SouthPark site targeted for towering new development
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Rooster's in SouthPark is marked for a major redevelopment. Photo: Axios archives
A Houston developer is eyeing a piece of aging SouthPark suburbia for a towering, urban mixed-use development across from the mall.
Why it matters: The 3.88-acre overhaul would accelerate SouthPark's transition into a denser, walkable area by replacing a surface parking lot and single-story building with development potentially up to 275 feet tall.
Zoom in: Real estate firm Hines plans to replace the existing 30-year-old building, currently home to Rooster's Wood-fired Kitchen and several other businesses, with a mix of residences and office atop shops and restaurants, plus open space.
- The land is currently owned by Camdee Properties I.
Zoom out: Hines expanded into the Charlotte market in 2024 when it purchased Blu South, a 551-townhome community in Pineville, for $156.5 million. It's also reportedly "close to acquiring a stake" in Birkdale Village, according to the Charlotte Business Journal.
The big picture: Originally built in the '70s as a car-first retail destination, SouthPark is redefining itself.
- Planners envision the upscale south Charlotte neighborhood becoming the model for shifting suburbia into a walkable community through projects like the Loop, Symphony Park renovations and office conversions.
- "Carnegie is going to mature into a really important spine of the SouthPark district," Adam Rhew, president and CEO of SouthPark Community Partners, tells Axios, "so it's important that we are intentional about every single parcel along that corridor."
What they're saying: Rhew called Hines' proposal "great news" for the neighborhood and city, adding that the developer has a strong track record. SouthPark Community Partners, an economic development organization, has been in conversations with their team for several months.
- "This plan directly reflects the SouthPark Forward 2035 Vision Plan, and the characteristics our community told us were a priority as this area evolves," Rhew adds. That includes mixed uses, walkability, public spaces and concentrating density and height closest to SouthPark Mall.
What's next: The rezoning process alone could take months. More details are expected to come out as the developer initiates conversations with neighbors.
- SouthPark Community Partners is working with Noble Food & Pursuits (Rooster's restaurant group) to find new, potential locations in SouthPark, per Rhew.