Briefing for Tuesday September 29: Atherton redevelopment to J. Crew

In long-awaited development news, I bring you this scoop: CampusWorks has finally closed on the 4.25-acre piece of land at Central Avenue and Hawthorne Lane in Plaza Midwood, the current home to a crumbling historic church. $8.5 million transaction. In its place will go an apartment complex with 349 units and a parking deck. I’m told that the developer will keep a brick exterior to maintain the aesthetic the old church had.

Amid all the talk about preserving Plaza Midwood, I’m sure a lot of you will find this news unpleasant. But this is just reality. The Nichols Company, which marketed the property, tried for years to sell it to a restaurant that would maintain the building. But long story short, it would cost at least $2 million to do that. So there you have it. The CampusWorks people are pros and there will be a ton of interest in the property.

VITALS

Today’s Weather: 78. More rain likely. 
Today’s Stat: 3. Years it will take to re-open East Sugar Creek Road in NoDa after it closes next week for light rail work and then a bridge over railroad tracks. 
Today’s Job: Consumer Research Analyst at Harris Teeter. Apply.
Today’s Charlottean: Taralynn McNitt, author of the insanely popular Simply Taralynn blog, for her talent and for putting our city on the map in a big way.

ORIGINALS

Huge Atherton Mill overhaul will finally bring the retail we need to South End [Thomas]
Pretty much the whole area is getting blown up and a retail mecca is going to be built in its place. Big scoop from Jason. Think of a mini Birkdale Village dropped in South End. This is a huge deal.

#CheckersComeHome: Inside the $18 million renovation of Bojangles’ Coliseum [Levans]
This building has been around since 1955, but now a huge amount of money is being invested to turn it into a dazzling home for our city’s minor-league hockey team. Should be ready by the end of October. Check out the work in progress.

The Juice Bar targets October 13 to open in Park Road Shopping Center, look inside [Williams]
This is their second location in Charlotte (the one in Cotswold opened a month or so ago). Most popular drink is going to be the Sweet Greens ($5.50 – apple, kale spinach, cucumber, parsley and lemon).

New J. Crew format coming to Park Road Shopping Center [Dunn]
Building permits generally don’t lie, and these are telling us that the big-name retailer is bringing a new concept to Charlotte. J. Crew Mercantile means the same lines as the factory outlet stores, this time in the heart of town. Crazy big interest in this.

Popular Raleigh gift shop named Charlotte’s opening in Myers Park [Williams]
Don’t get confused that the place named Charlotte’s is based in Raleigh but opening in Charlotte. It’s one of the top gift shops in the Triangle right now and the plan is to franchise to other markets in the future. 

What I learned from my first gay rugby tournament [Gross]
Yes, gay rugby is a thing and it’s been a big factor in tearing down the walls of homophobia in a hyper-masculine sport. Mary went to their tournament at the Rugby Athletic Center and reports back on the big things they’re doing.

10 things to know about the N.C. budget + what it tells us about our state’s priorities [Goodwin]
Where you spend your money says a lot about you. And the state of North Carolina is no different. For example, the current budget out of Raleigh has more money for fixing potholes than for mass transit.

CLT Debates: Ballantyne can hold its own against South End + Plaza Midwood [Eskridge]
After the hot fire spit by the Yoho/TW combination yesterday, one of our readers sent me a fantastic email completely putting them in their places. Ballantyne can more than hold its own. See her restaurant recommendations.

City Smart: Charlotte named a ‘Startup Hotbed’ to Jeremy Lin’s hair [WTF We Vote]
Also get the low-down on David Howard’s endorsement of Dan Clodfelter in the second primary to determine the Democratic candidate for mayor. This was a bit of a surprise.

TALKING POINTS

Cured won’t be bringing a cheese shop to Dilworth. Sources tell us the planned wine, cheese, charcuterie and craft beer concept won’t end up opening up in the former Dilworth Billiards building. Website has been taken down as well.

Janet Jackson concert was a perfect storm of bad luck [Sullivan/Observer]. This is the one where people were in a traffic jam so long they missed the whole thing. Turns out it was the combination of an early start, several emergency responses and people parking improperly on the streets.

Big renovations happening at 400 South Tryon [Portillo/Observer]. The building owner promises you won’t recognize the lobby when they’re done. Fitness center and retail space.

Charlotte airport getting a concourse extension [Agenda/Instagram]. 9 new gates. 211,000 square feet. $7.8 million to finish the design work. 

Panthers are winning but TV ratings are down [Spanberg/Twitter]. Average viewership is 368,000, down 22 percent from the first three games last year.

I listened to a violin concerto as I wrote this newsletter and it kind of made me regret giving up on the instrument in the fourth grade. Get after it.

– Andrew