Birkdale Village reseeks town approval for its next chapter
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Birkdale Village's proposed six-story office building would incorporate retail to keep the ground floor active with shoppers and pedestrians. Rendering: Courtesy of Jamestown
Birkdale Village is asking Huntersville's new town board to pass a previously denied and highly scrutinized rezoning request that would expand the shopping destination.
- If passed, the proposal would allow Birkdale's developer to build a 100-foot-tall office, 150 apartments, a hotel, two parking garages and more retail.
Why it matters: One of Huntersville's strongest economic assets, Birkdale has reached its "pinnacle" of success, with full leasing, growing foot traffic and doubling sales, says Tim Perry, chief investment officer with Birkdale's owner Jamestown.
- Perry says the property now needs hotel visitors, office workers and apartment residents to create a "perpetual machine" to support the businesses.
The big picture: The likely clash over the proposal underscores how residents envision Birkdale's place in the community.
- There are those who came to Huntersville for peaceful suburbia, and there are young newcomers who like proximity to trendy restaurants and breweries — a South End-like lifestyle Birkdale aspires to.
Between the lines: Neighbors concerned about Huntersville's fast growth will fight the plan. It was debated for months the last time it went before the board. One elected official reported receiving death threats over the issue. A Facebook group called "Birkdale Village Ridiculousness" drew 1,300 members.
- Development, school overcrowding and traffic are points of contention in north Mecklenburg, dominating the conversation in the town's last election.
- Huntersville's population has boomed from 46,773 to around 65,000 people since 2010. It will surpass 100,000 over the next two decades, the town's 2040 plan predicts.
Catch up quick: Under pressure from community members, town commissioners voted 4-2 in early 2023 to reject Birkdale's last rezoning request for a seven-story office tower and seven-story parking garage. Planning staff recommended denial because the office tower exceeded the town's height limits.
- Birkdale's developer had originally included the hotel and multi-family in that proposal but scaled back the plans to ease resistance.
The latest: Jamestown is restarting the rezoning process with components of that original submission: the hotel and multi-family.
- The plans are expected to change as town planning staff, the planning board and elected officials weigh in.
What's inside: Site plans show a six-story, 120,000-square-foot office building with 13,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, where Barnes & Noble currently stands. Jamestown hopes the bookstore will relocate to a smaller storefront at Birkdale.
- Across from the office building in the existing parking lot, there would be a five-story hotel with 125 rooms. Jamestown would seek a hotel brand with amenities like restaurants and meeting spaces.
- Where Dick's Sporting Goods is, Jamestown is planning a 150-unit, five-story apartment building that's just under 75 feet tall. It would have a mix of one and two bedrooms, with 10 affordable units, on top of about 10,000 square feet of retail. Dick's lease ends in 2028.
- Site plans show two parking decks that would add over 380 spaces to Birkdale. One of the primary goals of the expansion is to make parking more convenient, Perry tells Axios. The public will be able to use the spaces after 5pm.
State of play: Huntersville Mayor Christy Clark indicates Jamestown's chances of approval depend on their receptiveness to the town's feedback and how they address concerns about adequate parking. Neighbors often complain of Birkdale customers parking on the street.
- Since the last rezoning was shut down, Huntersville elected Clark as the new mayor and a majority of freshman commissioners to the six-person board. All campaigned on different ways to manage growth.
- "As they bring forward their idea and we talk to them, we want to make sure that the residents' needs are represented," Clark says. "And if they aren't going to do that, then, you know, it will be a struggle for them."
- Jamestown representatives will argue this expansion is "smart growth" because it concentrates density in an active area rather than spreading it out. They'll also try to convince commissioners that this project will add to the tax base and ease the burden on homeowners.
- Birkdale is 100% leased, with 15 new tenants that either recently opened or are close to opening. Foot traffic has increased about 40% since 2020, Perry says.
What's next: A town public hearing is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 4. The rezoning would go before the planning board on Feb. 25. The town commissioners could vote on March 18.
- Jamestown is aiming for an early 2027 groundbreaking, providing enough time to go through the zoning process and pre-lease office space, Perry says.
- That construction start date would coincide with the state Department of Transportation's widening of Sam Furr Road to six lanes.
Editor's note: This story was updated to include that the 380 additional parking spaces will be open to the public after 5pm.