Council Quickies: Arts Funding, Eastland Yards and Nations Ford Road
Another milestone reached on Central Avenue
Charlotte City Council met for an action review, public forum and business meeting on Monday, covering topics such as arts funding, the Nations Ford Road corridor and a vote on the Eastland Yards sports complex.
On the Agenda:
- Action Review: Arts Funding & Community Area Plans
- Public Forum
- Eastland Yards Sports Complex
- Other Business Items
Action Review: Arts Funding & Community Area Plans
City staff is in its third phase of community engagement in the process of creating 14 Community Area Plans, which will drive development in specific areas around the city.
The plans create a guide for each sector that involves policy map refinements, planned and needed projects and programs, illustrative concepts, and implementation strategy.
Community Area Plan workshops have already begun and will continue through Nov. 12.
Ditching the Arts & Culture Advisory Board model that was launched in 2021, the city may be joining on with a new local governing structure that will allocate arts funding throughout the county.
Read more: Arts & Culture Policy Framework Stirs Debate (2023)
The new Arts, Science and Cultural Council (ASCC) governing structure would comprise five appointees representing the interests of Mecklenburg County, five representing the city of Charlotte, one representing the county’s northern towns, another representing its southern towns, and two from the ASCC Grants Board, which formed as the result of the Arts & Science Council incorporating under the Foundation for the Carolinas (FFTC) in June.
If the city of Charlotte were to continue committing $11 million to arts spending as they did for Fiscal Year 2025, $9 million of that would go directly to be spread among the institutions that receive annual operating support from the city while the remaining $2 million committed to grants and capacity building for individual artists and organizations would be allocated through the new ASCC governing body.
The new arts governance model will come back in front of council for potential action on Oct. 14.
Public Forum
Joi Mayo, chair of the Transforming Nations Ford community organization, was the first speaker during Monday’s public forum, asking that the city sell a parcel it owns on the corner of East Arrowood Road and England Street to Mecklenburg Park & Rec to create a pocket park, amphitheater and commercial space for nonprofits to help create a much-needed community space for youth on the Nations Ford corridor.
Listen: Nooze Hounds: Joi Mayo Is Transforming Nations Ford
The city reportedly put out an RFP for the parcel — currently valued at $4,553,100 — earlier this year to see if any housing developers were interested but received no bids and are now looking at what community entity could potentially go there.
Following Mayo, Sil Ganzo of ourBRIDGE for KIDS spoke in support of Mayo and the rapidly growing immigrant population in southwest Charlotte — specifically along the Nations Ford Road, which is not a Corridor of Opportunity.
Ganzo cited statistical findings that found southwest Charlotte neighborhoods see a drop in internet access from 80% to 36% compared to the rest of the city, with life expectancy dropping from 72 to 60 in those same neighborhoods.
Ganzo appeared on Nooze Hounds in July to discuss her organization’s work in southwest Charlotte, among other topics.
Thomas Vincent with Transforming Nations Ford asked that the city provide more resources on the corridor, beginning with the parcel at Arrowood & England. “We’re just asking for help from the city to put something over there to give youth something to do and bridge the gap with adults and the elderly.”
Two volunteers at the CMPD Animal Care & Control shelter said they and colleagues are burnt out from the ongoing crisis there, as many of the dogs they work with are put down due to overcrowding. Vols have long been asking for a new facility and an independent department.
Read more: CMPD Animal Care & Control Opens Satellite Shelter Amidst Crisis (2023)
With the public forum starting about an hour late, at least five of the scheduled speakers were no longer in the chambers when their time came to talk.
A community leader in the mental health field, Fonda Bryant addressed council following the reading of a proclamation recognizing September 2024 as National Suicide Prevention Month.
Read more: Fonda Bryant Takes Mental Health Out of the Darkness (2019)
“We must have these uncomfortable conversations to become comfortable evoking change through action,” said Bryant. “We need more than mere words. We need to do better as a culture and community when it comes to preventing suicide.”
Eastland Yards Sports Complex
Greg Asciutto with Charlotte EAST spoke in favor of Monday’s vote on whether to approve an additional $11 million in funding for a proposed mixed-use complex on the parcel of the Eastland Yards redevelopment that was once supposed to be home to a Charlotte FC practice facility. Approving the project would mean every acre of the Eastland Yards redevelopment was finally planned for.
The Eastland Yards sports complex will include indoor & outdoor sports, A&E uses, restaurants and retail. Staff updated the Jobs and Economic Development Committee last week saying developers found “the added strain on the site led to increased infrastructure and site work costs, compounded by price escalation and soft costs,” raising the total cost for the project to $41,328,000.
“Tonight we finalize the last major decision [for Eastland Yards],” said council district rep Marjorie Molina. “I look forward to continuing the work with my colleagues, the community and business leaders to ensure that east Charlotte reaches its full potential.”
“This feels like a dream that is finally being realized,” said Dimple Ajmera, who was the district rep before Molina. “I’m proud to live in a community where residents and community leaders come out, are engaged in the process and are committed.”
The vote passed unanimously.
Other Business Items
Council began the business segment of its meeting by annexing two parcels on the east side of North Tryon Street at the Concord border to support the development of a 379-unit apartment complex.
Council approved new affordable housing funding policy guidelines to guide the allocation of $100 million addition to the city’s Housing Trust Fund if voters approve the bond referendum in November.
The guidelines would break down the $100-million allocation as follows: $35 million for rental housing production, $25 million for development and programming related to homeownership, $14 million for rental housing preservation and anti-displacement, $9 million for supportive housing and shelter capacity, $5 million for housing rehab and emergency repair, $5 million for an Innovation Pilot Fund, $5 million for site acquisition for current and planned transit areas, and $2 million for administration and evaluation.
Council approved supplemental state funding for two projects that were approved years ago and are expected to start construction sometime in 2026.
The Morris Field Drive Bridge replacement project over the Norfolk Southern Railroad near Wilkinson Boulevard will include street lighting, bike lanes, and sidewalks. Project funding breakdown: $5,082,000 from NCDOT and $7,606,844 from the city.
The Rea Road Widening Project will increase capacity along Rea Road between I-485 and Williams Pond Lane by adding additional through lanes and turn lanes. Funding breakdown: $6,973,940 from NCDOT and $13.3 million.
Council approved the purchase of 11.79 acres of property located on Woodridge Center Drive in southwest Charlotte by the city for $7.1 million, to be used by CMPD for the relocation of its Aviation Division and the expansion of its Special Operations Unit.
