The graying of Mecklenburg
Plus: Answering reader questions on grocery store plans; Ratings agency might downgrade Charlotte Water; New podcast on summer learning loss; Social districts on council agenda
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Even as millennials and Gen Z flock to Charlotte, the county’s average age is rising; 30% of residents are aged 50+, up from 2010
by Tony Mecia
Despite the thousands of people in their 20s and 30s moving to the Charlotte area every year, the age of a typical Mecklenburg County resident is continuing to rise.
That might seem counterintuitive, given the prominence of new luxury apartments close to uptown, the emergence of South End as a young-person hotspot and the constant focus on bars and restaurants that cater to the under-40 crowd.
But a Charlotte Ledger examination of Census data shows that Mecklenburg, while younger on average than most of the state, isn’t immune from national trends toward an older population:
The percentage of Mecklenburg residents over age 50 rose to 30% in 2022, up from 25% in 2010.
The biggest growth of any age group in Mecklenburg from 2010 to 2022 was among people in their 60s, with an increase of nearly 40,000 during that time. The number of people in their 70s nearly doubled.
From 2010 to 2022, the median age in Mecklenburg rose from 33.9 to 35.6.
Mecklenburg’s numbers mirror a national trend in which the population’s median age is increasing as people choose to have fewer children on average than in previous generations.
“Across the board, urban and rural, median age has gone up, and it will continue to go up as fertility rates continue to decline,” said Nathan Dollar, director of Carolina Demography at UNC Chapel Hill’s Carolina Population Center. “Even though there do tend to be more younger people — working-age people —moving into urban areas, fertility rates have declined across the board.”
Mecklenburg’s median age (35.6) is lower than the median age for both North Carolina (39.2) and the U.S. (38.9). Out of North Carolina’s 100 counties, Mecklenburg has the 7th-lowest median age. Twelve N.C. counties have median ages of 50+, led by Brunswick County on the coast, which has a median age of nearly 57.
Since 2010, Mecklenburg’s population has increased by about 226,000 people, which is the result of more people moving here than moving away and more births than deaths. In that time, every age group from 0-9 to 80+ increased in population, The Ledger’s analysis shows — some from moving here, and many from growing older here. But the increases are unevenly distributed. The number of residents aged 0-9 increased the least, followed by 80+, 40-49 and 10-19.
The shift toward an older population is a worldwide phenomenon that has policy consequences on everything from housing to healthcare. The state government this year announced a plan to improve the lives of older residents called “All Ages, All Stages,” which calls for more healthcare workers and greater access to transportation, housing and senior centers.
Related Ledger articles:
“Charlotte’s 55+ communities are staying active” (Sept. 28, 2020)
“New apartments spring up for seniors” (🔒, Feb. 11, 2022)
“Seniors go back to class” (March 18)
“Stronger growth returns to Mecklenburg is 2022 after dip” (🔒, March 31)
“Guiding older adults through their golden years” (🎧, June 2)
Today’s supporting sponsor is Landon A. Dunn, attorney-at-law in Matthews:
You Ask, We Answer: Grocery edition 🛒
Welcome to the latest installment of “You Ask, We Answer,” The Ledger’s attempt to help improve your understanding of our city. Have a question you’d like us to look into? Email us!
We’ve had a series of questions about grocery stores lately, as some of the big chains have announced plans to open new locations … and then seem to be either stalling the projects or not starting at all. Let’s dig in:
◼️ South Boulevard Lidl: Two readers reached out in recent weeks about a new Lidl that was under construction on South Boulevard near Clanton Road, where work had been going full-bore — and then stopped cold for what seemed like weeks.
Nothing was happening at the site of the Lidl under construction on South Boulevard when this photo was taken on Sept. 13.
Here’s a note we got from reader Susan Patterson:
Hoping you might check on the status of the new Lidl’s on South Boulevard. Construction was moving along but has totally stopped. Given the closing of other stores, I wonder if this will ever open. In addition, there is now construction next door to that site, so curious about that.
And another from Kathy Murray:
Construction on the new Lidl store on South Blvd seems to have come to a standstill. Is there an anticipated completion date?
Indeed, for what seemed like weeks, the giant Lidl construction site on South Boulevard was a ghost town of dirt, rebar and equipment that stood still like statues.
Lidl’s media relations department was crickets in the many, many, many times we reached out to them to ask for an update. Reddit served up some juicy theories, including drama with the general contractor and environmental issues stemming from a dry cleaners that used to sit next door.
We dug around city records and tracked down the Texas-based general contractor that was originally on the project, Westmoreland Builders. A woman who answered the phone at the company headquarters said they were no longer on the project. It’s not clear who the new general contractor is.
The Ledger noticed that work seemed to have resumed, at least somewhat, on the project, in the last couple weeks. As for a “delivery date,” as they say in the real estate world? Your guess is as good as ours.
◼️ Arboretum Publix: The next grocery question comes from a reader named William Henderson, who curious about the status of a Publix planned for the Arboretum shopping center in south Charlotte as well as the site of what was the Cinebarre movie theater, where viewers used to be able to get a full meal and alcoholic drinks while they watched a movie.
We drive by the old Cinebarre that’s been torn down at the Arboretum. Any idea what’s going there? Also, when will the new Publix open?
We asked Publix’s PR team for an estimate on when the new store will open at Providence and Pineville-Matthews roads, and was told: “We do not have a projected timeline to share at this time.”
Well, then.
As for what will replace the former Cinebarre, here’s an article we published last month with news that the site will soon be home to … drumroll … a new Fifth Third Bank, which should open by the end of 2024. (“Less captivating than Barbenheimer,” opined our headline.)
◼️ SouthPark Publix: Finally, we have received several questions about the status of the planned Publix in SouthPark. It is supposed to be in the next phase of The Colony development, following the completion of apartments last year.
The Publix PR response: “We do not have an opening timeframe to share at this time.”
Sometimes, you ask questions and get unsatisfying responses. But we’ll keep asking! —CB
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How local stocks of note fared last week (through Friday’s close), and year to date:
Fitch warns of possible downgrade on Charlotte Water bonds after big legal settlement
A major credit ratings agency is saying it might downgrade the bond rating of Charlotte Water, saying that the city’s water department debt is higher than previously expected.
The three main credit rating agencies, Fitch, Moody’s and S&P, all rate the $1.2B in Charlotte Water bonds as “AAA,” or their highest rating. But Fitch said in a paper last month that it is changing the bonds’ outlook from “stable” to “negative,” which could be a prelude to downgrading the bonds from the top level to the second-highest level.
“The Negative Outlook reflects sustained growth in leverage … for a longer period and at a higher level than previously expected,” Fitch analysts wrote. Charlotte Water also had higher costs than expected because of a $106M legal settlement over how it charged fees for new water connections.
Generally, lower bond ratings can increase borrowing costs.
The city told The Ledger in a statement:
The shift in the rating outlook is a result of a change in Fitch’s rating criteria for utility systems related to the ratio of net revenues available for debt service to outstanding debt. The shift in the rating outlook is not anticipated to impact borrowing rates for Charlotte Water. Charlotte Water’s budget reflects a responsible balance between affordability, infrastructure operation and maintenance while supporting a rapidly growing community and region.
A city website on various bond issues shows all city-related bonds at the highest or next-highest rating. The new outlook on the water bonds is not yet reflected on the city’s site, which lists them as “stable.”
Related Ledger article:
🎧 New podcast: Combating summer learning loss
In the latest episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Glenda Bernhardt of Freedom School Partners discusses how to enrich children’s education by preventing summer learning loss and fostering a passion for reading and learning.
The organization offers a six-week literacy and enrichment-focused program serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade. (Bernhardt recently announced she’s stepping down as CEO of the organization, but it’s still a good listen!)
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!
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
THURSDAY: Bundles & Bluegrass, 5:30-7:30 p.m., The Ruth by Beau Monde. Join us for Bundles & Bluegrass on September 28 at The Ruth! Open bar, hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment all provided. Proceeds benefit Baby Bundles and support our extraordinary, expectant mothers and their newborn babies living in financial need.
SATURDAY: Fall Festival 2023, 12-3 p.m., Noble Smoke. Pumpkin bowling, cupcake walks, live music, barbecue catered by Noble Smoke, face painting & more. It’s all part of ANSWER Scholarship’s Fall Festival. Enjoy music from singer/guitarist David Porter at this fundraiser & help send local moms to college. $40 for adults. $10 for children (ages 5-18).
◼️ Check out the full Ledger events board.
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
In brief:
Social districts on the agenda: The Charlotte City Council is scheduled to hear an update on social districts tonight — the areas where people could walk with open containers of alcohol.
High school sports: The N.C. High School Athletic Association, which oversees high school sports, is objecting to a bill passed by the legislature Friday that could shift responsibility for sports to the superintendent of public instruction and members of the North Carolina Board of Education. "This was a blindside tackle, and I am sorely disappointed in the actions of our state legislators,” NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker said in a statement. (Wilmington Star-News)
Auto workers strike: About 100 workers at a General Motors parts distribution facility in Steele Creek walked off the job on Friday, joining a nationwide strike by the United Auto Workers. (Observer)
Telehealth bankruptcy: Charlotte telehealth firm Let’s Talk Interactive filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week. The company made the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in 2022 and had been honored with a Charlotte Business Journal “Fast 50” award. The Charlotte Business Journal said in 2021 in a profile that Let’s Talk Interactive “continues to thrive in a time when the market is overflowing with similar business concepts” and that it had added former swimsuit model Kathy Ireland to its board. (Biz Journal)
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Business manager: Brie Chrisman, BC Creative