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INSIDE ▼ Spectrum gives grants to digital learning projects
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PAGE 2A Friday, July 17, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 28
thecharlotteweekly.
Queen's Feast Charlotte Restaurant Week returns for summer CHARLOTTE – Diners can treat themselves to three-course menus at more than 120 restaurants from July 24 to Aug. 2 during Queen’s Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week. Restaurants across the metro area will showcase their cuisine via multi-course dining deals, ranging from $30 to $55 per person. Customers can visit CharlotteRestaurantWeek. com to view the list of participating restaurants and their special Queen’s Feast menus and make reservations. Participating restaurants this month can be found in nine counties, including Cabarrus, Gaston, Cleveland, Union, Lincoln, Catawba, Stanly and York. Several neighborhoods in the South Charlotte area are represented, such as Arboretum, Ballantyne/Stonecrest, Providence Crossing/Waverly and SouthPark. This month’s restaurant lineup features 11 first-time participants, including Italo and Packard Tavern in Uptown; Frida’s Mexican Cantina in Pineville; Half Shell Raw Bar in South End; Henrietta’s in LoSo; Reid’s Fine Foods in Ballantyne; Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar in Promenade on Providence and X Brazilian Steakhouse in MoRa. The semi-annual Charlotte Restaurant Week provides restaurants a spotlight for their food and hospitality. Participating restaurants see trial business from local diners checking out new places as well as visitor traffic every January and July. “Queen’s Feast gives diners the perfect reason to trade the same old routine for a fresh table and a great meal,” said Bruce Hensley, a partner in Hensley Fontana Public Relations,
(The Center Square) – An environmental oversight program in North Carolina created in 2007 hasn’t investigated nearly 8 in 10 landfills, a state audit says, and 80% of those sites are within 1,000 feet of homes, schools, daycares, churches or drinking water wells. The performance audit analyzed the Department of Environmental Quality’s Pre-Regulatory Landfill Program. Identified were 688 landfill sites where municipal solid waste disposal occurred without regulatory oversight, including 534 never investigated by the department’s program. In the Division of Waste Management, the program was created 19 years ago to identify, assess and remediate sites that accepted a wide range of waste prior to 1983. That’s the demarcation point for what are considered modern environmental regulations. “The Pre-Regulatory Landfill Program is a complex issue that creates challenges from a regulatory, legal, funding and administrative standpoint,” N.C. Auditor Dave Boliek said. “But the bottom line is there are hundreds of potentially hazardous
New parking law annoys local leader by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
Participating Restaurants
Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar in Promenade on Providence is a first-time participant. Photos courtesy of Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar
which owns and operates the promotion. “Whether you want to get fancy or have some laid-back fun, we have restaurants of all vibes ready to roll out the red carpet and become your new favorite.” On the web: charlotterestaurantweek.com
Some of the restaurants in The Weekly’s coverage area include: • Ballantyne/Stonecrest: C&W Steakhouse, Hestia Rooftop, Juniper Grill, Napa Bistro & Wine Bar, North Italia, Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, Reid’s Fine Foods, Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar, Tap & Vine and The Club House Bites & Booze. • SouthPark: Aqua e Vino, Cafe Monte French Bakery and Bistro, Calle Sol Latin Café & Cevicheria, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, DTR, Mizu, Moon Thai & Japanese Restaurant, Oak Steakhouse, Palm Restaurant, Red Rocks Cafe, Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Southern Pecan Gulf Coast Kitchen. • Pineville: Frida’s Mexican Cantina; Margaux’s Wine, Pizza & Market; and The Garrison, A Cocktail Bar & Restaurant. • Indian Trail: Tap & Vine.
Audit: Nearly 8 in 10 landfills haven't been investigated by Alan Wooten Contributor
@southcltweekly
landfill sites across North Carolina, and despite tax dollars supporting a program meant to investigate these sites, 78% haven’t been examined. This audit lays out the facts, giving taxpayers a reliable update on a longstanding government issue.” Boliek’s office said program management estimates an average cost to investigate, assess and remediate a site at $1.9 million. Applied to uninvestigated sites, the cost would be in the $1 billion neighborhood. Over 19 years, 97 sites have been probed – or about two per year. The Division of Environmental Quality secured 370 acres of waste, sampled 1,642 water supply wells and provided alternate water to 30 homes. Local landfills ranked by risk priority The report showed risk priority scores for 688 landfills in North Carolina as of April 2025. The scores determine which sites are prioritized for investigation, based on historical information and surrounding land uses, such as homes and schools. Other factors include landfill size and proximity to wells. Mecklenburg County • McAlpine Creek Park (Charlotte): 49 • Davidson Sanitary Landfill: 95 • Davidson Landfill: 112
• Statesville Rd. Landfill (Charlotte): 117 • Southside Park Landfill (Charlotte): 176 • Pineville Dump: 278 • Old Charlotte Landfill/Vanguard Center (Charlotte): 395 • Double Oaks Landfill (Charlotte): No further action Union County • Waxhaw Dump: 34 Waxhaw • Union County Landfill (Monroe): 124 • Monroe Landfill: 130 • Marshville Dump: 318
MATTHEWS – Don’t expect Matthews Mayor John Higdon to lead any pep rallies for a state law that prevents local governments from setting minimum parking requirements for development. House Bill 162, which also includes some tweaks to stormwater rules, was signed into law July 7 with nearly unanimous support from both chambers of the N.C. General Assembly. Sen. Todd Johnson and Rep. David Willis recorded absences during the vote (Willis was one of several sponsors) but everyone else representing Mecklenburg or Union counties voted for the bill. “This is another example of local control being taken away,” Higdon said during the July 13 town commissioners meeting. “That’s a really silly bill, in my opinion, because Higdon it could have a lot of really bad unintended consequences.” The issue came up during the Matthews meeting because town staff had been working with Charlotte Allstar Gymnastics and Cheerleading on a text amendment that would reduce parking requirements for privately owned indoor sports instruction facilities. A public hearing was scheduled for July 13. With the law taking effect in January 2027, town staff had discussions with Town Attorney Daniel Peterson about what to do. They went ahead with the public hearing. Charlotte Allstar Gymnastics and Cheerleading, which has been serving the area for more than 30 years, plans to relocate from Monroe Road to Independence Commerce Drive. Getting the text amendment moves the company closer to obtaining permits so it can start construction at the new site, according to Brittany Lins, a partner at Charlotte-based Alexander Ricks PLLC. The proposed text amendment calls for one space per 300 square feet of gross floor area. “The old rule was that we would need about 250 spaces,” company founder Kevin Brewbaker said. “We’ve never used more than 100. In our new space, we’d still have 125 spaces. So we’re still going to have parking. We just don’t need 250 spaces of parking.” Town staff and planning board are recommending approval of the text amendment. Commissioners are scheduled to hold a vote in August. “I guess at this point we’re at your mercy to build that many you think you need,” Higdon told the applicant. “My concern is if there’s not enough, then people tend to park illegally. They park in the street. They cause accidents.”
The Pearl generates $220M+ in economic impact in first year
CHARLOTTE – One year after opening The Pearl, leaders say the innovation district is already delivering meaningful economic and community impact. Atrium Health and Wexford Science & Technology LLC developed the innovation district through a public-private partnership. The Pearl brings together education, research, clinical innovation and industry in a single campus. Highlights after the first year
include: • $224 million in economic impact, driven by jobs, visitors and student activity. • $9.8 million in tax revenue benefiting Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and North Carolina. • 2,270 jobs generated, including 560 onsite roles across healthcare, research and development, education and hospitality. “The Pearl has become a
place where innovators come to build the future of healthcare – from leading global companies and fast-growing startups to researchers and medical students working on the next breakthrough or cure,” said Eugene A. Woods, CEO of Advocate Health. “But just as importantly, it’s a place where dreams are born – where a young person can walk through the doors, see what’s possible and begin to envision themselves as the scientists, entrepreneurs and
leaders who will shape the future of medicine.” The Pearl’s first phase comprises 700,000 square feet, which was 85% leased within six months of opening. The campus is home to research, academics, corporate and entrepreneurial innovation, clinical translation and community gathering. “The Pearl is not only advancing Charlotte’s position as a leader in life sciences and medical innovation – it is creating
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opportunity for our community, attracting talent and investment, and helping build pathways to high-quality careers for the next generation,” said Vi Lyles, former mayor. “Its impact reaches far beyond the district itself, strengthening our economy and reinforcing Charlotte’s reputation as a city where innovation and community go hand in hand.” At full buildout, The Pearl’s see PEARL, Page 4A