Nearly $1B CMS bond package will spread to neighboring communities

Residents overwhelmingly voted in favor of a $922 million bond package for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Developers said the impact of the record investment will spread from the campuses into surrounding communities.

[READ: CMS 2017 Bond Information]

Longtime Charlotte developer Rick Judson said buyers choose where to live based on schools.

Judson is the chairman of the Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition.

"They're willing to give up other amenity packages for education, they would like neighborhood schools more importantly," Judson said. "More parental support, more kids walking to school more of a neighborhood environment."

Eyewitness News has shown you conditions inside some schools.

In March of 2017, we reported on photos showing mold and other dilapidated conditions inside Bruns Academy.

Montclaire Elementary is so packed that a third of the students learn in mobile classrooms.

The principal told Eyewitness News that some new families moving to the area have pushed for improvements and expressed concern about conditions at the school.

Thanks to voters, Bruns and Montclaire, which are both high poverty schools in growing areas, are among seven schools that will get new buildings.

The bond money will build 10 new schools and relieve overcrowded facilities, which will impact 20,000 students.

"Last night was historic," said Bob Morgan, CEO of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce.

Morgan said the investment will uplift areas surrounding some of the city's oldest schools.

"We also need to focus on those concentrated areas of multi-generational poverty that are part of the economic opportunity conversation our community is having," Morgan said.

Judson said there's high demand for housing in Charlotte and that the upgraded schools will attract more families and development

"People will start gentrifying, they will follow the schools," Judson said.

The upgrades and renovations won't happen quickly.

The district expects to complete the projects on the 2017 bond list by 2025.

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