After a decade of delays, the first phase of the Brooklyn Village redevelopment in Uptown’s Second Ward may finally have a timeline.
Mecklenburg County commissioners got an update this month on a new development agreement with First & Early, the Charlotte firm that bought Phase I in June for $24.3 million, The Charlotte Observer reports. Commissioners are scheduled to vote Nov. 5 on whether to move forward.
What’s proposed for the roughly 6-acre Phase I site, according to the Observer:
• Either two 198-unit apartment buildings or one 320-unit building, with 10% of units affordable
• At least 100,000 square feet of office space, possibly up to 266,000
• At least 45,100 square feet of retail, possibly up to 106,800
• A 150-room hotel
What happens next: If commissioners approve, First & Early gets nine months to produce a plan for another vote. Once that plan is approved, construction has to start within 36 months.
Some commissioners asked for more affordable housing, along with stronger recognition of Brooklyn’s history as a thriving, predominantly Black neighborhood that was razed during urban renewal. The Observer reports that could include setting aside retail space for minority-owned businesses. The county sued the previous master developer, BK Partners, in August, alleging it missed contractual deadlines.
Source: The Charlotte Observer: Stalled Brooklyn Village project inches closer to a start date · Charlotte Business Journal: New Brooklyn Village plan includes apartments, hotel and office space
