The first apartments opened in January at The River District, a master-planned development that feels like a small town forming in west Charlotte.

Why it matters: Even though it's a 20-minute drive to Uptown, NOVEL River District is marketed toward outdoorsy people, with amenities like an ice machine to fill rental coolers, a flavored water station for your "canteen," and a gear wash for bikes, kayaks and dogs.

The big picture: Charlotte developer Crescent Communities built NOVEL as one piece of The River District's much larger, 1,400-acre plan for the city's largest undeveloped stretch of land, between the Catawba River and the international airport.

Zoom in: Apartments start around $1,300 for a 587-square-foot studio and go up to about $2,600 for a two-bedroom, two-bath unit.

• There will be 318 apartments in total once construction of all seven NOVEL buildings finishes this summer.

Zoom out: NOVEL is part of The River District's first phase, a 70-acre town center called "Westrow," which includes a playground, 2-acre farm, produce shop and cafe, a two-story retail building, and trail access.

The intrigue: Community director Ally Sack tells me on a tour that most prospective residents are interested in living close to the airport or are transitioning from busy neighborhoods like South End.

• They're also finding that residents value being close to nature over shops and restaurants, since most of The River District is still undeveloped. But in the next few years, the area will have those commercial uses, too.

Take a look around

Now that the first residents are living in the River District, the master developer is gearing up for the next big phases: a corporate campus, hotel, shopping centers and a riverfront park.

Why it matters: The River District is tucked away in an area of Charlotte that many have probably never come across, as the 1,400 acres have long been undeveloped. But it could soon become a popular destination.

The big picture: Plans call for up to 8 million square feet of commercial space, 500,000 square feet of retail, 2,350 multi-family units, and 2,300 single-family homes.

What's next: Crescent Communities is in talks with a potential hotel brand as well as office tenants about filling a planned corporate campus with three- to four-story buildings.

• This year, Crescent Communities is aiming to bring on a lifestyle developer for "Eastrow," a Waverly-like retail center to open within the next several years, with a grocery store and semi-regional brands.
• A Riverfront Park will eventually open with a pavilion and floating docks to launch paddleboards, kayaks and canoes.

See more photos

🛣️ Sustain Charlotte, one of the staunchest opponents to the I-77 south tolls, is soliciting designs "reimagining" the highway corridor. Potential ideas include freeway caps, tunnels, parks, greenways, and walking and biking paths, the organization said.

• Some submissions, due April 6, will be displayed April 13 at UNC Charlotte Center City during the "How the Cities We Build Shape How We Live" event.

🛤️ The Red Line will move forward after Charlotte City Council agreed to spend $37.9 million to continue designing the commuter train to Lake Norman. (WFAE)

🚴‍♂️ Monroe Road will get a makeover after council also agreed to spend $6.1 million on changes to the streetscape, including a shared-use path from North Wendover to Easton roads. (WSOC)

🧑‍💼 Moore & Van Allen, the Charlotte-based law firm, is opening its first physical office outside the Carolinas in Atlanta. (CBJ 🔒)

🤑 Northwood Ravin president and CEO David Ravin has sold his estate near SouthPark for $4.95 million. (CBJ 🔒)