CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The city of Charlotte is taking major steps in its plan to invest in six corridors. The city council voted to invest $24.5 million dollars to a project called Corridors of Opportunity, with the goal of improving safety and promoting job growth.
Eyewitness News has been following the push to revitalize the Beatties Ford corridor in west Charlotte for years.
On Thursday, the mayor, council members, community groups and members of the construction and development teams met to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new project at Beatties Ford and LaSalle Street.
Chase Bank is opening a branch there to anchor the development, which is part of the building that used to be the home of the original McDonald’s Cafeteria. The owner of E-Fix Development told the crowd that the history of the building inspired him to renovate it, instead of tearing it down.
The developer hopes the other space will support small businesses, and says they’re open to leasing the space to restaurants, artists or other concepts that will bring people together.
West Charlotte High school is right down the street from the project. The real estate broker for the deal, Rodney Faulkner, and councilman James Mitchell both graduated from West Charlotte High. The two are planning to bring on 10 students for an apprenticeship program to allow them to follow the project from start to finish, and hopefully be inspired to contribute to their community.
Mitchell says he hopes one day they can expand the apprenticeship program to other parts of the city. He says the city contributed grant money for this project that will also help pay for road improvements and infrastructure upgrades.
Chase is set to hire roughly 20 people and Mitchell says they’ve asked the bank to hire people from this community.
This development is one of several underway that community leaders hope will uplift the corridor.
Faulkner grew up in West Charlotte and says he’s committed to bringing attractive, high quality projects to the area.
“I’ve got to do it, it’s in me to make sure what I’ve learned, I’ve got to bring that back to my community. I want to make sure we have quality projects that create jobs and opportunity for people to be able to live and commune in these areas.” said Faulkner, Principal at Boundary Street Advisors.
Faulkner highlighted another project on the other end of the corridor near Johnson C. Smith University. He says they were particular about selecting the businesses that will open in Five Points. Four of them are owned by minorities and women, including one who is a graduate of JCSU.
“We are trying to make sure that people understand these corners are important, this neighborhood is important and the work we do is important throughout this whole corridor,” said Faulkner.
Cox Media Group
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