The Queensbridge Collective apartment tower, bridging Uptown and South End, is on pace to open by late summer, with an adjacent office tower potentially breaking ground soon.

Why it matters: At 42 stories, Queensbridge Collective will be the second tallest residential building in the Carolinas, behind The Vue at 51 stories.

• And it will be luxurious — with a skyline-view steakhouse, pickleball and basketball courts atop the parking structure, and a pool on the 42nd floor.

Catch up quick: Construction began in May 2023 at the old site of Midnight Diner and strip club Uptown Cabaret at the intersection of South Tryon and Morehead streets (1111 S. Tryon).

• An adjoining 35-story tower is also planned and could be the next major office tower to break ground.
• The entire $750 million Queensbridge Collective development is expected to be finished by 2027.

What's next: The project's development partners, Riverside Investment & Development and Woodfield Development, will soon announce a third new business for one of the ground-floor retail spaces, leaving only two spaces left to fill.

• Charlotte's Night Swim Coffee will open on the ground floor later this year. Guard & Grace will debut in mid-2026.
• For the second tower to commence construction, Scacco says they need companies to commit to the spaces in advance.

Keep reading about the project

In honor of Valentine's Day, we're back with another installment of our Blind Date series.

• This time, we matched Anna (27) and Scott (30) and teed them up for a mini golf date at The Puttery in South End.

See how it went

🎤 Pitbull and Third Eye Blind are the latest artists added to the Lovin' Life Music Festival lineup. (Axios)

🚒 Wilmore School on West Boulevard caught fire for the fourth time in less than three weeks on Thursday. Firefighters said all four fires at the historic school were intentionally set and nobody was hurt. (WBTV)

💰 A new study by financial planning company GoBankingRates found that the average person has to make nearly $100,000 to live "comfortably" in Charlotte. (WCNC)

🐟 Off The Hook, a new seafood food stall from the team behind Kabab2Go recently opened at Monarch Market in Uptown, per a press release.

This week's hot homes include new listings with charming details — from arched walkways to brick exteriors.

Zoom in: The renovated brick home above, for example, has an abundance of convenient new modern design features, from floor-to-ceiling cabinetry to smaller touches like lower cabinet lighting.

• It also has quartzite countertops, a wine fridge, a dual stove, a fireplace, a large walk-in closet, a freestanding tub, under-cabinet lighting and a fully fenced-in yard.
• The five-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom home is in the Cameron Wood neighborhood is listed for $1,850,000.

More hot homes: 5 houses for sale in Charlotte ranging from $325K to $1.85M

Speaking of homes ... New data from Realtor.com shows that the median listing price of new builds ($455,000) is increasingly higher than that of existing homes ($400,000) in Charlotte.

Why it matters: It's a major shift from where the housing market stood last year, where prospective homebuyers could build a new home at nearly the same rate as buying an older one.

The big picture: The median list price of a new build in the U.S. was $449,967 last quarter. That's compared to $395,800 for an existing home.

• "As with everything in real estate, location is key," Realtor.com's Joel Berner tells Axios.
• For example, new builds are cheaper than existing homes in Austin, Texas, where builders have cranked out more (relatively) affordable inventory.
• But in the Midwest and Northeast, the bulk of new construction is high-end and is being created less frequently, Berner says.

Correction: The chart's headline was updated to show that the listing prices are medians (not averages).

💼 Check out who's hiring on our Job Board.

1. Enrollment Specialist at Bold Music Lessons.
2. Sales Manager at Custom Sock Lab.
3. Vice President of Culture and Performance - Charlotte Corporate at Northwood Ravin.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring?Post a job.

Spectrum Center has new theater box seats that'll get you luxury access to every event at the Uptown arena (Hornets games, concerts and shows).

How it works: Seats are sold in sets of four at $23,500 per seat for the 2025-2026 season.

• Your ticket includes access to private dining and a full bar — all the food, beer, wine, liquor and non-alcoholic beverages are included with your ticket.

Between the lines: This new section is part of the multimillion-dollar renovations to the Uptown arena.

• It holds 120 people and has seats overlooking the arena floor, counter seating with a view of the court, plus table-and-chair options.

Ashley's thought bubble: The theater box has a steakhouse vibe — crisp and minimalist. It's giving quiet luxury. You're there for the view, but the perks are nice too.

See inside

📅Check out what's going around Charlotte.

• Do you believe in love at first bark!? at Great Wagon Road Distilling Company Sun: Don't miss this post Valentine's Day Adoption event to find your Furever Valentine.
• Romantic Expressions at Sarah Belk Gambrell Center at Queens University of Charlotte Feb. 18: Join the Charlotte Symphony for an evening of beloved masterworks interwoven with poetry celebrating the theme of love. $9+
• Built to Thrive: ER-Inspired Strategies For Resilience And Success at Dressler's Feb 20: In this engaging workshop, emergency physicians with a passion for holistic well-being share powerful lessons from the frontlines to help you thrive in high-demand moments - at work and at home. $149
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at Belk Theater Feb. 21-22: The dancers of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dazzle with their technical brilliance and passionate energy, bringing audiences to their feet with contemporary works and classic favorites. $34.50+
• Tony Trischka's Earl Jam: A Tribute to Earl Scruggs at Gambrell Center at Queens University Feb. 21: Banjo legend Tony Trischka brings his Grammy-nominated EARL JAM project to town along with special guest Woody Platt, formerly of the Steep Canyon Rangers. It will be an iconic night of music. $29-$55

Want more things to do? Check out our Event Board.

Hosting? Purchase an Event Listing.

The Pub At Uptown is now open within walking distance of Truist Field and Bank of America Stadium.

Why it matters: The bar's owners, Eddie Romero and Mike Ivie, previously owned The Pub at Gateway for 17 years.

• "We wanted to bring back everything people loved about The Pub At Gateway but take it up a notch," Romero said in a statement.

The vibe: The new bar at 500 West Trade St. has 14 TVs, a dartboard and the original jukebox from The Pub at Gateway inside the 2,700-square-foot space.

• Its owners are partnering with The Barcelona Penya, Charlotte Chapter and will be the official home pub for every Barcelona game.
• It'll be open daily from 11am-2am and food will be served until 2am.

Dig in: Its menu will have Gouda mac 'n cheese bites, homemade hummus with pita bread, salads, wraps and Angus beef burgers.