& THE PINEVILLE PILOT Brought to you by Charlotte Media Group
Friday, Dec. 17, 2021 • Vol. 21 • No. 50
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SouthPark launching tax district by Justin Vick xx@cmgweekly.com
CHARLOTTE – SouthPark could soon follow the lead of Center City, University City and South End in creating a municipal service district that promotes and enhances its community. Charlotte City Council approved a process Dec. 13 toward creating the SouthPark Municipal Service District by July 2022. Councilman Tariq Bokhari said the work up to this point has been com-
plicated but the idea has the backing of neighborhood associations and businesses. “This is the action for us to kick off those conversations, so we don’t need to necessarily have everything solved and figured out now,” Bokhari told colleagues Dec. 13. Such districts rely on assessments of property owners within their boundaries. A proposed 4 cent per $100 valuation could yield $1,350,000 for the area, according to city documents. The city hopes to notify
property owners within the district next month. The boundary could include commercial properties south of Scofield Road and Wickersham Road, west of Sharon Road and Cameron Valley Parkway, north of Sharon View Road, and east of Park South Drive. The city also has to develop a report outlining the district's needs. An Urban Land Institute panel said in 2016 that SouthPark could become a more vibrant community if stakeholders spoke with a unified voice.
The proposed SouthPark Municipal District is outlined in blue. The boundary focuses on commercial properties. Photo courtesy of City of Charlotte
Pineville hospital adds beds
Real estate See home sales in your neighborhood, 4A
$25M donation Former Family Dollar CEO gives back, 2A
The Spokes Group has donated more than 1,000 bikes to the City of Charlotte's initiative with Right Moves for Youth, according to director William Beard. Photos courtesy of City of Charlotte
Right Moves for Youth One year later Atrium Health marks vaccine milestone, 1B
Santa Express Students in need to receive gifts, 2B
@southcltweekly
City staff builds bikes for kids CHARLOTTE – The city continued its 13-year holiday commitment Dec. 11 to build 75 bikes for students participating in Right Moves for Youth, a schoolbased dropout prevention and support program for middle and high school students from economically challenged neighborhoods in Mecklenburg County. City employees and their families spent the morning together assembling the bicycles. “Year over year, the Bike Build initiative has had lasting impact on the lives of so many children,” said Sabrina Gilchrist, executive director of Right Moves for
Youth. “We are incredibly grateful that the City of Charlotte and The Spokes Group understand how important it is for young people to be seen, to be given a means of independence, and to
be rewarded for their positive development. When our students receive brand-new bikes through this initiative, they realize that our community came together for them."
PINEVILLE – Atrium Health Pineville opened its latest expansion Dec. 8 when it moved patients into the newly constructed Palmetto Tower. The newly constructed, eight-story, 236,000-square-foot patient tower will increase capacity from 262 licensed beds to 307. Each room will have the ability to transition between a variety of levels of care, including an acute care room, intensive care unit and rehabilitation care. When needed, there will be room for future expansion with the top two floors of the new tower remaining open. “The Palmetto Tower will provide Atrium Health Pineville with the opportunity that we have been seeking to expand our care opportunities and better serve this growing region,” said Mike Lutes, president of South Market for Atrium Health. “We look forward to continuing to help the residents in the area with all of their medical needs. The hospital is growing in size and complexity with the population to remain the destination of choice for medical decisions.” The hospital has been providing medical care and services to patients in the region since 1987. What began as a free-standing urgent care is now an advanced tertiary hospital that has since brought specialized medical care to the area. In the past year, Atrium Health Pineville has added more advanced services, including colon surgery, pelvic surgery, robotic cardiothoracic surgery, epilepsy monitoring and maternal fetal monitoring. “We now have the specialists and staff that can treat most unique medical situations that are presented to us," said Alicia Campbell, Atrium Health facility executive. "The Palmetto Tower is going to be the key to offering even more complexity of services.”
Mall announces multi-million redevelopment
The renovated SouthPark West Plaza will include a new greenspace, stage and play area. Courtesy of Simon Properties
CHARLOTTE – Simon announced plans for a multi-million dollar redevelopment of SouthPark designed to create a better shopping experience for the mall’s visitors and retailers. The redevelopment will include extensive upgrades to the West Plaza, located next to The Container Store and Dick’s Sporting Goods. It will feature the addition of Suffolk Punch Brewing’s second location, inclusive of an open-air pavilion situated next to greenspace and stage, as well as a new play area.
“Charlotte-area shoppers expect firstclass amenities, and that is exactly what this transformational redevelopment at SouthPark will deliver,” General Manager Randy Thomas said. Scheduled to begin construction in early 2022, Suffolk Punch Brewing will anchor the West Plaza, featuring a nearly 400 seat full-service taphouse, restaurant and coffee bar and an all-seasons outdoor pavilion offering guests two additional free-standing bars to enjoy its 20-plus craft beers, hand-made cocktails, house seltzers and wine.
Executive Chef Michael Rayfield will lead the kitchen, bringing Suffolk’s eclectic, “surprise and delight”-style menu which rotates seasonally and incorporates hyper-local products wherever possible while avoiding the use of GMOs. Shoppers will be able to take a break, relax and sip on a seasonal beer or curated cocktail while enjoying live music at the West Plaza’s new stage. Situated atop a greenspace, Suffolk Punch see MALL, Page 5A