Construction started yesterday on a 14-story, 295-room hotel in South End.

Why it matters: Hotel construction has been slow in South End, while office and entertainment have boomed, creating demand for hospitality space. There's currently only one other full-service hotel, the Holiday Inn.

• "The South End market has matured to a point where a project of this caliber is not only viable, but essential," says Conner White, vice chairman and chief investment officer of hotel developer White Lodging.

What to expect: The Autograph Collection by Marriott hotel, located on 0.6 acres at South Tryon and Bland streets, will feature nearly 10,000 square feet of meeting space and a ground-floor restaurant. Plus, it will have a "first-of-its-kind" open-air pool deck, open to non-guests, on the fifth floor, with:

• A public steam sauna
• Cold- and hot-plunge pools
• Wellness programming
• A spa
• A restaurant and bar

What's next: The hotel — the name is to be announced — is expected to open in late 2028.

• White Lodging will develop the restaurant and bar, similar to the JW Marriott it operates in Uptown. (The company also runs Dean's Italian Steakhouse, Caroline's Oyster Bar and Aura Rooftop.)
• More details will come out closer to opening, a spokesperson tells Axios.

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💼 See who's hiring around the city.

1. Pre-Primary Extended Day Teacher at Charlotte Preparatory School.
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About half of Charlotte voters support moving forward immediately with the proposed $4-plus billion widening of I-77 South, according to a new poll commissioned by CLT Public Relations.

Why it matters: The survey gauges how everyday Charlotteans — not activists or business leaders — feel about the toll lanes.

• And it shows people are generally in favor of the project advancing.

By the numbers: 51.5% of those surveyed supported the statement, "Charlotte should move forward with the proposed expansion of the southern section of I-77 immediately."

• 38.3% of those questioned oppose the project moving forward at this time, while 10.2% said they neither support nor oppose it.

Caveat: CLT Public Relations, which funded the poll, is a lobbying and advocacy firm whose clients include local governments and those who seek influence with local government.

• Clients include the Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. It's also worked on campaigns such as Charlotte's "Yes for City Bonds."

Zoom in: A majority of people polled also agree that tolls, charged to users of new lanes, are the best way to pay for the expansion.

• Support was low for sales, property or gas tax increases, chosen by just 1.7%, 3.1% and 14.4% of respondents, respectively.
• 26.7% of people were "unsure" how the widening should be paid for, and 2% chose the option "none of them."
• 77.4% of people surveyed said that taxes in Charlotte are already too high.

Go deeper

🏟️ MLS All-Stars beat the Liga MX All-Stars 4-3 at Bank of America Stadium last night in the MLS All-Star Game.

🏀 LaMelo Ball is being sued by Cam Newton's dad over unpaid rent from Ball's manager. (Observer)

🍽️ Ohio-based Kitchen Social is opening its first North Carolina restaurant in Cotswold, where Sycamore was originally supposed to open a second location. (Observer 🔐)

📚 Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Pineville branch will reopen on Monday, Aug. 3, after a vehicle damaged the building on April 29. (Instagram)

🛝 Archdale Park, a 16.6-acre park in southwest Charlotte at 1020 Archdale Dr., has reopened after renovations. Upgrades include expanded basketball courts, the playground, picnic shelters and walkways, per Mecklenburg County.

🛣️ The N.C. Department of Transportation is closing I-277 lanes underneath Caldwell Street bridge in Uptown nightly to do repairs, after noticing damage to a beam during a routine inspection. Lanes will be closed today through Monday, Aug. 3, from 9pm to 5am, with subsequent closures in August.

This weekend's lineup has a little bit of everything, from Tame Impala and Panthers Fan Fest to a city-wide hot dog bar crawl.

🏈 Tomorrow: Cheer on the Panthers at Carolina Panthers Fan Fest at Bank of America Stadium. | 6:30pm | $5+ | Details

🌭 Saturday: Dress as a hot dog and join the free Hot Dog Bar Crawl through Plaza Midwood, Uptown and beyond. Participating bars will offer themed food and drink specials. | Free | Noon | Details

🧘‍♂️ Sunday: Flow through an outdoor Parking Lot Yoga class at Thrift Pony with Gemini Yoga at their South Tryon location. | $5 | 11am-2pm | Details

Full weekender

Dear Charlotte, a garden-inspired restaurant, bar and event venue, will open this fall in Steele Creek at a forthcoming Hilton Garden Inn.

Why it matters: Steele Creek lacks the same amenities as popular neighborhoods closer to the city's urban core. Dear Charlotte will provide a gathering space for residents and visitors.

Context: The project is from local hoteliers and cousins Parimal Thakor and Krishna Deva, who are co-CEOs of Maya Hotels. Dear Charlotte will be a stand-alone destination on the top floor of the new Hilton Garden Inn Steele Creek at 4936 Trojan Dr. Suite 600.

What to expect: Dear Charlotte will serve botanical cocktails, artisan pizzas and shared plates. The space will include a state-of-the-art sound system.

What's next: Look out for its opening in late fall.

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