Nov. 9, 2021
In other hands, a rundown strip shopping center might turn into a less rundown strip shopping center.
In Chris’ Dennis’s hands, Chase Bank is a major tenant, a portion of the building has been set aside for a yet-to-be-announced art presence, and the South Carolina native who’s been in Charlotte for decades is one of the more visible leaders in a major renewal that’s gathering steam on Charlotte’s long-overlooked west side.
Dennis credits his team, and quite often God, for his opportunities and good fortune. That seems to be part of an outlook that also includes views that he freely and candidly shares about what it will take to sustain renewal. Holding developers and officials and residents accountable for what they commit to. Letting residents allow pride to show through in how they talk about their neighborhoods. Picking up the trash.
Chase Bank last week opened a branch bank in the building that once hosted McDonald’s Cafeteria. Sarafina Wright’s QCityMetro report on the bank opening is here. On the second corner of the Lasalle/Beatties Ford intersection, Dennis is retrofitting another building, adding more parking behind it. He said leasing is complete in the Chase building, and 90% complete across the street.
The other two corners are dominated by Family Dollar and a check-cashing store. Dennis said he was talking with those firms about collaborating on landscaping and other streetscape issues for the corner, but pointed out that the City of Charlotte needs to up its game as well.
Some of the sides from Dennis’s presentation are at right. The video is below. Audio and video outages were considerable on Tuesday; a short blank space marks where inaudible material was cut.
At the end of the hour, there was a surprise: Facilitator Winston Robinson asked his fellow facilitators, who are accustomed to asking the questions, to answer one: “What would you like to see” in terms of development along Beatties Ford Road. Not only did four facilitators get engaged in the discussion, but Arthur Griffin chimed in with context and a declaration of urgency.
The following material was shared in the chat box during the session:
Jennifer De La Jara: I did want to share that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools filed submissions last week asking Judge Lee to order the NCGA to comply with Leandro. More info here.
Jennifer Fleet: [My District Court race is for the seat held by] Sean Smith. He is an incumbent Republican judge. I may have a primary opponent, but I won’t be sure until the filing period is over…. Please feel free to find out more about my campaign on my website.
Tim Emry: For those interested learning about me and the campaign [for District Attorney] to transform justice in Charlotte, my website is here.
Christopher Dennis:
Owner: Christopher Dennis, E-Fix Development Corp. 980-279-8322 [email protected] .
Leasing agent: Rodney Faulkner, BoundaryStreetAdvisors; Office: (704) 833-8184 Mobile: (704) 777-0507; [email protected]
Residential real estate: C. Michelle Mattison, The Mattison Group, 704-254-9919.
Yvette Townsend-Ingram: Yvette Townsend-Ingram Concierge Business, Education & Political Consulting www.conciergebep.com [email protected]
Chris Bazzle: I am Chris Bazzle, and I am running for District Court Judge in 2022 (soon-to-be-open Osman Seat). I have been a NC attorney since 2009, and have served Mecklenburg County as a Magistrate with 5 years of judicial experience. I ask for your support and your vote, to continue my judicial service from the Magistrate’s office to the Judge’s bench. Please visit my website here.
Arthur Griffin: My County commission candidate site is here.
Stephen Valder [responding to a question about shells of houses parked off Beatties Ford Road]: The homes will be placed off Gilbert Street once city gives permit. They will be sold affordable at 60-80% of Area Median Income, probably between $170,000-$200,000. More on West Side Community Land Trust is here. Check 3313 Tuckaseegee for an example.
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At the end of the hour, there was a surprise: Facilitator Winston Robinson asked his fellow facilitators, who are accustomed to asking the questions, to answer one: “What would you like to see” in terms of development along Beatties Ford Road. Not only did four facilitators get engaged in the discussion, but Arthur Griffin chimed in with context and a declaration of urgency.
Griffin, a Charlotte native, former school board chairperson and now expecting to file next month for an at-large seat on the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, routinely admonishes residents to demand more of those who have undertaken to lead Charlotte. This morning, he spoke of Charlotte as one of the wealthiest cities in the country, not just in the state, and how there are alternatives to the wealth gaps so persistently visible along Beatties Ford Road.