A developer is about to open its next "car-optional" community in the NoDa area, taking a bet on the type of city that Charlotte could be. But also, what many still think it isn't ready for.

Why it matters: In an auto-centric city with an oversupply of cookie-cutter apartments, Space Craft's project is an urban option for Charlotteans willing to change their habits in exchange for walkability and distinctive design.

By the numbers: The Charlotte firm's under-construction project along North Davidson and East 25th Street, Oxbow, is 389 market-rate units across six stories, plus 11,314 square feet of retail. It's located steps away from the Blue Line.

• Units range from 410-square-foot studios to 1,501-square-foot four-bedrooms, and six for-rent townhouses.
• About 15 to 20 units will be short-term rentals.
• All those homes add up to around 600 residents.

Yes, but: Oxbow will have just 136 parking spaces — not even a third of the potential capacity.

• It's yet to be determined how they'll divvy up spots.

Friction point: Space Craft's other "car-optional" community nearby, Joinery, has sparked concern among neighbors and business owners, even prompting debate about parking minimums during the city's UDO rewrite.

• Outside Joinery, rows and rows of cars line North Brevard and take up on-street spaces that business customers may otherwise use.

What they're saying: "We don't expect everyone in Charlotte to want to live in Joinery," says Mohit Shewaramani, COO of Space Craft. "We are excited about a lifestyle where they get a lot of options instead of just a parking spot."

• Joinery has boosted its transit offerings, with Teslas, e-bikes and e-scooters for rent, so residents are less dependent on car ownership.

Follow the money: Space Craft saves money by not building as much parking, which can add about $25,000 to $50,000 for each garage space. (Oxbow also, notably, has no pool.) Those savings are channeled into aesthetics and amenities, like an extension of the Cross Charlotte Trail.

Take a look around

🏗️ The former Two Wells Fargo Center at 301 S. Tryon could be the next big Uptown redevelopment, with construction starting in 2027.

• Chicago developers Singerman Real Estate and Riverside Investment & Development, behind Queensbridge Collective, tell Axios they have acquired the city block, with 800,000 square feet of commercial office space across two adjoining buildings.
• A project team is considering hotel, residences, retail and public spaces for the site.

⛽️ Charlotte City Council unanimously rejected a zoning petition this week for a gas station at East WT Harris and Idlewild Road, where there's already a Circle K across the street.

"We are currently saturated with gas stations ... We need to become a less car-reliant city."

💰 Cathy Bessant, the former Bank of America executive, is retiring as head of the Foundation for the Carolinas. President Laura Yates Clark succeeds her. (WFAE)

🗞️ Charlotte Observer editor Rana Cash has resigned, effective May 1, and managing editor Taylor Batten will leave the same day after the company eliminated his job. (QCity Metro)

🏗️ The former Alpine Ski Center in Dilworth could soon be replaced by a two-story building for restaurant, retail and services, according to a city filing. (CBJ 🔒)

🚜 Sunbelt Rentals could join the small list of the Charlotte region's Fortune 500 companies after reclassifying its headquarters from London to Fort Mill in March. (Ledger)

If you're on the hunt for a new job, here are 4 to get you started.

• 5th/6th Grade Teacher - Middle School at Charlotte Preparatory School
• Lower School, Assistant Teacher, 2nd Grade at Charlotte Country Day School
• Associate Director of Diversity Planning at Charlotte Country Day School
• Catering Coordinator at Chef Alyssa's Kitchen

Want more opportunities? Check out all openings on our Job Board.

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For National Pretzel Day, I'm dropping my list of top pretzels in Charlotte after two years of tedious research.

Why it matters: In a crowded pretzel market, only a few prevail as the city's best.

Editor's note: These are in no particular order. I'm a news reporter, not a food critic. But I have eaten a lot of pretzels.

• 🏐 VBGB: They claim it's famous for good reason. Comes with beer cheese. But honestly, it can stand on its own, a rare achievement.
• 🇩🇪 Gilde: It earns a rare five stars, kudos to the originality of the "cold German" cheese dipped, topped with slivered onion and chives.
• 🍻 Legion: The only problem is that there are only four rolls. I could easily pop 20 of these in my mouth like Scooby-Doo.

See the full list