Home construction in Charlotte's long-anticipated The River District will begin soon, and the first families could move in as early as next year.

Why it matters: The western area between the Catawba River and airport has been Charlotte's largest swath of remaining undeveloped land, with hardly any utilities or roads.

• But a massive public-private effort is expected to turn 1,400 acres of greenery into a yearly $5.6 billion economic engine with thousands of residents.

Driving the news: Charlotte-based developer Crescent Communities brought on four home builders to start construction on an initial 267 lots: David Weekley Homes, DRB Homes, Toll Brothers and Saussy Burbank, which is also building the first homes at Eastland Yards.

• Construction on model homes will begin as soon as the end of this year. Those, and some inventory homes, are slated to be ready by spring 2025.
• Plus, several multi-family buildings, including some affordable units, will go up over the next year and a half.

Keep reading for more on those projects

Mecklenburg County announced Friday that the managers of "a majority" of municipalities have agreed on draft legislation that would place a 1-cent sales tax referendum for transportation on voters' ballots as early as 2025.

Why it matters: The accord between local government bodies that have long been at odds over transportation proposals is a significant step toward achieving a tax increase to fund road and transit projects.

Context: For years, the city of Charlotte has talked about creating a new, countywide revenue source to pay for mobility projects, before growth and traffic becomes uncontrollable.

• Not all leaders in the county, nor state, have been eager to support the tax. Many wanted to ensure it would improve roads and benefit all jurisdictions — not just Charlotte.

Driving the news: The managers are asking their elected officials, from Charlotte to Cornelius to Pineville, to review the proposal and pass supporting resolutions to send the bill to the North Carolina General Assembly.

• State legislators must ultimately agree to put the referendum on the ballot.

Yes, but: The town of Matthews will consider a resolution today to oppose the transit sales tax, according to the commissioners' agenda.

Keep reading for why

Harriet's Hamburgers will open at The Bowl at Ballantyne on Aug. 20.

Why it matters: Harriet's Hamburgers first opened at Optimist Hall four years ago serving only burgers and fries. The menu at its first standalone spot will have far more options.

The vibe: Similar to its Optimist Hall stall, the Ballantyne restaurant is reminiscent of a diner from the 1950s and 1960s, with a modern touch.

• The 1,600-square-foot eatery has indoor seating, plus an outdoor patio with green space.

What to order for you and the kids

Salted Melon opens in Eastover on Wednesday.

What to expect: The market's new 2,378-square-foot location will serve its all-day menu featuring salads, bowls, sandwiches, wraps, smoothies, coffee and tea.

• Eastover will have counter service, but you can still head to the original South End location for Salted Melon's full-service dinner and brunch.

If you go: 📍815 Providence Rd.

🏀 Steph Curry led Team USA to Olympic gold. (Axios)

🇺🇸 Former President Trump will visit Asheville on Wednesday. (WBTV)

👩‍🌾 Some of the area's largest farmers markets, including Charlotte Regional Farmers Market at 1801 Yorkmont Rd., now accept SNAP/EBT and the SNAP Double Bucks program. (Participating markets)

🏳️‍🌈 The Little Gay Tonic, an espresso tonic, is available at Night Swim, Undercurrent and Not Just Coffee through Aug. 16. A portion of proceeds benefit Time Out Youth. (Night Swim Coffee)

 🍻 Twenty-Six Acres Brewing Company in Concord is closing Aug. 18 after nearly a decade in business. (CharlotteFive)

🍝 Monarch Market has announced a new tenant: Pasta Crush. (Monarch Market)

💼 See who's hiring around the city.

1. Allergy Mixer at Charlotte Eye Ear Nose and Throat Associates, P.A.
2. Licensed Practical Nurse at Southminster.
3. Director of Content & Social at Discovery Place.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

It's not quite "September" yet, but you can still dance the night away at Earth, Wind & Fire's Tuesday night show at PNC. Or explore one of the many other ways to stay busy this week in Charlotte:

🎷 Tonight: Enjoy jazz performances at Petra's. | 7-10pm | $7 | Details

🎶 Tomorrow: Joshua Bassett is bringing his "The Golden Years" tour to The Fillmore. | 7:30pm | $48+ | Details

🌮 Wednesday: Taste Noche Bruta's summer dinner series. | 7-10pm | $150 | Details

🤘 Thursday: Hear punk rock favorites covered by a Warped Tour tribute band at Amos' Southend. | 7:30pm | $15-20 | Details

🎤 Friday: Sip "Tequila" and sing along with country pop duo Dan + Shay at PNC Music Pavilion. | 7pm | Prices vary | Details

More happenings

News you can use from our partners.

• It's "game on" at Discovery Place Science! Elevate your game night Aug. 22 at Science Studio: Power of Play, an after-hours adult science event. Act like a kid again with classic analog games, eSports on the big screen and more. Get tickets.
• Finish your business degree with UNC Charlotte's new online B.S. in Business Administration. Complete the program in as little as two years and applications are now open.

It's official: Duke's Real Mayonnaise is the best overall mayo around, according to Food & Wine staffers who taste-tested more than 30 brands.

Why it matters: It's hard, empirical mayo evidence that backs up what Southerners already knew about Duke's and its egg yolk-heavy "twang."

Yes, but: Food & Wine said that Hellmann's is the best for BLTs and sandwiches in general.

What they're saying: "Where [Duke's] really shines is its generous use of vinegar — the combination of distilled and cider vinegars adds a balancing zing that cuts through the richness," Food & Wine wrote. "Duke's can be the supporting character or the star of the show in just about any dish."

Fun fact: Duke's only has about 6% of mayo market share compared to Hellmann's 50%, making the Richmond-owned condiment a clear underdog.

Tell your Duke's-lovin' friend