Choice at Eastland: tennis, swimming … or a Target? (free version)
Plus: Murdaugh guilty; Medicaid deal reached; High school basketball ticket scalpers; Charity delivers 'Claire' packages to families of kids with cancer; Ricky Bobby mansion for sale
Editor’s note: This is a shorter, free version of The Charlotte Ledger sent to people on our free sign-up list. The complete version for paying members went out 15 minutes ago. It included:
The scoop on three proposals that have been submitted for the Eastland Mall site, including one that has neighborhood community leaders peeved. We’ve got the details on the three plans city council members will consider on Monday.
The story behind why so many high school basketball fans were locked out of being able to buy tickets on Thursday to this Saturday’s championship games, and why some people are paying up to $200 for resale tickets. We talked to a state high school sports authority and got the goods on what’s going on.
A story that will warm your heart: there’s a nonprofit in town that not only delivers care packages to families of kids battling cancer in the hospital, but that also arranges to have meals delivered to families from some of the city’s most popular restaurants.
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City Council committee to review 3 proposals for Eastland Mall site; Neighborhood pans idea for ‘large-scale retail’ instead of recreation
The old Eastland Mall site in east Charlotte is being prepared for a first phase of construction, which will have housing. City Council members are expected to decide on options for a future phase.
By Tony Mecia
A City Council committee is expected to hear details Monday of three proposals submitted for the old Eastland Mall site — including one that envisions a Target on the property.
With the land cleared to make way for the residential first phase of the project, the city and developer Crosland Southeast have been working to identify projects for a future phase — the one that originally was going to be a practice facility for Charlotte FC.
When the team decided to locate the facility off Monroe Road at Levine Properties’ McAlpines Center, that opened the door to other possibilities. The city set a Feb. 6 deadline for Eastland proposals, and city staff members are sharing details of three of them on Monday, assistant city manager Tracy Dodson told The Ledger.
Dodson declined to provide the details ahead of Monday’s meeting. But residents on the city’s eastside and other city sources confirmed that the three projects under consideration are believed to be proposals for a tennis complex, a swimming complex and a Target.
‘Worse than a Taylor Swift ticket fiasco’: Tickets for high school basketball playoffs sell out in seconds and are being resold for big bucks
Fans of the basketball programs at Myers Park High, North Mecklenburg High, Charlotte Catholic and Lake Norman High knew it’d be tough to score tickets to this Saturday’s boys and girls western regional championship games at Providence High. But when they got online to buy tickets as they went on sale at noon Thursday, the tickets were gobbled up in mere seconds — and now they’re being resold for $200 in some cases.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association used the GoFan online platform to sell $10 tickets for the two games, with ticket holders getting admission to both games. But there was no cap on the number of tickets people could buy, and by Thursday afternoon, students were offering resale tickets on their Instagram stories for prices as high as
Charity Spotlight: Claire’s Army reminds families and children with pediatric cancer that they have an army behind them
Claire’s Army provides “Claire” packages to families and children who have just received a cancer diagnosis. Inside each utility tote bag are hospital essentials – like towels, toothbrushes, and gas and grocery gift cards – to let families know that they have an army behind them. (Photo courtesy of Claire’s Army)
Claire Ratliff was just 2 years old when she was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma in 2011. She was a patient at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital for less than a year before she passed away in 2012.
Claire and her parents, Kevin and Emily Ratliff, had an army of friends and strangers behind them who helped them get through those difficult months. After Claire passed, Emily wanted to honor her legacy and offer that same support to children and families going through the same thing.
In 2013, Emily founded Claire’s Army, a nonprofit organization in Charlotte that supports patients with pediatric cancer and their families at Hemby Children’s Hospital and Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital.
“We’re seeing families who have just gotten their worst nightmare news,” said Kevin Chandler, program coordinator for Claire’s Army. “So, we’re just like, ‘Hey, you're not alone. We've got you. We’re here to help. We know what you're dealing with. This is what we know you’re going to need.’”
Chandler said social workers at the hospitals connect families under their care to Claire’s Army, and the nonprofit reaches out with three programs: care packages, meal delivery and emergency assistance.
“Claire” packages: The care packages, called “Claire” packages, are given to families upon initial diagnosis. A Claire package includes a utility tote bag filled with hospital essentials like towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste, a beverage tumbler, gift cards for gas and groceries and more.
Last year, Claire’s Army provided 95 packages to families who just received a diagnosis.
Meal delivery program: Claire’s Army alleviates some of the stress of preparing or picking up dinner by working with local restaurants four nights a week.
FS Food Group’s Midwood Smokehouse, Paco’s Tacos and Tequila and Mama Ricotta’s provide meals for four people and split the cost with Claire’s Army. Hawthorne Pizza also supplies meals for four at no cost to Claire’s Army.
Last year, over 100 volunteers delivered 570 meals to families at Hemby.
Claire’s Army has not supplied meals at Levine since the pandemic but instead gives DoorDash gift cards. Chandler said they hope to start providing meals to Levine families again soon.
Emergency assistance: Hospital bills and time away from work create a challenge for families to pay their mortgage, rent and utility bills. That’s where Claire’s Army steps in with its emergency assistance program, which is the largest program of the three.
Last year, Claire’s Army provided $189,000 in financial assistance to 64 families.
The nonprofit also financially supports families in other ways. Chandler said they have helped families with travel and moving expenses and have even bought a car for a family.
Claire’s Army gets a majority of its funding from its annual Claire’s Army Gala. Last year, the gala raised over $360,000. Chandler said that while Claire’s Army does receive large donations, it’s mostly built on smaller donations of $25 and $100.
‘A community organization’: Claire’s Army only has two official employees — Ratliff and Chandler — and the rest of the army is made up of volunteers, most of which are families who have gone through similar experiences and were helped by the nonprofit.
“There is a personal touch with us not being a national organization, but being really local, being a community organization,” Chandler said. “The people of Charlotte have really taken to wanting to help.” —LB
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You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
SATURDAY: Rhythm & Brews Presented by Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Peninsula Club, Cornelius. Rhythm & Brews supports the work of Pat Place Child Advocacy Center. The event features live music from Kids in America, auctions and craft beer from Birdsong Brewing Co., Ghostface Brewing, Lost Worlds Brewing, Petty Thieves Brewing Co. and Protagonist Beer. Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center provides all healing services at no cost for children who experience or are at risk of sexual abuse, physical abuse/neglect, witness a violent crime, domestic violence or human trafficking. $85-$125.
THROUGH APRIL 19: The Charlotte Writers Club is sponsoring a creative writing contest for students in grades 5-12. Students will submit a memoir, personal essay or short story up to 1,000 words. See the rules and guidelines for information.
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In brief
Murdaugh found guilty: It took a South Carolina jury just 3 hours to render a guilty verdict Thursday after the nearly 6-week trial of disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh, who was accused of killing his wife and son on the family’s Colleton County property in June 2021. Murdaugh’s sentencing is scheduled for this morning. He faces 30 years to life in prison without parole. (Post & Courier)
‘Monumental’ Medicaid expansion deal reached: North Carolina’s House and Senate have agreed to expand Medicaid coverage across the state. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who is a longtime supporter of the expansion, said the compromise between the Republican-majority chamber was “a monumental step.” The bill has not been filed yet, but House Speaker Tim Moore said the bill will “result in less cost, but at the same time vitally important to protect access to health care, particularly in our rural areas.” (Observer)
Jerry Richardson dies at 86: Jerry Richardson, founding owner of the Carolina Panthers who brought pro football to the Carolinas, died Wednesday night. Under Richardson’s ownership, the Panthers helped solidify Charlotte as a city on the move. He sold the team to David Tepper in 2018, following allegations of workplace harassment. (Ledger)
Business leaders frustrated with JSCU: Johnson C. Smith University rejected a plan for a 50,000 s.f. business and community center on a 1.8-acre parcel owned by the university on West Trade Street by Charlotte businessmen Malcomb Coley, Hugh McColl Jr., and Lloyd Yates. The university’s board backed out of the deal after initially agreeing to sell the site for the project. The university said it “will continue to review proposals, including proposals from Bright Hope Capital, in consultation with our advisors.” (Biz Journal)
Apple closing at Northlake: Apple announced it has permanently closed its Northlake Mall location less than 24 hours after a third shooting happened at the mall in the past three months. Apple did not say the closure is a result of the shootings but said it plans to open another Charlotte location early next year. (WBTV)
Pappas Properties one step closer to mixed-use project: The Matthews Planning Board voted 6-1 Tuesday to recommend approval of Pappas Properties’ rezoning request for an 82-acre site at Stallings and Idlewild roads. Pappas Properties has plans for a mixed-use development called Santé Matthews which includes 570 total residential units, a grocery store of up to 54,000 s.f., up to 40,000 s.f. of retail space and up to 15,000 s.f. of office space. The rezoning request will go before the town's board of commissioners on March 13 for a final decision. (Biz Journal)
Library kicks off Community Read program: Friendship is the theme of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Community Read program, which runs through the month of March and is aimed at having the community read or listen to books and participate in discussions, book clubs and events. The featured books include “The People We Keep” by Allison Larkin, “The Edge of Anything” by Nora Shalaway Carpenter, “Front Desk” by Kelly Yang and “The Big Umbrella” by Amy June Bates. (Charlotte Mecklenburg Library)
LaMelo’s ankle surgery a success: Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball had a successful surgery on his right ankle. He fractured his ankle in the third quarter of the Detroit game on Monday. Ball is expected to make a full recovery but will sit out the rest of the season. (NBA)
High school football goes big-time: For the first time, two high school football teams will play at Bank of America Stadium. Providence Day School will play Northwestern of Rock Hill in a season opener on Aug. 19. (Panthers)
Ricky Bobby mansion for sale: A Cornelius mansion that appeared in the 2006 comedy “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” is for sale, with an asking price of $9.9M. The 12,000 s.f. house on Lake Norman has six bedrooms, six full bathrooms and three half-baths. In the movie, it was the home of Will Ferrell’s character, race-car driver Ricky Bobby. (Biz Journal, subscriber-only)
Bear safety tips: The National Park Service says if you encounter a bear in the woods, you should talk calmly, stay put and slowly wave your arms. It advises against climbing trees, running, screaming or “pushing your slower friend toward the bear to make a break for it.” (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