In today’s headlines: City Council says ‘no’ to Cherry development. But (more) townhouses coming to South End
The Charlotte City Council did something unusual Monday — it said “no” to a major mixed-use development.
A company affiliated with Charlotte developer Roy Goode had planned a development in the Cherry neighborhood that would have allowed for 300 apartments, 250 hotel rooms, office and retail space, and a 106-foot-tall building at South Kings Drive and Baxter Street.
Neighbors in the historically black neighborhood just south of uptown had opposed the rezoning request, saying it was too large, too tall and two dense for the area, which has become one of the hot spots for gentrification in Charlotte.
In other NIMBY development news, neighbors in Plaza Midwood continued to speak out Monday night against plans to redevelop the VanLandingham Estate into 19 townhouses and add a neighborhood swim club nearby. They worry the plan — supported by the Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association — would bring traffic, especially during special events. City Council will vote later.
Development continues in South End. SouthPoint will add 53 townhouses to the neighborhood, with prices ranging from $265K-$420K and sizes ranging from 1,302 to 2,119 square feet. The complex, between Youngblood and Tryon, will have a launch party Saturday at Triple C (of course), two blocks away.
BOFA CEO STAYS: A year ago, Bank of America surprised its shareholders by not seeking their approval in naming CEO Brian Moynihan chairman, which eliminated a requirement that the company have an independent chairman. On Tuesday, a majority of the shareholders (63 percent) said “It’s cool” and voted in support of Moynihan keeping both titles. BofA was all like, “Aww, thanks y’all!” and promised to interact more with its shareholders.
Breaking: BofA's Moynihan keeps chairman title with 63% of shareholder vote http://t.co/luCBWxK0ki $BAC pic.twitter.com/vNIwLDfzgL
— John Arwood (@johnarwood) September 22, 2015
BUDGET SECRETS: Remember that $500,000 cap on light-rail projects in the state budget that we told you about yesterday? State Republicans are defending it, even though no one seems to know who added it. “Everybody seems to be saying that it was somebody else,” said Sen. Mike Woodard, a Durham Democrat.
POPE PILGRIMS: Pope Francis arrived in the U.S. yesterday, and hundreds of Charlotte-area Catholics are heading north to see him. “The Holy Father, as Catholics often refer to the pope, is like “God’s best friend,” in the words of Maggie Kuhn, a student at Charlotte Catholic High School.”
Pope Francis to fly on American Airlines http://t.co/KvjTUx9xyP pic.twitter.com/bCbtd49E0t
— Rick Rothacker (@rickrothacker) September 22, 2015
CAM ON NICK: Cam Newton — he of the front-flip touchdown — will host a television show on Nickelodeon called “I wanna Be” next year. The show will “follow Newton as he takes real kids on the ride of their lives to help make their dreams come true,” according to a release by the network. Our dream: The Panthers winning the Super Bowl. Can you make that come true, Cam?
Photos: Charlotte Observer file rendering; Todd Sumlin/Charlotte Observer
This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 9:00 PM with the headline "In today’s headlines: City Council says ‘no’ to Cherry development. But (more) townhouses coming to South End."