SouthEnd in Charlotte has seen lots of change over the years, now it looks as if it is starting to go up. At the latest Charlotte City Council zoning meeting the possibility of the Rail Yard project in SouthEnd wants the option to build up to 10 stories tall. There was no public opposition at the meeting, and planning staff are recommending that City Council approve the plan.
This trend of going up and creating more density has been seen elsewhere in the city, but it has really started to take off in SouthEnd. The Blue Line light rail is a major driver of this density. More young professionals want to be in walkable areas where they can live without cars. The light rail provides just that, and will provide more options for stops as the rail lines are extended.
The Rail Yard project has been working closely with residents of the community to make sure they are providing what is needed and wanted for the area. The overwhelming majority want a mixed-use project. The developers have come up with a plan that includes a pair of eight-story buildings with apartments, office space, a rooftop park for tenants, shops, and restaurants.
The Rail Yard is located on a 3.5 acre block bounded by South Tryon, Winona, Winnifred, and Bland Streets. Beacon Partners and developer and architect David Furman are partnering on the project. The plan will bring in “micro-apartments”. These smaller than usual units should come with smaller price tags allowing younger, less established tenants to afford to live in this booming area. These 100 apartment units will join 290,000 square feet of office space, and 30,000 square feet of ground-floor retail divided by two buildings with a pedestrian courtyard of at least 7,000 square feet. Street level incubation space for small businesses will also be a main component of the project.
This is not the only tall building planned for the area. Dimensional Fund Advisors are building their headquarters building just down the way where Common Market and Food Truck Friday were located. Their building will rise seven-stories into the air.
It will be great to see Charlotte not hemmed in by the I-277 loop in terms of tall development. If you are interested in a home in SouthEnd, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also view homes currently for sale on our website here.