Pappas meeting with city postponed

Charlotte has canceled a meeting of the City Council economic development committee Thursday because the city is still negotiating with Pappas Properties over whether to offer $4.7 million in property tax rebates for a proposed development.

Pappas Properties has proposed building apartments, a hotel, office and retail on the site of the Greater Charlotte Regional Realtors Association building in midtown.

As part of the project, the developer has proposed building streets inside and adjacent to the project; moving water and sewer lines; and making improvements to Pearl Street Park.

Pappas Properties has asked to be refunded for the cost of that work.

Peter A. Pappas has told two youth sports leagues that they would be able to continue playing at Pearl Street Park, even though an early proposal for park renovations called for a baseball diamond and soccer fields to be removed.

City staff has said the project makes sense for taxpayers. But it’s unclear whether council members are on board.

Mayor Pro Tem Michael Barnes, who chairs the committee, said there is some resistance to offering the tax rebates to a project that would be built in an affluent section of the city.

With the meeting canceled, it’s likely the new City Council will take the next step on the project. Two new council members and Mayor-elect Jennifer Roberts will be sworn in to office in early December.

Barnes is one of two council members leaving.

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 4:15 PM with the headline "Pappas meeting with city postponed."