A CMS boundaries nailbiter (free version)
Plus: SouthPark Trianon apartment deal nixed; home sales to investors sink in Charlotte; Alicia Keys turns 40 at Prince's seaside compound now owned by a Charlottean; Big shakeup among CMS brass
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A story you’ll only read in The Ledger, about the lengths some parents are going to bring up possible solutions and make sure their voices are heard as CMS gets ready to finalize its south Charlotte boundary lines next Tuesday. We introduce you to a group of data-scientist parents who together spent more than 1,000 hours creating a fresh proposal they want officials to consider.
News on what’s behind the collapse of what was expected to be a big housing development for SouthPark, with 700 new apartments that were slated to be built where the Trianon condo complex now stands. We’ve got insights on why the deal fell apart and what might happen to the property going forward.
Some real estate news that might make you do a double-take: In the first quarter of 2023, the number of homes in the Charlotte region bought by investors plunged 66% compared with a year earlier. We’ve got some context on why that happened.
A fun story that might make you want to pack your bags for a Caribbean getaway: We have an update on a drool-worthy Turks & Caicos resort that was previously owned by music icon Prince — and is now owned by a Charlotte businessman. We’ve got a link to a video of Alicia Keys celebrating her 40th birthday there earlier this spring.
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Board members say boundary revisions are possible, as south Charlotte parents make last-ditch pitches ahead of Tuesday’s vote; data scientist parents at Polo Ridge float their own maps
Parents and students in the Polo Ridge Elementary feeder pattern protested Wednesday night against the CMS south Charlotte boundary plan that would shift them to a new middle and high school in the coming years.
by Cristina Bolling
After the shock of last month’s south Charlotte school boundary plan announcement had worn off, an emergency town hall in their school gym had concluded and emotions had calmed, a group of about 10 data-scientist parents from the Polo Ridge Elementary feeder pattern who were unhappy with the plan came together and asked: Could they scientifically analyze their way out of the pickle they were in?
They canceled evening plans, cleared their calendars for the long Memorial Day weekend, pulled out maps and fired up their laptops.
By their best estimations, they say they spent a combined 1,000-plus hours over the last week or so coming up with a fresh plan for school boundary lines in south Charlotte — one they say they believe is better than all of the proposals CMS has crafted so far, both for their own kids and those in nearby schools. Their revisions would keep Polo Ridge at Ardrey Kell High instead of heading to a new relief high school, which they say would be a quicker commute and less disruptive for students than CMS’ latest plan.
Polo Ridge Elementary, which sits in south Charlotte near Ballantyne, is one of several current centers of CMS boundary angst as the district works to draw new attendance lines in preparation for opening a new high school in the fall of 2024 and a new proposed middle school in the fall of 2025.
After more than a year of proposals, revisions and meetings, the CMS school board is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the new boundaries. It could approve the superintendent’s plan as recommended or make changes — and much of south Charlotte is watching with varying levels of concern. The revisions affect 27 schools attended by tens of thousands of students and are intended to relieve overcrowding, balance socioeconomic diversity, keep kids close to home and keep school feeder patterns intact.
But that’s a tough task, and not everyone is happy.
The latest plan, released in mid-May, contained boundary changes that weren’t included in previous drafts, which surprised and angered parents at Polo Ridge and other communities who argued that they weren’t given as much time or opportunities for feedback as other communities had who were affected by earlier drafts.
Two school board members — at-large member Jennifer De La Jara and Melissa Easley, who represents north Charlotte — told The Ledger Thursday that
Related Ledger articles:
“Did a school board member’s address play a role in the CMS south Charlotte boundary map?” (May 26)
“A marathon meeting over south Charlotte boundaries” (May 24)
“‘Blindsided’ neighborhoods fight CMS boundary plan” (🔒, May 19)
“Your guide to CMS school boundary recommendations” (🔒, May 17)
“BREAKING: CMS releases final proposed south Charlotte boundary maps” (May 15)
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COMING NEXT WEEK: FULL COVERAGE
Stick with The Charlotte Ledger for continued in-depth coverage of CMS school reassignment. Look for the return of our LIVE BLOG, with the real-time blow-by-blow of Tuesday’s big CMS meeting.
➡️ We’ll also be answering reader questions, a service availably only to paying Ledger members (🔒).
Big pullback in SouthPark on 700+ apartments underscores worries about declining rents
After two years of work to win approval of a big and controversial plan for more than 700 apartments in SouthPark, the developer of the project is now saying the deal won’t go forward.
And part of the blame for the deal’s collapse goes to concerns about future rents, one of several emerging challenges to developing commercial property in an uncertain economy.
On Wednesday, Miami-based Related Group told owners of the Trianon condos on Colony and Roxborough roads that the finances of the deal became too shaky, with higher interest rates and lower anticipated rents, City Council member Tariq Bokhari told The Ledger on Thursday morning.
Related Ledger articles:
“Another slow quarter for new Charlotte construction” (🔒, April 19)
“Developers hit pause on new apartments” (🔒, Dec. 14, 2022)
“Another tower planned for SouthPark” (May 10, 2022)
Surprise: Corporate home buyers are backing off; Investor purchases in Charlotte plunge 66%, 3rd most in the country
While some local government officials continue to worry about corporations driving up housing costs by snapping up starter homes, the trend is now appearing to reverse itself.
In the first quarter of 2023, the number of homes in the Charlotte region bought by investors plunged 66% compared with a year earlier, according to an analysis released this week by real estate company Redfin. That’s the third-highest decline in the country, behind Nassau County (N.Y.) and Atlanta. Just 18% of Charlotte-area homes were sold to investors between January and March of this year, down from 35% a year earlier.
Last year, Mecklenburg County commissioners agreed to spend $500,000 to study and address corporate-owned housing. Commissioner Mark Jerrell called investor-owned housing a “powder keg” that is “going to explode.”
Related Ledger article:
Alicia Keys celebrated her birthday at Prince’s Caribbean mansion now owned by a Charlotte businessman
We don’t write about celebrities too often in The Ledger, but last year we brought you a story about Charlotte businessman Tom Barnes, who’d recently bought a Turks & Caicos compound that was once owned by the late music superstar Prince.
When we interviewed Barnes in February 2022, he was finishing a giant renovation and construction project on the resort, which he’d renamed “Emara,” and was looking forward to making it a haven for celebrities and large groups looking for a getaway.
Well, it looks like it’s catching on.
A-list singer-songwriter Alicia Keys celebrated her 40th birthday at Emara earlier this spring, and she posted a video on Instagram about the experience, giving a shout-out to her husband of 14 years, Swizz Beatz. (According to her post, she’d asked him for a private getaway for the two of them, and he obliged — until Day 4 of their stay on Emara, when a host of friends and family showed up to surprise Keys. She was delighted.)
Alicia Keys posted a video of her 40th birthday bash at the Emara resort, complete with paddleboarding on the crystal blue Caribbean waters. (Click the image to see the video.)
Keys’ Instagram video shows the moment when the party guests were revealed inside one of the over-the-top Emara mansions, a glitzy dinner party where Keys wears a sparkling purple suit (the resort has all sorts of purple nods to the late Prince), Keys and her guests doing beachfront yoga and a mouth-watering crab boil (presumably cooked up by an Emara chef?).
Since The Ledger wrote about Emara last year,
Related Ledger article:
“The Charlottean who bought Prince’s Caribbean mansion” (Feb. 7, 2022)
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
SATURDAY: National Trails Day, various locations, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Be a part of our region’s largest celebration of trails and the outdoors. On June 3, join members of the Thread Trail staff to experience some of their favorite trails through a variety of FREE guided hikes and bike rides throughout the day! Space is limited on these guided adventures and advance registration is requested. Free event.
JUNE 22: TriVenture, Riverside Marina, 7:30 a.m. Compete in the area's newest multi-sport event. Swim 800 meters, run a 5K, then race on a kayak or paddleboard 800 meters back to the finish! Or swim, run - then choose your fun as you float back to finish. POST RACE PARTY w/ David Childers & The Serpents! $75.
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
In brief
Ice rink revival at Eastland: As part of a new park at the old Eastland Mall site, Mecklenburg County is planning a seasonal ice-skating rink — a nod to the former mall, which had a rink. Construction on the park portion of the Eastland redevelopment is scheduled to start next year. (WSOC)
CMS bond package, higher county taxes move ahead: Mecklenburg County commissioners gave preliminary approval to a $2.3 billion budget, including a $2.5 billion bond package for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. They also signaled support to raise taxes above a revenue-neutral rate, which they say is needed to cover the growing demand for services such as schools, parks, affordable housing, health and employee raises. (WFAE)
Mandy Cohen headed for top job at CDC: Former N.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, who became a household name across the state during the Covid pandemic, has been tapped to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to multiple reports. (Politico)
High-level changes at CMS: Less than two weeks into her tenure as superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Crystal Hill announced sweeping changes among the district’s top-level staff Thursday. In a news release, Hill introduced new executive leaders including a new deputy superintendent from Gaston County Schools, a new chief of staff from Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools, a new chief human resources officer from Gaston County Schools, a new chief financial officer from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and a new associate superintendent of human resources from Stanly County Schools. The announcement also included role changes for several existing CMS staff.
Autopsy delays: Autopsies in North Carolina routinely take more than 20 weeks to complete, and some take longer than a year. “The medical examination system is in crisis,” said North Carolina’s Health and Human Services secretary. (Observer)
Developer sues after being called ‘greedy’: A developer who has proposed a lagoon resort with hundreds of homes and a hotel in Huntersville is suing two critics, who he says called him greedy on social media. Jake Palillo, the developer of the Lagoona Bay project, says in court papers that the two residents are running a “smear campaign” designed to “destroy his reputation in the community.” The suit says the social media comments claim he is “greedy and doesn’t follow through with any of his projects.” It seeks $25,000 in damages. (WSOC)
Mixed-use on 60 acres in Matthews: A planning board in Matthews recommended approval of a proposal for a mixed-use development on 60 acres at 1205 E. John St. It would allow 240,000 s.f. of commercial space, 285 apartments, 150 hotel rooms and 130 townhomes. The proposal, called the Matthews Gateway project, is from Charlotte-based Lat Purser & Associates. Matthews commissioners are scheduled to vote on the proposal June 12. (Biz Journal, subscriber-only)
New 3-mile stretch of Little Sugar Creek Greenway: A new three-mile section of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway has opened from Pineville to the South Carolina state line. The new stretch runs from the President James K. Polk State Historic Site in Pineville to Gilroy Drive in Lancaster County, S.C. The $8M project includes 2.5 miles of stream restoration, pedestrian bridge crossings, neighborhood connections and boardwalk systems. The new stretch also connects to the Cross Charlotte Trail and is part of ongoing efforts to expand greenways throughout the region. (Axios)
Mmm, milkshakes: A couple outside Burlington served Cook Out milkshakes at their wedding reception in March. (Observer)
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire, CXN Advisory; Contributing photographer/videographer: Kevin Young, The 5 and 2 Project