INSIDE ▼ CATS rolls out microtransit PAGE 2A Friday, February 14, 2025 • Vol. 25 • No. 7
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Brightmoor neighbors question project with 715 homes by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
MATTHEWS – Two residents of the Brightmoor neighborhood expressed concerns about a mixed-use development project that may yield 715 residential units south of I-485 and along East John Street.
Crosland Southeast proposes rezoning 92.87 acres at 1700 E. John Street from residential to mixed use. The plan is to develop 564 multi-family units, 103 single-family units, 48 townhomes and 54,000
square feet of retail/office space over multiple phases. A 120-room hotel is also proposed. Dennis Gray, who has lived in the area for 38 years, commended town leaders for denying the N.C. Department of Transportation’s approach to widening East John Street through downtown for a superstreet. But Gray did not share the same enthusiasm for the Crosland Southeast proposal. “It seems like the petition ignores everything you are concerned about for the town,” Gray said during the Feb. 10 public hearing. “The peti-
tion is not only a high-density project but it is a small town in and of itself.” Gray contends the project would lead to a mini downtown being developed around a superstreet that commissioners don’t want in the downtown area. Neighbor Jim Dedmon said that neighborhoods, not apartments and townhomes, make Matthews special. He wonders why high-density projects continue to come before the board. “Somehow, somewhere in the Town of Matthews, somebody keeps pushing for more high-density de-
spite what the town, the citizens, have said,” Dedmon told commissioners. “They say, ‘We don’t want high density. We want Matthews to be the neighborhood-type development, the neighborhood, the town that they moved to. “I don't know if it’s our planning department, our planning board that keep shoving this idea that any development that we put out there – if there’s some land available, by gosh, it needs to be mixed-use and high-density.” Commissioner John Urban said the board generally doesn’t respond to public comments but he ad-
Walk to End Alzheimer’s among Top 30 walks nationwide
dressed remarks made by Dedmon and Gray at the end of the Feb. 10 meeting. Urban pointed to an open house related to the Envision Matthews Comprehensive Plan that the town hosted in May 2023 at the Matthews Sportsplex. Citizens could give feedback during that event on the town’s planning process and help prioritize community needs. “This idea that single-family is the only thing that should exist – that it should only be neighborStory continues, see BRIGHTMOOR page 3A
Greater Matthews Habitat reschedules duplex groundbreaking MATTHEWS – Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity has announced a rescheduled date for the groundbreaking ceremony of its second duplex home.
The 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Charlotte raised $744,500.
Photos courtesy of Alzheimer’s Association – Western Carolina Chapter
CHARLOTTE – The Alzheimer’s Association – Western Carolina Chapter announced that its 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer’s - Charlotte has been ranked No. 24 in the nation out of the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2024 Top 30 Walks.
The Charlotte fundraiser has been included in this top ranking since 2016 and is the largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s and other dementia awareness, care, support and research. Nearly 2,000 participants in the 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Charlotte raised $744,500. “We appreciate our walk participants, volunteers, sponsors and staff for consistently making this event so successful and impactful to our community,” said Katherine Lambert, CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association - Western Carolina Chapter. “The critical
funds raised make a difference for the 210,000 North Carolinians living with Alzheimer’s and their 373,000 caregivers.” Rankings are earned by overall event revenue, and include walks from over 600 communities nationwide. In 2024, more than 371,000 people participated in more than 600 walks across the country, raising $103 million — a record amount for any single year since the inception of the world’s largest event to fight the disease. “These vital funds enable the association to deliver 24/7 care and support, advocate fearlessly for people facing the disease and fuel groundbreaking research across the globe,” said Coulter Warlick, 2024 volunteer chair of the Executive Leadership Team for Walk to End Alzheimer’s Charlotte. “And this is only the beginning. With the current advances in treatment, our work is
more important than ever. We won’t rest until everyone living with the disease – at any stage – can get the treatment, care and support they need and deserve.” In addition to the top ranking of the Charlotte event, several local teams and individuals earned national rankings. Among the Top 50 Walk Teams nationwide was Senior Living Communities at No. 44 raising $67,780. Earning spots among the Top 100 Walk Participants nationwide were Charlotte participants Josh Thompson (Senior Living Communities) who raised $31,540, Stuart Goldstein (Team Cadwalader), who raised $27,746 and Wesley Misson (Team Cadwalader), who raised $25,085. The Alzheimer’s Association will be hosting its 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s - Charlotte on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Truist Field. Registration is already open.
Participants and teams can register by visiting act.alz.org/charlotte or calling 800-272-3900.
Dunn starts role as interim police chief by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
MATTHEWS – The Town of Matthews has appointed Penny Dunn as interim police chief as it continues to search for a permanent leader.
Town Manager Becky Hawke introduced Dunn to the community Feb. 10 during the town commissioners meeting. “It’s an honor to be here,”
Dunn said. “I’m glad to be serving with the men and women of the Matthews Police Department. Just been here a week. Really enjoying getting to know everyone and working with them. Look forward to it.” The town announced in January 2024 that it had selected Michael Clesceri to serve as police chief, effective March 11, but Clesceri left the role after six months. Maj. Roy Sisk was appointed to serve as the interim chief but he retired Jan. 31.
Both Clesceri and Sisk each had at least 30 years of law enforcement experience. Dunn takes over the position with even more experience, having launched her career with the San Marcos Police Department in 1986. She remained in Texas until 2017, working her way up to assistant police chief. “She then decided to trade in the humidity and fire ants in Texas and relocated to North Carolina back in 2017,” Hawke told com-
missioners. Dunn served as chief of the Davidson Police Department from mid-2017 to January 2023. Davidson Town Manager Jamie Justice praised Dunn’s work with the department at the time of her retirement. “At a time when police departments across the county are under increased scrutiny, it has Story continues, see DUNN page 3A
Originally planned for Jan. 11, the ceremony was postponed due to the threat of severe weather and will now take place at 10 a.m. Feb. 22 at 356 Crestdale Road. Parking will be available at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church. The event celebrates future homeowners Kiara and Justin and Javonne, and their families, as they begin their journey toward achieving affordable homeownership. Each homeowner has partnered with the nonprofit by meeting program requirements, which include demonstrating a need for decent housing, the ability to pay an affordable mortgage and completing 150 hours of volunteer work, including financial literacy and home maintenance education programs. “We are excited to move forward with this significant milestone,” said Natisha Rivera-Patrick, president & CEO of Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity. “While the decision to reschedule was made out of an abundance of caution, the importance of this event remains unchanged. It symbolizes hope, unity and the opportunity to build brighter futures for local families.” The ceremony marks the start of construction and a step toward fulfilling Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity’s mission of creating affordable housing for families in Matthews, Mint Hill, and Stallings. The event will also be streamed live on Facebook for those unable to attend in person. This year’s projects, including the duplex construction, are made possible in part by support of the Town of Matthews, Publix Super Markets Charities, Nucor, Wells Fargo and Piedmont Natural Gas. Their contributions help fund all of the nonprofit’s programs, from homeownership to critical home repairs. Reach out to Natisha@habitatmatthews.org for available sponsorship and community involvement opportunities as well as financial contributions.