Developers Unveil New Vision for 301 South Tryon in Uptown

Developers Unveil New Vision for 301 South Tryon in Uptown

The new owners of 301 South Tryon, the Uptown block that is home to the former 2 Wells Fargo campus and still houses popular local businesses like Amelie’s and Johnny Burrito, have announced their intentions to redevelop the parcel and “enliven the block.” 

Singerman Real Estate LLC and Riverside Investment & Development announced the closing of their joint venture acquisition of the property on Thursday, stating they plan to evaluate a broad mix of uses for the space including hospitality, residential, commercial and retail, “along with a comprehensive reimagining of the public spaces to activate and enliven the block,” a release stated. 

“We expect this critical, high-visibility location to thrive with thoughtful redevelopment,” stated Kiley Carter, principal with Singerman Real Estate. 

Bounded by South Tryon Street, East MLK Jr. Boulevard, East 3rd Street, and South College Street, 301 South Tryon comprises more than 800,000 rentable square feet of commercial office space across two adjoining buildings along with more than 30,000 square feet of retail and a 540-stall structured parking garage.

“The project team aspires to deliver complementary programming which enables a lifestyle-focused live-work-play hub,” read Thursday’s release, though details are not yet on the books. It’s also unclear at this time where the businesses currently operating in the building will fit into the new plans. 

Entitlements and construction financing are planned for late 2026 and redevelopment work on the site is set to begin in the first half of 2027.

“We’ve been pursuing and contemplating 301 S. Tryon for several years, and are proud to be investing alongside Singerman on this project,” said Tony Scacco, president of Riverside Investment & Development. “Our goal is to deliver trophy-quality residential, hospitality, retail and commercial space to the redeveloped property, at a price point that allows us to be competitively positioned within the broader market.”

Airport Workers Release Report on CLT Working Conditions

Labor organizers and airport workers gathered at a hotel conference room near Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) on Friday to release a new report from 32BJ SEIU that puts data to claims that contracted workers have been making for years about chronic understaffing, high turnover, unsafe equipment and other troubling conditions at CLT. 

The report draws on a survey of airport workers employed by ABM and Prospect Airport Services, both contracted by American Airlines to provide wheelchair assistance and cabin-cleaning services. It highlights widespread poverty, unsafe working conditions and high turnover across the airport workforce. 

The report states that, on average, contracted airline workers earn $14.71 per hour, well below the $24.19 hourly wage needed to meet basic living expenses in Charlotte, according to MIT. The report also found that 71% of respondents have gone to work sick due to lack of paid time off and 74% struggle to afford basic necessities. 

“We are understaffed because the pay is so low. Management asks us to push two passengers at the same time just to keep up,” said Charles McDowell-Medina, a wheelchair attendant who services American Airlines passengers. “I do my best because I don’t want people to get left behind and miss their flights, but that’s not safe for us or the people we’re helping. Passengers deserve better.”

Cabin cleaner Dajhaun Perry reported that he’s forced to stay in a hotel for $400-$500 a week because he can’t afford an apartment. He sometimes has to sleep in his car and often cuts back on groceries to afford his phone bill and car note. 

Charlotte City Council reps Dimple Ajmera and JD Mazuera Arias joined workers on Friday to release the report and call for action as the city negotiates a new lease with American Airlines. The airline, however, insists it is not responsible for how the workers employed by its contractors are paid nor treated. 

“While we respect the right to collective bargaining, the SEIU does not officially represent any employer at CLT Airport,” an airline spokesperson said in a statement to Queen City Nerve following a similar rally by workers in March. “American does not get involved in discussions between other companies and their employees, and it’s disappointing to see the SEIU’s ongoing narrative misaligned with the facts — particularly regarding the airline’s involvement in vendor wage discussions.” 

Housing Impact Fund to Support Lake Mist Renewal

City leaders joined leaders with Truist Financial Corporation and Advocate Health at the Lake Mist Apartments in southwest Charlotte on Thursday to announce the purchase and planned renovation of the complex to be used for affordable housing thanks to a $100-million infusion into the Housing Impact Fund (HIF). 

Launched by Erskine Bowles in 2020 to help address the housing crisis, HIF combines private investment, philanthropic capital and public partnership to acquire and preserve apartment communities in Charlotte neighborhoods connected to jobs, good schools, transportation and other vital services. 

The fund helped secure 2,000 apartments housing more than 5,000 residents in its first five years. The Lake Mist project will be its biggest endeavor to date thanks to a third round of funding that raised $102 million compared to $58 million in the first round in 2020 and $67 million in 2023. 

With 144 units, Lake Mist is the first acquisition of an apartment complex by HIF. 

CMS Calls Off School Amid Planned Protests

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education (CMS BOE) decided during an emergency meeting on Friday that the district will not hold classes on Friday, May 1, as hundreds of educators plan to attend rallies calling for more public school funding. 

“We are aware that many educators across North Carolina plan to participate in a statewide day of advocacy in Raleigh focused on public education. As a result, we anticipate a high number of staff absences across the district, along with a limited number of substitute teachers to provide coverage,” read a statement from CMS BOE on Friday. “To ensure we can prioritize student safety and maintain appropriate supervision in our schools, we are proactively adjusting the schedule.” 

In its release, the board pointed to some of the reasons teachers will be protesting next Friday. For example, North Carolina currently ranks last in the nation for per-pupil spending and 42nd in starting base teacher pay. 

A recent North Carolina Supreme Court decision in the landmark, decades-long Leandro v. State of North Carolina case stated that, legally, North Carolina does not have to fund a basic education. It is now up to the North Carolina General Assembly to pay teachers the way they are paid around the country. 

“The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools know that teachers want to live in the communities they serve and to continue doing what they love: teaching children,” read Friday’s release. “We want the same for the sake of our staff and our students.” 

Observer Loses Top Two Editors

Rana Cash, executive editor at Charlotte Observer for the past five years, resigned this week following the termination of her managing editor, Taylor Batten, who is not expected to be replaced, reported QCityMetro on Thursday. 

Both editors are expected to leave the company on May 1. 

The Observer has been owned by New Jersey-based Chatham Asset Management since it acquired McClatchy in summer 2020. The paper currently employs around 40 journalists. It’s unclear who will take Cash’s role, or whether he position will be merged with a similar role at the News & Observer in Raleigh.