Commercial project to raise the bar for future west side redevelopment

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A major bank will open a branch on Beatties Ford Road early next year as part of a real estate project at what’s been identified as a pivotal intersection for the west side.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. will occupy about 3,200 square feet for a branch at 2023 Beatties Ford Road, a 7,676-square-foot building that E-Fix Development Corp. will upfit for new commercial uses.

In April, E-Fix Development, led by Christopher Dennis, acquired three parcels on the southwest corner of Beatties Ford Road and Lasalle Street. The 2023 Beatties Ford Road site, which totals just shy of an acre, was purchased for $1.25 million, according to Mecklenburg County real estate records.

Dennis' professional background has mostly been in affordable housing through E-Fix Housing Solutions, which he started in 2011. He also founded a nonprofit, Community Dream Builders, in 2013.

The Beatties Ford Road development represents a foray into commercial real estate for E-Fix, although Dennis has done several residential projects in the area. It’s the first of what’s expected to be several commercial developments by E-Fix in the corridor.

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“I looked at it as an opportunity to make an impact,” Dennis said.

In particular, he said he wanted to prevent the kind of commercial gentrification he’s seen throughout Charlotte. His own small business was pushed out of North Tryon Street when the building he was leasing space in came up for redevelopment.

Read the full story here to learn about plans for the project.

Cox Media Group