Childress Klein files petition to rezone SouthPark church for mixed development
A Charlotte developer has filed a rezoning petition to redevelop Sharon United Methodist Church, a move that has been more than a year in the making.
Childress Klein wants to rezone 7.1 acres where Sharon United Methodist Church sits to allow for a mixed use development, inlcuding residential, retail and office space. The church would also remain on the property.
According to documents filed with the city, the developer is asking for:
▪ Up to 170,000 square feet of gross floor area of office, retail, restaurant, personal services and other commercial uses
▪ Up to 175 hotel rooms
▪ Up to 450 residential dwelling units of all types
▪ Indoor recreation uses of up to 20,000 square feet of gross floor area
▪ Religious institution uses
The Rev. Kyle Thompson, senior pastor of the prominent SouthPark church, proposed to his 700-person congregation in 2013 his vision for turning the church’s 7-acre property into a mixed-use development.
The church, at the corner of Morrison Boulevard and Sharon Road, is across the street from SouthPark mall.
At the time, Thompson said the development could include restaurants, fitness facilities, retail and office space, with the church being the anchor. He even suggested a performing arts center.
“Our vision is to be the spiritual crossroads of the SouthPark community,” Thompson said last fall. “We can be the literal crossroads of SouthPark, where we do life together.”
On Nov. 9, adult members of the congregation voted overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal, Thompson said.
He said that after vetting 15 developers, church leadership decided to partner with Childress Klein Properties.
“The reason we chose them was they understand and share the same vision that we have,” he said.
On Wednesday, Thompson referred all inquiries to Childress Klein. But he has said before that he hopes to break ground by Sharon United Methodist’s 50th anniversary in 2016, although he said that’s a best-case scenario.
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This story was originally published April 1, 2015 at 2:36 PM with the headline "Childress Klein files petition to rezone SouthPark church for mixed development."