7 Charlotte developments to deliver in 2025
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The Pearl construction site on a Friday morning in December. Photo: Alexandria Sands/Axios
With the exception of 2024, the early 2020s were a hot time for putting shovels to dirt and starting new development projects across the Charlotte region.
Why it matters: Now in 2025, crews are putting the finishing touches on those buildings.
- From the new [solidcore] sign at a mixed-use development on Central Avenue to the gigantic Wake Forest University logo you notice while driving on I-277 — these are the signs that Charlotte is changing.
Below are seven developments we're watching for ribbon cuttings in 2025.
Editor's note: This is not an all-encompassing list. It includes some of the most impactful developments underway and delivering soon, at least in part.
The Pearl
Charlotte's future medical campus and innovation district in midtown — at the intersection of Baxter and South McDowell streets, near Pearl Street Park — will open in June, according to an Advocate Health spokesperson.
Why it matters: With its four-year med school, The Pearl is expected to turn Charlotte into a global destination for medical expertise and research, invigorating the economy.
- The first phase includes two buildings. One is the 14-story Howard R. Levine Center for Education, home to Wake Forest University School of Medicine. The school will seat its first 48-student class this fall. It will eventually grow the annual class size to 100.
- The education building will also house Carolinas College of Health Science, which trains nurses and other health professionals.
- Wake Forest University School of Business and School of Professional Studies will also establish a presence in the center.
- The second building is a 10-story research facility. IRCAD, a France-based surgical training institute, will anchor the building with its North American headquarters.
Flashback: Atrium Health and Wexford Science & Technology broke ground in early 2023.
What's next: This is just the first phase. The Pearl will expand over the years, eventually covering more than 26 acres and incorporating a mix of uses, from a hotel to residences, including affordable housing.
Commonwealth
![Construction site with [solidcore] sign](https://images.axios.com/yclVwu38SRViDvdvdG1ozrEOIZY=/2024/12/20/1734704031283.jpg)
Commonwealth is a 12-acre, multi-phased development that has been under construction across from the original Midwood Smokehouse on Central for the past three years.
Why it matters: The development will bring hundreds of new residents and office workers to Plaza Midwood.
- Residents started moving into Commonwealth in December.
- The office building will be done in February.
- Retailers will start opening this month. Businesses announced so far are Japanese restaurant Uchi, ice cream chain Van Leeuwen, doughnut shop The Salty, pilates franchise Solidcore, cowboy boot store Lucchese and Yonder Yoga.
Flashback: Local developer Crosland Southeast and investment manager Nuveen Real Estate broke ground on the project in fall 2021.
Queensbridge Collective
The first of South End's next two towers, jointly called Queensbridge Collective, will open in late 2025.
Why it matters: At 42 stories, the 409-unit apartment building will merge the South End and Uptown skylines.
- Charlotte-based Night Swim Coffee is one of the tenants announced thus far for the development's nearly 25,000 square feet of retail.
Flashback: Charlotte's famous strip club Uptown Cabaret was torn down to make way for the construction. The tower broke ground in 2023.
- Midnight Diner was also once at this location. The shiny building was moved to East Trade Street in Uptown.
What's next: Developer Riverside Investment & Development expects to start work on the second tower after the apartments are completed. But that depends on interest in the office space and market conditions improving. No office tenants have been announced yet.
Linea
You can soon sit at Sycamore Brewing without hearing the "BANG! BANG! BANG!" of construction next door. Work is wrapping on Linea, the 24-story apartment tower along Hawkins Street.
Why it matters: South End's urbanization continues with the delivery of these luxury, big-city-like apartments. Management is comparing these apartments to those of Chicago or New York City, with amenities like a rock climbing wall and services like complimentary plant care.
- Rent starts at $1,700 for a studio and goes up to $5,400 for a three-bedroom.
- In the lobby, Night Swim Coffee will open early this year. True Food Kitchen and BAR ONE Lounge will start construction and open by year-end on the ground floor. More businesses are to be announced.
- A sky bridge connects Linea to The Line, a 16-story office tower next door, home to the restaurant Chapter 6.
Flashback: Sycamore Brewing operated at this spot for years before its owners sold it in 2019 to Atlanta developer Portman Holdings. The brewery moved into a larger space next door at The Line.
What's next: Pre-leasing has started for the 370 apartments. The first six floors should be ready by mid-January. The rest of the units and the amenities on the 23rd floor are expected to open in early February.
Eastland Yards apartments
The City of Charlotte and Crosland Southeast celebrated a milestone at Eastland Yards in November when residents moved into the first building, a senior living community.
- The 80-acre development's next building — 274 apartments targeting the workforce demographic — will be ready for lease by late 2025.
Why it matters: Finally, this long-awaited project is progressing. Eastland Yards makes use of an old mall site that was undeveloped for years. Charlotte's east siders hope the redevelopment will be an attraction to the area and boost the local economy as Eastland Mall once did.
Flashback: Eastland Yards broke ground in 2022.
What's next: The city is planning a sports and entertainment facility on a 29-acre portion of the site.
- Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation will start work in 2025 on a 4.5-acre Eastland Park.
Camp North End apartments
Camp North End's first 301 apartments, called Kinship East and Kinship West, will finish in January.
Why this matters: The multifamily building will house Camp North End's first residents. They'll be a stable customer base for the the 76-acre destination's restaurants and shops. Some may even work in the offices on campus or open businesses in the apartment buildings' ground-floor storefronts.
Flashback: Over the last decade, ATCO Properties & Management has transformed Camp North End from an old missile assembly plant to a trendy and walkable district.
- ATCO is one of the most prominent developers to embrace the adaptive reuse trend in Charlotte.
The Pass
The Pass — another Charlotte development that essentially created a new district from scratch — will also get its first residents this summer.
- Atlanta-based Third & Urban is building the 355 apartments along Raleigh Street, north of NoDa. The entire development spans 12 acres.
Why it matters: The Pass is a prime location near the light rail. It's signed popular businesses such as Soul Gastrolounge. But The Pass is still relatively hidden beneath the Sugar Creek overpass.
- New residents will bring more exposure and create a reliable customer base for the up-and-coming area.
Flashback: The Pass completed its first phase of construction in 2023. Businesses to open there so far include Borderline Bar & Billiards, vintage sportswear shop Locker Room and event venue PINE.
What's next: The first resident will move in this June.
Go deeper: 8 most anticipated Charlotte developments of 2025