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INSIDE ▼ Symphony announces 2026-27 schedule
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PAGE 1B Friday, March 6, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 9
thecharlotteweekly.com
@southcltweekly
I-485 interchange named after transportation leader MATTHEWS – The Weddington Road interchange that opened in January on Interstate 485 will now be known as the Ned Curran Interchange to formally recognize his contributions to the Charlotte region and the state.
Curran’s name is well known in transportation circles, having chaired the N.C. Board of Transportation, the Charlotte Chamber Regional Roads Committee and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg 2008 Committee of 21 Road Solutions. He’s also participated in the Charlotte Fast Lanes study and the I-77 Toll Lane Advisory Committee. “Ned Curran has been instrumental in transportation for over 25 years in the Charlotte region, having served on numerous boards and committees as well as serving as chairman of the North Carolina Board of
Transportation, but he remains involved in the community and has a passion to see others do the same,” said Stephen Rosenburgh, a member of the N.C. Board of Transportation. “I’m excited to see what he will accomplish as a member of the county’s new Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority.” Smoky Bissell hired Curran in 1994 as chief financial officer of The Bissell Cos. Curran became president three years later. When sold in 2017, Ballantyne Corporate Park had expanded to more than 4 million square feet of office space with four hotels. Curran held CEO and CEO emeritus roles throughout his career with commercial real estate organizations such as Bissell Companies and Northwood Office. He is now the founder and president of Stone Cottage Advisors.
“Ned Curran’s vision and leadership have helped shape Charlotte into the vibrant, connected city we are today,” Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said. “It’s fitting that his name will now be part of the very infrastructure that keeps our community moving forward.” Curran’s public service contributions include leading prominent groups like the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Central Carolinas and the Health Advisory Council for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. He has served on the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance and the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council; on the corporate boards of SMC, ARIC and Biltmore Farms; and as chair of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Board of Trustees. He also cochaired the Charlotte Republican National
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, N.C. Board of Transportation member Stephen Rosenburgh, Matthews Mayor John Higdon and Matthews Commissioner Jennefer Garrity helped unveil signs honoring Ned Curran Interchange.
Photo courtesy of NCDOT
Convention Host Committee. Curran is a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
Common Heart organizes successful Hunger Walk
CMS expands homeownership opportunities for staff CHARLOTTE – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has announced a new partnership with Kingdom Development Partners and Ascension CDC that expands homeownership opportunities for educators.
Common Heart’s 10th annual Hunger Walk took place March 1 at Crooked Creek Park in Indian Trail. Photos courtesy of Common Heart
INDIAN TRAIL – The 10th annual Hunger Walk raised nearly $95,000 and drew a record 500-plus participants, according to Common Heart.
The nonprofit hosted the fundraiser March 1 at Crooked Creek Park. Participants paid a registration fee and collected donations to help families facing food insecurity. St. Margaret's Episcopal Church was the leading fundraiser with $15,450. In the days leading up to the Hunger Walk, the Waxhaw-based church shared on social media that an estimated 25,180 people in Union County face food insecurity.
NCDOT to get more feedback on I-77 South Express Lanes
“This is exactly why St. Margaret's parishioners are walking in the 10th annual Common Heart Hunger Walk,” the church posted on Facebook. “For a decade, this walk has been a lifeline for local families. Our goal is to help raise funds and awareness so that no one in our community has to wonder where their next meal is coming from.” Other top fundraisers were New City Church with $7,140 and Threshold Church with $4,165. The fundraising website, CommonHeartHungerWalk.org, will remain open until March 9 for additional donations. Executive Director Keith Adams described the CHARLOTTE – The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced March 2 that it is expanding the initial community engagement period for the I-77 South Express Lanes project and will issue the first draft Request for Proposals in late June 2026.
NCDOT is also establishing a Community Engagement Center in the project corridor where residents can meet with the project team in person or online. The center will serve as an ongoing resource for surrounding communities, providing project information, offering one-onone meetings with NCDOT staff and creating opportunities to discuss potential community enhancements and beneficial programs. A schedule for appointments and virtual office hours
Hunger Walk as a simple yet powerful way for the community to help ensure neighbors don’t go hungry. Common Heart, which serves as the largest food pantry network in Union County, said that donations of $35 provide a week’s worth of groceries for a family facing food insecurity. Volunteers help about 10,170 people each month through 14 pantry programs. will be published in April. “This project design is in its very early stages, and we want the public to know there is significant time remaining for their voices to be heard,” NCDOT Secretary Daniel Johnson said. “We are committed to meeting with residents along the corridor, engaging with neighborhoods and ensuring that community feedback is reflected in how this project moves forward.” Final design is not expected until at least the end of 2027. Construction is not anticipated to begin until the early 2030s, allowing time for continued engagement, environmental review and refinement of design options. “The city continues to work closely with Story continues, see NCDOT page 3A
The partnership is designed to help address two of the most common barriers CMS educators face when pursuing homeownership: mortgage and financial readiness, as well as limited access to affordable homes. It falls under the broader At Home in CMS initiative, which offers teachers and staff opportunities to live in the communities they serve through rental discounts, pathways to homeownership and financial literacy resources. “One of the top concerns we hear from educators is that homeownership feels out of reach,” said Nancy Brightwell, chief of recruitment, retention and talent development at CMS. “This partnership is about education, support and real opportunities that make homeownership attainable.” The partnership provides CMS educators with access to Ascension’s WealthPath Homeownership Program, a yearlong program focused on essential skills such as credit counseling, budgeting, home maintenance and wealth-building to help participants become confident, informed homeowners who can buy homes throughout the Charlotte region. Ascension CDC has set aside up to 25 newly constructed homes specifically for CMS educators who successfully complete the program, meet income eligibility requirements and are approved by a lender. This opportunity allows educators to buy a home in Ascension’s mixed-income communities. These allocated homes are in Legacy at Neal Road and Legacy at Paw Creek, with additional opportunities anticipated over time. Legacy at Neal Road, recently approved by the Charlotte City Council, will designate 10 of its 23 for-sale homes specifically for CMS educators. Five homes at Legacy at Paw Creek will also be set aside. “Our goal is to create attainable homeownership opportunities that support long-term stability and wealth-building,” said James Scruggs, founder of Ascension CDC and CEO of Kingdom Development Partners. “We are proud to intentionally prioritize those who serve our community every day.”