Lake Norman

New details revealed about proposed $200 million Lake Norman mixed-use community

The Knox Crossing mixed-use community would include 324 apartments, 96 townhomes and 21 units affordable to teachers, firefighters and police.
The Knox Crossing mixed-use community would include 324 apartments, 96 townhomes and 21 units affordable to teachers, firefighters and police. Cline Design Associates

A South Carolina developer revealed new details Tuesday night about its proposed $200 million mixed-use community at a prime Lake Norman intersection.

The first revelation at a public hearing in Huntersville on its rezoning request was the price tag for Knox Crossing by Mount Pleasant developer WRS Inc. Real Estate Investments.

The second was the number of construction jobs for the development at Sam Furr Road and N.C. 115: 300.

And third was news that the developer is negotiating with three unnamed major grocers not currently in the area for a spot in the 44-acre development. Larger and more prominent than Aldi and Lidl, a representative of the developer said.

Knox Crossing also would include 324 apartments, 96 townhomes, 21 units affordable to teachers, firefighters and police, and 70,802 square feet of commercial space.

The proposed Knox Crossing development would include 96 townhomes, like those pictured here, and 324 apartments, 21 units affordable to teachers, firefighters and police, and 70,802 square feet of commercial space.
The proposed Knox Crossing development would include 96 townhomes, like those pictured here, and 324 apartments, 21 units affordable to teachers, firefighters and police, and 70,802 square feet of commercial space. WRS Inc. Real Estate Investments

The development would have several parks, including a long, triangular neighborhood park connecting to the regional Carolina Thread Trail.

Knox Crossing would have pedestrian access to a future Charlotte Area Transit System station. And the developer would pay for the design and construction of the entrance to a planned pedestrian tunnel under busy Sam Furr Road.

A street is pictured in the proposed Knox Crossing development.
A street is pictured in the proposed Knox Crossing development. WRS Inc. Real Estate Investments

“This is really a keystone, the center of multimodal connections throughout Huntersville,” Susan Irvin of the Cornelius-based Irvin Law Group told the Huntersville Board of Commissioners. Irvin Law Group represented the developer at the hearing.

Knox Crossing “will be a great destination for Red Line travelers,” Irvin said, referring to the planned commuter rail line from uptown Charlotte to Lake Norman towns.

A South Carolina developer plans a major mixed-use community at this prime Lake Norman intersection, to include a grocery store and hundreds of apartments, public records show.
A South Carolina developer plans a major mixed-use community at this prime Lake Norman intersection, to include a grocery store and hundreds of apartments, public records show. Street View image from October 2025. © 2026 Google

The development also would include a gas station, retail shops, a dog park and a neighborhood park with a playground, according to the developer’s site plan.

The Knox Crossing mixed-use community would include 324 apartments, 96 townhomes and 21 units affordable to teachers, firefighters and police.
The Knox Crossing mixed-use community would include 324 apartments, 96 townhomes and 21 units affordable to teachers, firefighters and police. Cline Design Associates

Timetable for a decision

Four residents spoke at the hearing, all in favor of the project.

A playground is pictured in the proposed Knox Crossing development.
A playground is pictured in the proposed Knox Crossing development. WRS Inc. Real Estate Investments
A roundabout is pictured in the proposed Knox Crossing development
A roundabout is pictured in the proposed Knox Crossing development WRS Real Estate Investments

Michelle Edwards, the owner of a longtime dance studio, called Knox Crossing “thoughtful, responsible growth. This development will be a positive addition to the area.”

The Huntersville Planning Board is scheduled to consider making a recommendation on the rezoning at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at Town Hall. The Planning Board is an advisory panel that makes recommendations to the Town Board, which has final say.

At 6 p.m. March 17, the Town Board is scheduled to vote on the request.

This story was originally published February 4, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "New details revealed about proposed $200 million Lake Norman mixed-use community."

Related Stories from Charlotte Observer
Joe Marusak
The Charlotte Observer
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER