Where Charlotte's new mayor stands on 4 major issues
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Courtesy City of Charlotte
Charlotte's new mayor, Rob Harrington, will only serve 18 months, but he'll undoubtedly still leave a mark on the city's future.
Why it matters: Several of Charlotte's biggest debates, from the I-77 South toll lanes to data centers, are expected to come to a head during Harrington's term.
We asked Harrington how he plans to approach some of those decisions. Here's what he had to say.
I-77 South toll lanes
State of play: Charlotte City Council reversed its vote to support toll lanes on I-77 South, effectively killing the controversial project. But North Carolina's newly passed budget includes a provision requiring the city and other local governments to repay NCDOT for its investments in the project so far. The localities could owe around $60 million.
- The other option to avoid the financial penalty is to revive the project within 90 days, by early October.
- The city manager's and attorney's offices are reviewing the bill language, Harrington says.
What he's saying: "We need to focus our efforts in light of that timeline. But I don't want to prejudge the outcome. I think we need a process that allows this community to engage ... with information that it can digest, and then to come to a conclusion."
The bottom line: Harrington doesn't have a definitive opinion yet but understands both the community's concerns and the need to address traffic.
Data centers
State of play: The city has put a moratorium on new data center construction while planning staff studies regulations for the increasingly popular facilities. The moratorium ends Nov. 5.
What he's saying: "I don't think any of us have a position on what the regulation should look like. I'm glad we've got additional time ... We need to use that time productively to look at the end goal. We're going to need data centers."
- Harrington added that the city must balance the benefits of technology with neighborhood concerns around water and electricity usage.
The bottom line: He sees data centers as necessary but wants guardrails.
Growth and affordability
State of play: The Charlotte population is nearing 1 million, according to the latest census data. But that rapid growth is driving up costs and threatening affordability.
What he's saying: "I'd rather be in a city that's growing rapidly than a city that's stagnant ... We also need to make sure that folks who have lived here and whose families have lived here for generations continue to be able to live here."
- He plans to lean on efforts like the city's Housing Trust Fund, which finances affordable housing developers through voter-approved housing bonds.
The bottom line: Harrington views growth as a positive but is mindful of cost-of-living repercussions.
Council disorderliness
State of play: Building relationships on council is among Harrington's top priorities after months of increasingly chaotic meetings. Officials have spent considerable time lately debating procedure, from a tiny land lease with David Tepper to the mayor's appointment itself.
What he's saying: "We've got 11 really passionate, really hard-working folks trying to do the best for the city through their lenses. My goal is just to make sure that you know those voices are heard."
The bottom line: His immediate goal is restoring trust.