cmr Powell and Mr Levine for the creative agreement. I also wonder if native landscaping could be achieved through an ordinance rather than trading $12M of our tax dollars for it? Can we make it the standard, and use our public funding to ensure things like a larger proportion of affordable units than 5%, for example?