The River District in west Charlotte takes big step forward with expansion of West Blvd
West Boulevard now heads farther west into what will be the 1,400-acre mixed-used River District project in west Charlotte.
The four-lane extension of the major roadway opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, signaling the completion of a major infrastructure investment and signifying the next step in the large redevelopment.
“Extending west all the way to Dixie River Road will make for a great improvement from a transportation standpoint in just having that direct connection getting across Beaverdam Creek,” said Rainer Ficken, Crescent Communities senior managing director of The River District. “Not only will it be ultimately beneficial for the River District itself but just that region in general. Having that connectivity is going to be really great for everyone.”
West Boulevard previously ended at a little past Interstate 485 but now extends about a mile to Dixie River Road.
The $30 million project, Ficken said, was a joint collaboration between the developer Crescent Communities and the city of Charlotte. The extension features two lanes going in each direction. There’s also a separated bike lane and an elevated sidewalk.
River District housing
Tuesday’s celebration included a nod to the current construction of Crescent’s Novel River District, a 318-unit, seven-building multifamily development.
Construction began in August on the first building, which will include the leasing center and amenities including a fitness center and a pool. The units will be market rate and the first building is expected to be completed in about 18 months.
Ficken added that the district’s other housing developments are also on track.
Crescent is partnering with Laurel Street Residential to build an 87-unit affordable complex for those making 80% of the area median income or less. For a family of four, 80% AMI is about $84,800. Ficken said closing on that site is still set for December.
Then, there are the single-family homes.
In August, Crescent announced that it would be working with homebuilders David Weekley Homes, DRB Homes, Saussy Burbank, and Toll Brothers to construct potentially 2,300 single-family homes.
Crescent will be clearing about 267 lots that will then be sold to the homebuilders. A portion of those lots will be cleared by December and the builders will begin constructing model homes. Those are set to be ready in the spring to show potential residents.
All of the initial residential spaces will be in Westrow, the district’s new neighborhood town center.
A River District refresher
The River District sits on the west side of the airport and Interstate 485 near the Catawba River, on 1,400 previously forested acres. Plans for the project began in 2016.
The River District will ultimately bring around 5,000 homes, market rate and affordable apartments, millions of square feet of office space, half a million square feet of retail and 1,000 hotel rooms. There are also plans for a pavilion, playgrounds and a 2-acre working farm that will sell its product at a local market.
Ficken said the district’s new amenities, such as the pavilion, as well as the existing waterfront and nature trails, will all be accessible to all Charlotteans.
