SouthPark plan for apartments, retail gets OK from Charlotte City Council

Gordon Rago
·4 min read
A rendering shows a pedestrian-friendly street that’s part of a 9-acre rezoning in SouthPark. Developer Related Group is seeking to build 730 apartments, up to 24 town homes along with retail space. Charlotte City Council voted on in March.

Charlotte City Council members unanimously approved a rezoning petition Monday that will bring more than 700 apartments, two dozen townhomes and retail to SouthPark.

Miami developer Related Group is planning to replace the two- and three-story Trianon condominium buildings that are on the 9-acre property. The condos are more than 50 years old. Residents have told City Council members about ongoing maintenance issues.

Condo owners began exploring a sale over the last couple years, Related Group has said.

While many condo owners showed up in support of the rezoning petition last month, some people in nearby neighborhoods weren’t on board with the plan.

“It is simply too big,” Barclay Downs resident Mark Roberts told council members last month during a public hearing. “It is too tall, it is too dense and it will generate too much traffic.”

Related Group will offer a number of community-related contributions as part of the project. On Monday, many council members gave credit to Councilman Tariq Bokhari for negotiating for more concessions from the developer after the project received some pushback. Bokhari represents a district that includes SouthPark.

Some benefits to the area include $8 million over several years to help fund a multi-use trail through SouthPark as well as $1 million to Charlotte’s Housing Trust Fund.

The improvements to walkability, plus some nearby affordable units in another development, will pay dividends for the neighborhood over time, Bokhari said, addressing residents who might not be pleased with the vote.

“I know you all won’t be overjoyed at the end of the day of the outcome,” Bokhari said, “but I definitely had to navigate a lot of different angles. I believe in the end, it will be something you all can be proud of.”

Developers’ plans

Related Group has made some changes to its proposal over the past year as it has met with community groups and the city.

Initial plans called for 55,000 square feet of office, but that portion of the project has been eliminated, according to Jeff Brown, an attorney representing Related Group in the rezoning process.

The developer also has reduced the height of its tallest building by three floors and another building by two floors. When the project was announced, the tallest building was going to be between 14 and 16 floors.

The townhomes are the shortest part of the project in terms of height. They would be closest to the residential homes on the east side of Colony Road, according to the site plan.

The tallest portion of the site is closer to the commercial edge, near Rexford and Roxborough roads. That’s across the street from a Marriott hotel and about a block from the SouthPark mall.

Much of the concern with the project has centered around height. But the city has approved other taller projects across SouthPark, including as high as 205 feet, according to Bridget Grant, a land use consultant representing Related Group.

What else is proposed with the project?

The project will include a woonerf — which is Dutch for “living street.” The open street concept allows for easier walking to nearby amenities.

The woonerf will anchor retail along with restaurants and bars. Vehicle access would be restricted or slowed at certain points of day, according to the developer.

Related Group will contribute $8 million to the SouthPark Loop, according to plans presented during Monday’s meeting. The 3-mile, multi-use path is a top priority of the neighborhood group, SouthPark Association of Neighborhoods.

The developer agreed to pay $2 million in installments over the next 10 years, with an initial payment of $250,000 toward urban design plan review. Related Group will work to raise $3 million in funding for the Loop while working with the neighborhood association.

Another portion of the $8 million commitment is what Bokhari described as best effort grant-type work, including committing money to federal grants.

The developer also will contribute $1 million to the city’s Housing Trust Fund to support affordable and workforce housing.

Other nearby development

The approval follows other development projects in SouthPark.

That includes plans from developer Lincoln Harris to build a 10-story tower in Phillips Place Shopping Center.

A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the title of Bridget Grant. She is a land use consultant.. The story has been updated.

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