The 3-20-2026 Edition of The Charlotte Weekly South Charlotte
CHARLOTTE – Sustain Charlotte has launched a public design challenge to imagine new possibilities for the I-77 corridor through Charlotte.
“Reimagining 77 South: A Vision for Repairing and Reconnecting Charlotte” is intended to spark ideas about how the corridor could reconnect neighborhoods, improve mobility for all and create healthier public spaces. e initiative comes as the proposed I-77 South toll lane project has been temporarily paused.
Community members are invited to submit visual concepts showing how the corridor could better serve Charlotte’s neighborhoods, environment and future growth.
Ideas may include freeway caps or tunnels, parks and greenways, new walking and biking connections, restored waterways or other approaches that reconnect communities and improve quality of life.
“For decades, highways built through cities
By Alan Wooten Contributor
(The Center Square) – Severe weather piled into an already taxed airport issue with missing TSA workers March 16, causing Charlotte Douglas International Airport to nearly double flight cancellations of the previous seven days.
The airport had 433 cancellations and 663 delays on March 16. e airport, like many across the country, is battling having enough Transportation Security Administration personnel, an agency of the Department of Homeland Security working without pay during the partial government shutdown.
At one point during the storm in the morning, a ground stop was ordered for safety reasons. Power outages were multiple in the area, and an EF-0 tornado was con rmed. e combination was tough on travelers. Nationwide, estimates are 1 in 10 not showing up. Several reports include former TSA workers saying they had to nd other permanent work.
e partial government shutdown began Feb. 14 after a Jan. 30 deadline was not met and an extension was given, impacting thousands of Transportation Security Administration personnel. TSA is part of the Department of Homeland Security, the 1/12th of the congressional budget yet to be funded.
For context between the politicians’ polar opposite blame, Democrats have demands for reforms on immigration enforcement, a desire to separate agencies within Homeland Security, and accountability. Republicans
CHARLOTTE – The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is deploying crisis-trained chaplains to Illinois and Indiana after deadly tornadoes swept through parts of the Midwest.
The storm system spawned tornadoes across several states, killing an elderly couple in the Indiana community of Lake Village and injuring others.
Chaplains will go to some of the hardest-hit areas, including Kankakee County, Illinois and Newton County, Indiana, to provide emotional and spiritual care.
believe the department as constructed for cohesive consideration of national threats does not need changing, and the House of Representatives has already passed bipartisan funding that isn’t able to get past Senate Democrats.
Charlotte Douglas had 244 cancellations and 2,853 delays over the seven days ending March 15, according to tracking platform FlightAware. e last time the airport had so
Chaplains were also deployed earlier to communities in Michigan after the same storm system caused widespread damage there, killing four people and injuring more than a dozen others.
“Storms like these leave more than physical damage. ey leave people grieving and searching for hope,” said Josh Holland, vice president of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team. “Our chaplains are there to walk alongside those who are hurting, offering prayer and sharing the comfort that comes from Jesus Christ. Even in the midst
Sustain Charlotte launches challenge to reimagine I-77 South
divided neighborhoods and limited opportunity,” said Shannon Binns, founder and executive director of Sustain Charlotte. “ is challenge invites local residents to imagine what it could look like to repair past harm and reconnect our communities, as so many other cities have already begun to do.”
Selected submissions will be displayed at a free public exhibit on April 13 at the Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City, as part of a free public event called “How the Cities
many cancellations in a single day was Jan. 25-26, when more than 1,600 over two days were halted by a major winter snowstorm. Numbers were not as high though similar impact was evident at Raleigh-Durham International and Piedmont Triad International in Greensboro. RDU had 85 cancellations and 216 delays; Greensboro had 29 and 45, respectively.
CHAPLAINS DEPLOY TO INDIANA, ILLINOIS AFTER TORNADOES
of life’s storms, we want people to know that God is a refuge and shelter for those who turn to Him, and that they are not facing this di cult time alone.”
Chaplains continue to minister to families a ected by recent winter storms in Corinth, Oxford, and New Albany, Mississippi, and West Monroe, Louisiana. e Billy Graham Rapid Response Team also continues to o er emotional and spiritual care to families who have been forced to ee their homes in wartorn Ukraine.
We Build Shape How We Live,” featuring “Happy City” author Charles Montgomery. Sustain Charlotte encourages submissions from professional and amateur designers, students, classrooms, artists and community members. Professional experience is not required. Hand-drawn sketches are welcome. e submission deadline is April 6. Visit sustaincharlotte.org/reimagining-i77-south-charlotte/ for submission details.
CHARLOTTE – Charlotte Mechanical and Vera Guitars collaborated to donate more than two dozen instruments to support music education in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Representatives from the companies visited Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology, Rocky River High School and Providence High School on March 10 to deliver string instruments, including electric basses and acoustic guitars, along with accessories such as cases and amps.
“As a musician myself, and someone who comes from a family of musicians, I’ve seen rsthand how powerful music can be in shaping con dence, discipline and creativity,” said Dan Dyszelski, co-founder and chief nancial o cer of Charlotte Mechanical. “We’re an employee-owned company that believes in investing in the future of our community. Partnering with Vera Guitars to support local school music programs is deeply personal for me. It’s about making sure students have the same opportunity to discover what music can mean in their lives.”
Vera Guitars shares that vision and hopes their donations help equip students with quality instruments that make music programs more accessible and sustainable.
“At Vera Guitars, we believe music changes lives,” brand executive Je Zirkle said, noting that supporting schools and music programs is part of who they are. “We’re grateful to partner with Charlotte Mechanical to put instruments into students' hands and support music education in our community. is is an ongoing commitment for us, and we’re excited to see the impact it will have.”
e initiative provides instruments that support classroom instruction, ensemble performance and skill development. e organizations aim to remove barriers to participation and ensure more students have consistent access to the tools they need to explore their creativity, build con dence and engage in music.
“Hopefully, these donations will encourage more participants and help students have a consistent sound across the ensemble,” said David Vergato, an orchestra and guitar teacher at Providence High School. Christopher Myers, principal at Providence High School, said the donation is great for students and teachers.
“It validates all the hard work they are doing not only at Providence High School, but throughout CMS,” Myers said.
Charlotte Mechanical and Vera Guitars plan to make additional donations to more schools.
Justin Pierce, CMS director of arts education, said the collaboration has been amazing.
“We were able to work with Charlotte Mechanical to put together some much-needed instruments for programs around the district,” Pierce said.
Providence High School receives instruments thanks to a partnership among CharlotteMecklenburg Schools, Charlotte Mechanical and Vera Guitars. Photo courtesy of CharlotteMecklenburg Schools
Leaders JD Mazuera Arias and the Rev. Rodney Sadler joined airport workers and unions March 12 to protest American Airlines market share at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. They called on the city to negotiate a lease with American Airlines that will improve passenger safety and reduce employee turnover, by ensuring workers earn fair wages and benefits. Photos courtesy of 32BJ SEIU
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NEWSLETTER
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NEWS BRIEFS
Charlotte seeks input on fiscal year 2027 budget
CHARLOTTE – The City of Charlotte is seeking input from residents regarding their budget priorities for the upcoming scal year, which will begin July 1.
e city will host two budget engagement events this month to collect feedback:
• March 17, 6 p.m.: In-person Budget 101 session.
• March 31: Budget Listening Session.
Residents can also share feedback through the FY 2027 Budget Survey, which will remain open until April 6.
e Balancing Act budget simulation tool is available for residents to adjust budgets for various city departments and align resources with the services that are most important to them.
“ e city’s budget is the foundation of all the services we provide to more than 900,000 residents,” said Marie Harris, director of the strategy and budget department. “Our plans for advancing council’s priorities such as mobility, safety, housing and job opportunities are backed by funding that is strategically allocated to meet the community’s needs. It is important that we gain feedback and insights directly from those we serve.”
e city manager will present a proposed budget on May 4.
CMS collects feedback on Program Choice
CHARLOTTE – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will host community engagement sessions through April 2 to gather feedback on proposed updates to its Program Choice programs.
Upcoming sessions in the southern Mecklenburg County area include March 18 at Providence High School, March 24 at Independence High School, March 25 at Rocky River High School, March 30 at East Mecklenburg High School and April 1 at South Mecklenburg High
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Carolina Oncology
Specialists raises cancer awareness
CHARLOTTE – Carolina Oncology Specialists will participate with a team and event sponsorship at the Get Your Rear in Gear 5K, which raises money and awareness for colorectal cancer education, prevention and patient support.
The Charlotte chapter of the Colon Cancer Coalition will host its annual 5K on March 21 at First Ward Park.
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
Dr. Nasfat Shehadeh, an oncologist with Carolina Oncology Specialists, specializes in treating colorectal cancer. Dr. Shehadeh regularly presents research and clinical studies on colon cancer through the American Society of Clinical Oncology, helping advance education and awareness in the eld.
On the web: charlottecancer.com
Phone-free cocktail lounge opens in South End
CHARLOTTE – Antagonist, a phone-free cocktail lounge, has opened in South End.
Located in e Campbell Apartments, the venue operates as the Giddy Goat co ee shop during the day and transitions into a cocktail bar after 5 p.m. Guests place their phones in Yondr pouches before entering the lounge.
e concept was created by Mike and Kristin Salzarulo, founders of Protagonist and Tipsy Pickle, along with cocktail professionals Phi Hoang and Madison Phillips.
The space includes nearly
1,200 square feet indoors and a 500-square-foot patio with seating for about 90 guests. Cocktails are inspired by famous antagonists, including the Regina George margarita.
ERA Live Moore promotes a VP of growth
CHARLOTTE – ERA Live Moore has promoted Brookelynn Cardenas to vice president of growth.
Cardenas previously served as vice president of relocation and business development, helping expand the brokerage’s relocation program and partnerships across North Carolina and beyond.
In her new role, she will focus on identifying growth opportunities, strengthening partnerships and supporting systems that help agents and clients succeed.
Since joining ERA Live Moore in 2023, Cardenas has helped grow the rm’s relocation network and relationships with national partners and referral organizations.
“Brookelynn has been instrumental in helping ERA Live Moore expand its reach and strengthen our relationships with relocation partners and corporate clients,” said Tania Moore, president and owner of ERA Live Moore. “Her strategic thinking, professionalism and commitment to excellence have helped us grow in meaningful ways.”
Akerman adds three partners to its Charlotte office
CHARLOTTE – Akerman has added three partners to its Charlotte
School. Each day will feature six sessions beginning at 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
e meetings are part of the district’s draft plan in response to the 2024 Comprehensive Data Review, which examines program structure, academic pathways and equitable access for students.
Police carry out drug operation
MONROE – The Monroe Police Department said it is working to shut down illegal drug activity in the community.
Narcotics detectives and special response team members executed warrants March 12 at a home on South Branch Street. e operation was part of an ongoing e ort to disrupt drug activity.
O cers found about two pounds of marijuana during the search of the residence, police said.
Brian Lee Huntley, 48, of Monroe, was arrested on charges of possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, felony possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of selling drugs.
Police encourage anyone with information about illegal drug activity to contact the department.
Volunteers sought for Feeding Charlotte event CHARLOTTE – Feeding Charlotte is partnering with Myers Park United Methodist Church to pack 5,000 boxed lunches in two hours through its Feeding Charlotte Feeds campaign.
e lunches will be given to more than 20 organizations that serve people facing food insecurity.
e event takes place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. May 8 at the church. Register in advance at feedingcharlotte.org. e nonpro t is opening registration for up to 320 volunteers. Sponsors are sought to help fund the ingredients and supplies needed
o ce as part of its e ort to build a full-service platform in one of the nation’s fastest-growing commercial markets.
Amanda Pooler and Samuel Mann have joined the rm’s Litigation Practice Group. Greg Faltin has joined the Real Estate Practice Group.
Akerman opened its Charlotte o ce in November 2024 with a focus on project nance, renewable energy and infrastructure. e addition of litigation and real estate services marks the next phase of the o ce’s growth.
“The clients we work with in Charlotte are dealing with increasingly complex matters that cut across practice areas – a renewable energy developer facing a contract dispute, a nancial institution navigating regulatory risk alongside a transaction,” said Josh DeBottis, Charlotte o ce managing partner. “Amanda, Samuel and Greg give us the ability to handle that work locally with the depth our clients expect, rather than sta ng it from other o ces.”
The Duke Endowment appoints trustees
CHARLOTTE – e Duke Endowment has appointed Robert R. Hill Jr. and John C. Yates to its board of trustees.
e foundation supports work that nurtures children, promotes health, educates minds and enriches spirits in the Carolinas. It has distributed more than $5 billion in grants since 1924.
Hill, of Columbia, S.C., joined SouthState Corp. in 1995 and
for the meals. Email rich@feedingcharlotte.org for details.
Queen’s Grant wins state title
WINSTON-SALEM – Queen’s Grant defeated Warren County, 7743, to win the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2A Boys Basketball Championship.
Queen’s Grant (35-3) was hot from the gate, hitting 61.9% of its shots in the rst quarter for a 27-14 lead. e Stallions outscored Warren County, 21-6, in the second quarter to break the game open. ey scored 18 of those 21 second-quarter points in the paint. Warren County went 1-for-14 in the second quarter.
Chase Smith finished the title game with 27 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists to earn MVP honors. He shot 13-for-16 from the oor.
Mehki Allen earned the Army National Guard West Most Outstanding Player for the western bracket. He nished the title game with 21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.
Other players to score in the championship included Cannon DeBerry (8), Preston Scott (6), Joel Jackson (4), Bobby Montgomery (3), Jaleel Brown (2), Jamal Mustaf (2), Tristan O’Neill (2) and Ethan McSweeney (2).
Project Sleep raises awareness about sleep disorders
CHARLOTTE – Chris Peters, of Charlotte, lived with unexplained symptoms for seven years before being diagnosed with narcolepsy type 2, a neurological disorder that a ects the brain’s ability to regulate the sleep-wake cycle.
“Everything is a trade-o and calculating that daily is di cult,” Peters said.
Peters later connected with Project Sleep, a nonpro t that raises awareness about sleep health and sleep disorders. Today he serves on the organization’s Expert Advisory Board, advocating for earlier diagnosis and
served as CEO from 2004 to 2020 before becoming executive chairman. He retired in 2023.
Yates, of Atlanta, is a co-founding partner of the Atlanta/Southeast ofce of Gunderson Dettmer and has practiced technology law for more than 40 years.
Hill and Yates replace Ravenel B. Curry III and Harris DeLoach Jr., both of whom retired from the Duke Endowment’s board after serving 17 years and 13 years, respectively.
Homebuilder to open Hardy Pond homes
ROCK HILL – David Weekley Homes will host a grand opening event for the Hardy Pond community from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 25 at 597 Cape Cod Way.
Visitors can tour The Wedgewood and The Bluestar model homes, along with nished movein-ready homes, and enjoy refreshments and giveaways.
The Hardy Pond community o ers ve single-family oor plans ranging from about 2,400 to 3,150 square feet with three to ve bedrooms and two- to three-car garages. ree townhome oor plans will also be o ered. Call 704-817-0030 for details.
Governor appoints Altenburg to state agency
RALEIGH – Gov. Josh Stein appointed Russell Altenburg, of Mecklenburg County, as a parent member of the North Carolina Partnership for Children. Altenburg leads education grantmaking and related impact
greater public understanding of sleep conditions. Call Project Sleep’s Sleep Helpline at 800-819-2043 or visit project-sleep.com for support and resources.
CMS joins Iovine and Young Center Network
CHARLOTTE – West Charlotte High School has been selected to join the Iovine and Young Center Network, with the program set to launch in the 2026–27 school year. e school will receive about $2 million over ve years to support the initiative. An existing classroom will be renovated to house the center, which will feature specialized equipment and provide hands-on instruction in design, technology, business and communications.
Modeled after the University of Southern California’s Iovine and Young Academy founded by Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young (Dr. Dre), the program focuses on developing interdisciplinary, tech-savvy innovators.
“We look forward to cultivating the innate superpowers of these students,” Iovine said.
Quick Hits
• The Brain Injury Association of North Carolina has installed an Unmasking Brain Injury display this month at Alliance Health in Mecklenburg County. e display is in honor of Brain Injury Awareness Month.
• Care Ring has opened registration for its third annual Maternal Health Conference. e conference, presented by Novant Health, takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 9. Registration fees range from $35 to $125.
• e Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization has moved its March meeting to March 25. It starts at 6 p.m. in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center.
investment efforts at The Leon Levine Foundation.
His portfolio emphasizes early childhood education, high-dosage tutoring and college and career pathways.
Shuford joins museum’s advisory commission
RALEIGH – Gov. Josh Stein appointed Elizabeth Shuford, of Mecklenburg County, as an at-large member of the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences Advisory Commission.
Shuford is involved in the nonpro t community, serving on the board of trustees for e Mint Museum and as president of e Mint Auxiliary. She has also chaired the Charlotte Community Leadership Council for the Children's Home Society of North Carolina and supported numerous arts and education organizations in Mecklenburg County.
Student engages in economic development conference
RALEIGH – e North Carolina Economic Development Association Foundation awarded Aanya Lilly, of UNC Charlotte, with the Student Member NCEDA Annual Conference Scholarship.
She received the award March 10 during NCEDA’s Spring Conference in Greensboro.
e scholarship provides full coverage of registration, travel, lodging, meals and ancillary expenses for the NCEDA 2026 Annual Conference from June 17 to 19 in Wilmington.
Where counties differed with the state in voting
by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
For the most part, uno cial voting results in Mecklenburg and Union counties mirrored state results for larger races in the March 3 election.
Most of the di erences can be chalked up to Union County candidates receiving more votes in their communities.
N.C. Court of Appeals, Seat 1
Monroe resident Matt Smith lost to Michael Byrne in the Republican primary for Seat 1 of the N.C. Court of Appeals. Byrne earned 301,730 votes, or 51.54% statewide. He had 18,070 more votes than Smith. Smith, who serves as a Superior Court judge, fared much better in Mecklenburg and Union counties.
He was the preferred candidate in Union County with 10,722 votes, or 70.54%. He led in every Union County precinct except Precinct 1, where he tied Byrne with 16 votes.
Smith picked up another 11,359 votes in Mecklenburg County, trailing Byrne by 872.
Smith had small leads in several southeastern precincts in Mecklenburg County.
“ is is a loss I will carry with me for a very long time,” Smith shared on Facebook. “It does sting deeply. However, I am so grateful for all the people I have met along the way. ere are so many dedicated individuals among us who serve with great purpose. It has been my honor to have your consideration in this endeavor.”
Smith said he will continue serving as a Superior Court judge. Byrne will go on to face Democrat John Arrowood in the general election.
U.S. Senate
Michael Whatley emerged as the winner among seven Republican candidates vying for a U.S. Senate seat. Whatley won the primary with 405,158 votes, or 64.57%, statewide. Waxhaw resident Don Brown came in second with 96,899 votes, or 15.6%.
Brown had much stronger support at home, earning 31.2% of Union County votes. He trailed Whatley by 3,477 votes in Union County and even led in ve precincts:
9, 11, 22, 33 and 28D.
“I congratulate Michael Whatley on his victory and wish him success in the ght ahead against Roy Cooper,” Brown shared on Facebook. “ ank you to the thousands of supporters who stood with our campaign. Victory isn’t always about crossing the nish line rst – sometimes it’s about the righteousness of the ght. We have a great nation and a great Constitution worth defending. Let’s regroup, stay strong, and come back another day. I love you all.” ere were slight variations in the order of nish in Mecklenburg County. Michele Morrow came in third instead of fourth, while Margot Dupre nished sixth instead of seventh.
On the Democratic side of the race, former Gov. Roy Cooper earned more than 90% of the vote statewide as well as Mecklenburg and Union counties. Robert Colon came in fth among Union voters instead of sixth.
U.S. House, District 14
Lakesha Womack emerged as the Democratic nominee for U.S. House District 14,
Matthews Area Chamber hosts
MATTHEWS – Children could explore some of the unique vehicles they see on the road during the Matthews Area Chamber of Commerce's Touch-A-Truck event March 14 at Stumptown Park.
e event gave agencies like the Matthews Police Department and Matthews Fire & EMS a chance to interact with the public, showing them the apparatus and tools sta uses to respond to emergencies.
Children could also see how organizations like the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library and Novant Health use wheels to take their services directly to the community. Novant Health provides screenings through its purple Community Care Cruiser, while the library transports Internet access and digital resources on its MiLa Mobile Internet Lab shuttle to underserved areas of the county.
e event featured several work trucks. Liberty Bins, which o ers "Freedom From Filthy Bins," let children squirt mustard and ketchup into trash bins to show how the Mint Hill company cleans them.
Badger Hauling, a junk removal company in Indian Trail, showed o a truck it uses to haul o large furniture and other trash.
Other work trucks included AAA Tree Experts; Black Tire & Auto Service; Hornet Moving; and Travis Crawford Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical;
e Matthews Area Chamber hosts community events like Touch-A-Truck and Fall for Matthews at Stumptown Park. e chamber also supports the business community through networking, luncheons and grand opening events.
which includes Mecklenburg, Gaston, Cleveland, Burke, Polk and Rutherford counties. While Womack earned 56.20% of the vote in Mecklenburg County, second-place nisher Brent Caldwell led 10 of the 28 precincts, including 121, 144 and 232. e rest were in northern Mecklenburg. Caldwell is a Charlotte attorney.
Tim Moore won the Republican side of the ballot for U.S. House District 14. He led all but one of the precincts in Mecklenburg County. Kate Barr led Precinct 206 by 14 votes.
U.S. House District 8
Colby Watson won the Democratic primary for U.S. House District 8, which includes nine counties, including Mecklenburg and Union. Watson will face Republican Mark Harris in the general election.
Monroe resident Kevin Clark, who nished second to Watson, had slight leads in ve precincts (1, 6, 8, 26 and 36) and tied another (9) in Union County.
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REGIONAL
Chefs to help Hope Haven raise money for recovery
CHARLOTTE – Hope Haven, a residential recovery community that helps people move beyond cycles of addiction, homelessness and instability, is launching a fundraiser inspired by the hit TV show “Next Level Chef.”
Next Level Hope will bring Charlotte’s top chefs and favorite social media food creators together for an evening of friendly competition and fundraising in support of the nonpro t.
e inaugural event will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. May 15 at e Forum at Hope Haven. Tickets cost $125, with more details on participating chefs, judges and ticket sales to be announced in the coming weeks.
“I’ve always loved ‘Next Level Chef’ because it brings together people with completely di erent culinary backgrounds and challenges them to collaborate in ways they might never otherwise experience,” said Zoe Playe, vice president of advancement at Hope Haven. “ at idea really resonated with us. At Hope Haven, we see every day how powerful it can be when people with di erent stories and experiences come together to support each other’s growth. is event will o er a taste of home and serve as a fun and meaningful way to capture the spirit of our mission.”
ree professional chefs and three social media culinary creators from the greater Charlotte area will compete in pairs to create
their own take on a “homemade meal.” is theme re ects the comfort, stability and sense of belonging Hope Haven works to provide for those it serves.
Chef Andres Kaifer, of Customshop and Emmy Lou’s, is serving as a consultant. Kaifer is eager to expand his involvement with nonpro ts and work on the logistics of how the event will best showcase the talent.
A panel of local celebrity judges will anonymously taste and score the samples, while guests will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite team. Culinary professionals across the city will provide hors d’oeuvres and mocktails for guests to enjoy.
“Next Level Hope re ects the direction
we’re heading as an organization,” said Anthony T. Jones, CEO of Hope Haven. “For ve decades, Hope Haven has worked with hundreds of partners as we have walked alongside those rebuilding their lives. As we approach our 50th year, we’re continuing to create new opportunities for the community to engage in our mission as we expand our impact.”
Hope Haven serves hundreds of men, women and children each year, addressing recovery, housing stability and family reuni cation through long-term residential programming. e nonpro t is one of the few residential recovery communities in the region that allows parents to live on campus with their children.
Street festival returns to South End’s Camden Road
CHARLOTTE – Camden Commons is transforming South End’s Camden Road into a block party this summer for the fifth year in a row.
e street festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 22, April 19 and May 17. Attendees can choose to engage in healthy competition with larger-than-life games, unwind in creative lounging spaces, enjoy a DJ spinning tunes or shop with small businesses.
is year’s festival will feature di erent zones to capture various interest groups in partnership with local businesses and organizations. Each event will feature a Dog Zone with South End businesses Pet Wants and Molly’s Dog Care, a Craft Zone with UpCycle Arts, a Reading Zone with comfy seating and free reads from Books on the House and a Game Zone with gigantic versions of favorite games like Connect 4, Jenga and crossword puzzles.
“ is event is intentionally designed to celebrate the many small businesses that make the neighborhood special while creating welcoming spaces for people to gather,” said Allison Mills, the South End community manager at Charlotte Center City Partners. “Each element of the event re ects the interests and creativity of the South End community. Our goal has always been to create something with the neighborhood and Camden Commons is a re ection of that collaborative spirit that makes the neighborhood special.”
e street festival is produced by Charlotte Center City Partners and supported by U.S. Bank.
Camden Road will be closed to cars from Tremont Ave. to East/West Blvd. from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. during each Camden Commons event. On the web: southendclt.org/events/ camden-commons
Providence Road – 95
• Fairfield Inn & Suites, 8540 E. Independence Blvd. – 97.5
• Hyatt House, 9930 Sandy Rock Place – 98.5 • Inizio Pizza Napoletana, 10620 Providence Road – 98.5
• Rai Lay, 9935 Rea Road – 98.5
• Sankalp Taste of India, 16640 Hawfield Way Drive – 95
• Sprouts Farmers Market (deli), 15121
Ballancroft Pkwy. – 97
• Sprouts
The event
Camden Commons offers visitors and residents alike the chance to explore everything South End has to offer, from surrounding restaurants to brick-and-mortar retail stores.
Photos courtesy of Charlotte Center City Partners
LIVE MUSIC
The Pussycat Dolls to perform in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE – e Pussycat Dolls will bring their PCD Forever Tour to Truliant Amphitheater on July 22.
e Live Nation-promoted tour spans 53 dates across North America, Europe and the U.K. and celebrates the 20th anniversary of the group’s debut album, “PCD,” which featured hits such as “Don’t Cha,” “Buttons” and “Stickwitu.”
Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberly Wyatt and Ashley Roberts will reunite for the tour. Special guests Lil’ Kim and Mya will join the North American dates.
General ticket sales begin at 10 a.m. March 20 through Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
March 20
• Americana Beer Co.: Neal Carter
• Bojangles Coliseum: Keith Sweat, Joe, Dru Hill, Ginuwine & Kut Klose
RALEIGH – State and local leaders say they want to lower the cost of living for most North Carolinians. In many cases, however, their actions don’t match their words.
Take housing, for example. While it remains easier for lower-to-middle income folks to buy or rent in North Carolina than in most other states, median home prices have shot up over the past decade – more than doubling in some markets.
e cause is no mystery. Our state has become an increasingly attractive place to live, work and retire. Florida, Texas and other Sunbelt competitors have plenty of attractive amenities, too, but have failed to produce enough new housing stock to meet demand. So, some job-seekers, retirees and wouldbe entrepreneurs have rerouted to North Carolina.
We aren’t fully ready to accommodate them. Despite recent state legislation to speed up the permitting process and local reforms to promote higher-density development and accessory dwelling units, it remains overly
di cult to add housing inventory.
Former N.C. Rep. Jon Hardister, now president of the Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Council, estimates that North Carolina as a whole is about 80,000 units short of meeting demand. e rising cost of housing isn’t just a barrier to relocation and homeownership. If the average resident in North Carolina is having to spend a lot of money on rent or house payments, Hardister told Triad Business Journal, “they’re not going to go shopping as often. ose miscellaneous purchases are not going to happen as often.”
This is no theoretical assertion. There’s good empirical evidence for it. A 2022 study published in the journal Housing Policy Debate found that across the 100 most-populous urban areas in the country, “decreases in housing a ordability had a statistically significant negative e ect on economic growth in these metros.”
Are policymakers responding to the problem swiftly and e ectively? Alas, no. Many local boards are limiting or halting new construction, not welcoming it. e Charlotte Ledger recently reported that Union and Iredell counties have made it harder to build apartments. e city of Albemarle, in Stanly
CLASSIFIEDS
Software Engineering III - Equitable (Charlotte, NC) Provide Big Data Sol for Datalake design, data ingstn & procsng on Hadoop Cluster w/ Spark, Map Reduce, Hive/Hbase, Flume, Kafka, Syncsort, & python/scala. Req: Mstr or for equiv in Comp Sci, Elec. Engrg or rltd tech fld & 5 yrs of exp as Sftwr Engnr or rltd occ invol dvlpmt of Big Data sols incl prfrmg dsgn, data ingstn & dvlpng pipelns in Hadoop DataLake. Exp must incl srcng & ETL dvlpmt for mltpl Data Prdcts for anlytcl & actrl prps; Hadoop tech (Sqoop, Python, Databricks); Azure Data Pltfrm’ prdctiv model devl for mrkt trnds/mvmts; HDFS, Hive, Impala, Sqoop, Spark, Python, & Azure; ETL, Vertica Map Reduce, Spark, Kafka Hive, Impala, flume, Storm, Zookeeper, Java, PL/SQL Oracle, Teradata, Scala, MySQL, & Eclipse. 40 hrs/wk. Salary is $154,669 - $165k. Direct apps only. A telecmtg/hybr wrk sched w/in cmtble dist from wrkst possbl. Apply at: https://equitable. com/about-us/careers or send res to TalentAquisition@equitable.com Ref. DP1725. EOE M/F/D/
Lead Software Engineer - Fraud Cloud BDP Lead
U.S. Bank is seeking a full-time Lead Software Engineer - Fraud Cloud BDP Lead (Multiple openings) in Charlotte, NC. Duties: Design, develop, test, & implement Fraud Enterprise Aggregation (FEA) features. Must have Bachelor’s degree or equiv in Comp Sci, Comp Eng, or Electrical and Electronics Eng & 6 yrs (prog., post-bac) software development & cloud transformation exp. May be subject to background checks and other regulatory requirements relevant to our industry and operations. To apply go to https://careers.usbank.com or email recruiting.excellence@usbank.com, include job req. #2026-0003669 in subject line.
Data Analyst, Software Engrg II - Equitable (Charlotte, NC): Create & enhance data prdcts for Annty & Life insrnc data for fincl consmrs. Rqmts: Bchlr or for equiv in Comp Sci, Elec Engrg, Info Sys or rltd IT fld + at lst 3 yrs of progr post-Bacc exp as Data Anlyst, Sys Anlyst, Data Engr or rltd pos invlg Data Anlys & explrtn, Data Ming, Data Sci & Big Data Tech (Hive & Impala). Full term of exp must incl hands-on dvlpmt utlzg SQL, Python, EDW & Oracle. 2 yrs of exp: Cloudera Hadoop Data Lake, Hive, HQL, Impala, Hue, optmz techn, HQL queries, actrl & acctg models, LDTI, Reinsrnc, Actrl val &assumptn proc, data anlys exp in Annty & Life ins lfcle, Bsns Intel & Data Vslztn in Tableau or PowerBI, Agile, Chng Mgmt. Tools- Archer, Svce Now.40 hrs/wk. Slry is $110,000-$123,000. Telecmtg/
hybrird sched w/in a commtble dist from wrkst may be avlble. Dir apps only. Send res toTalentAquisition@equitable.com (Ref.code SI1730) or srch title thr https://equitable.com/about-us/ careers. EOE M/F/D/V.
RXO Managed Transport, LLC seeks Engineer, Software Engineering in Charlotte, NC to develop transportation website and webservices. Apply at jobpostingtoday.com Job ID# 22486.
Sr. Service Designer, F/T at Truist Bank (Charlotte, NC) (Multiple Openings) Analyze client & teammate exp to identify pain points, gaps & opportunities for improvement across journeys, services, & systems. Lead end-to-end service dsgn work on complex projects. Apply service dsgn methods to bring clarity & structure to ambiguous problem spaces. Must have a Bach’s deg in Service Dsgn, Dsgn Mgmt, Strategic Dsgn, Integrated Dsgn or Transdisciplinary Dsgn. Educational or work background must have incl’d demonstrated exp w/: Service Dsgn, Dsgn Mgmt, Strategic Dsgn, Integrated Dsgn or Transdisciplinary Dsgn; analyzing complex journeys, services or systems & uncovering actionable insights; proficiency in key service dsgn practices, incl journey mapping, blueprinting, co-creation, & concept dvlpmt; applying qualitative research & collaborating w/ quantitative researchers or analysts; facilitating productive conversations w/ cross-functional teams & contributing to solution dvlpmt; presenting findings & opportunities through both narrative & visual storytelling; & using Miro, Figma & other collaborative platforms. Position may be eligible to work in a hybrid remote model & is based out of & reports to Truist offices in Charlotte, NC. Applicants must be able to work onsite at Truist offices in Charlotte, NC at least 4 days/ wk. Apply online (https://careers.truist.com/) or email resume to: recruitment@truist.com (Ref Job# R0111805)
Sr. Quantitative Model Development Analyst, F/T at Truist Bank (Charlotte, NC) Focus on aspects of model dvlpmt specific to finance & risk measurement estimation methodologies. Responsible for aspects of the dvlpmt life cycle of quantitative models. Areas of model dvlpmt incl mkt, commercial, retail, credit, fin’l crimes, CCAR, CECL, finance & compliance risk. Participate in model reviews & validation finding mitigation following deployment. Must have a Master’s deg in Statistics, Econometrics, Finance or other applied quantitative science. Must have 1 yr of exp in quantitative analysis positions w/in the fin’l services &/or banking industry perform-
County, is preparing a new uni ed development ordinance intended to force high-density projects into tighter geographic con nes.
“You can’t build your way to a ordability,” its planning director told the Ledger. Nonsense. e only practical way to promote housing a ordability is to build more units. Adding apartments and starter homes o ers direct relief to young and lower-income people, but even adding new inventory at or above the median helps them indirectly, by freeing up the apartments and starter homes from which more-a uent consumers move into their new homes. A 2023 paper in the Journal of Urban Economics found that building 100 new market-rate units opens up the equivalent of 70 units in neighborhoods earning below the area’s median income. In the poorest neighborhoods, it opens up the equivalent of 40 units.
“New construction reduces demand and loosens the housing market in low-and middle-income areas, even in the short run,” concluded study author Evan Mast of the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
Again, there’s no great mystery to be solved here. ere has always been local opposition to new construction, especially of rental units
and starter homes. ose already residing in the community may want their own property rights protected, but many view newcomers primarily as sources of trouble – tra c congestion, noise, political or cultural change, etc. – rather than welcoming them as new neighbors.
One reason Americans are leaving highly taxed, highly regulated states for freer ones is that the latter o er them more opportunities, better jobs, more space and higher after-tax incomes. Yes, growth generates demand for more services. But it’s still far better to live in a growing community than a stagnant or declining community.
Going into the 2026 midterms, voters rank a ordability as a top concern. ey’re right to do so. Many of these same voters may also believe it’s possible to obtain lower prices and enjoy economic growth and throttle back housing development. ey couldn’t be more wrong.
John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His books “Mountain Folk,” “Forest Folk” and “Water Folk” combine epic fantasy with American history (FolkloreCycle.com).
ing/utilizing the following: dvlpg, documenting, & testing statistical models specific to finance & risk measurement estimation methodologies; statistical prgmg w/ Python (NumPy & Pandas), R, & SAS; Query language using SQL, incl PostgreSQL & SQL Server; using Microsoft Excel & add-ins (Essbase); Data visualization tools: Tableau & Power BI; distilling complex mathematical concepts into actionable results; risk modeling & analytics: Monte Carlo simulation, Value at Risk, Machine Learning models, Probability of Default (PD) modelling, CECL modelling, & Loss Given Default (LGD) modeling; & using Git version control: GitHub, GitLab, & Azure DevOps. Position may be eligible to work hybrid/remotely but is based out of & reports to Truist offices in Charlotte, NC. Must be available to travel to Charlotte, NC regularly for meetings & reviews w/ manager & project teams w/in 24hrs’ notice. Apply online
THURSDAY, MARCH 26SUNDAY, MARCH 29 12 - 6 PM
What’s
Behind the Door?
MOR E THAN YOU IMAGINED
From the outside of an Epcon home, it’s hard to imagine what lies behind the door. Step inside and discover spaces made for spring living, with natural light throughout, an open floor plan made for everyday connection and a private, garden courtyard for morning coffee and evenings outside.
Come see it for yourself during the Spring Tour of Homes.
