Charlotte is home to nearly 3 million people. | Photo via Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
Innovation meets momentum. That’s the title of Charlotte Center City Partners’ 2025 State of the City report, outlining Charlotte’s upcoming development and growth over the last decade.
City Editor Maria, here. There’s a lot of data in the full report, but I’ve gone ahead and found the highlights for you.
Any red in the graphic shows “re-imagined” or renovated projects, like Bank of America Stadium. Green is under construction, purple are forecasted groundbreakings by 2026, and orange illustrates planned developments.
Graphic via Charlotte Center City Partners
New development
Charlotte’s Center City, Uptown, and South End have $3.7 billion allocated to projects under construction or set to break ground in 2026.
Center City’s new developments include:
The Pearl, which will house Atrium Health and Wake Forest Medical School
The redevelopment of the former Duke Energy headquarters will provide housing and retail space.
Rendering via SK+I Architecture
Re-imagined spaces
What about existing or unused space? This is where innovation comes in. More than $1.7 billion from public and private investment is being used to modernize and revamp existing structures.
Tosco Music Open Mic | 6:30 p.m. | The Evening Muse | $8 | Join an open sing-along before local talent take the stage to debut new music.
Sam Morril: The Errors Tour | 7 p.m. | Knight Theater | $25+ | The Comedy Central regular will perform a hilarious set in the Queen City.
Wednesday, Feb. 5
NoDa Run Club | 6:30-8 p.m. | NoDa Brewing Company | Free | Get your heart pumping on a one-, three-, or five-mile route before sipping a brew with new friends.
Candlelight: A Tribute to Beyonce | 6:45-8 p.m. | Great Aunt Stella Center | $32+ | Listening to the iconic singer’s songs on strings is an “Irreplaceable” experience.
Student Night at the Opera: Carmen | 7 p.m. | Belk Theatre | $10+ | Bring the family to experience the classic tale of love, jealousy, and tragedy.
Thursday, Feb. 6
Connect After 5 | 5-7 p.m. | Mason Apartments | $25 | Sip drinks while forging new business relationships with professionals of all levels.
Speakeasy | 6 p.m. | Cain Center for the Arts, Cornelius | $75 | Enjoy a night of food, drinks, music, and dancing while raising funds for the Cain Center.
Curators’ Conversation | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Bechtler Museum of Modern Art | Free | Meet the curator of the “Virginia Jaramillo, Principle of Equivalence” exhibition to learn about the artist behind the canvas.
It’s almost Super Bowl Sunday. If you’re not wearing your favorite team’s merch, shop five comfy tees + sweatshirts that say “I’m just here for the snacks” ... literally.
Starting today, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is adjusting multiple bus routes across the city for a more reliable experience. Route 99, also known as the Village Rider, is getting a new final stop at the corner of Watson Street and Griffith Street in Davidson. See the changes. (WCNC)
Civic
The Huntersville Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing tomorrow for a rezoning request regarding Birkdale Village. The shopping center is looking to develop a 125-room hotel, 150 multifamily homes, office, and retail space. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Mansion Monday
Live like an NFL player. Former Carolina Panther DJ Moore listed his 5-bedroom home near Lake Wylie. Take a tour of the gourmet kitchen, spa-like bathrooms, and custom closets before marveling at the lake views.
Shop
The Spirited Cyclist Bike Shop, a well-known cycling equipment shop in Davidson, is now operating a full-service spot at 112 Eden St. The cycling hub boasts new bicycles, clothing, repairs + organizes group rides on Saturdays. (Lake Norman Publications)
Announced
Country’s Cool Again. Country music star Lainey Wilson is performing at the Spectrum Center on Saturday, Oct. 25. Tickets go on sale this Friday, Feb. 7. While you’re planning, check out the 35+ upcoming concerts coming to the Queen City.
Plan Ahead
Speaking of concerts... Lovin’ Life Music Fest will be dropping its lineup this week. Tickets are on sale for the three-day festival, running May 2-4, with dozens of artists performing across multiple stages. Here’s what we know so far and keep an eye on your inbox and our social media.
Real Estate
Charlotte’s popular neighborhoods South End and Dilworth saw the biggest uptick in home sales in 2024. Neighborhoods north of Uptown, like Camp North End and Optimist Park, also had large growth year-over-year in 2024. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Biz
It’s official. A NC judge approved the sale of Northlake Mall on Friday. Hull Property Group reached the $39 million deal on Jan. 7 but the sale to a receivership needed court approval. The decision came days after a hearing + two objections.
Community
“Jiggy With The Piggy” is ending after a 10-year run. The annual event in Kannapolis was intended to bring visitors to the downtown area. The city says it’s “unlikely” that Jiggy will be replaced by another large-scale event. (WSOC)
Family
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the final phase of construction at Miracle Park — Rock Hill’s state-of-the-art park made for people of all abilities. The park features a playground, sensory wall, and adaptive baseball equipment. An end date for construction is TBA. (WCNC)
Sports
Will the Carolina Panthers pursue a better wide receiver in 2025? Go beyond the clipboard for the biggest stories on the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Home
Selling your home? Promote your listing where buyers will see it — right here in this newsletter (in as little as two days).
Category
Eat
🍕 A slice of paradise
King of Fire is a family-owned, mobile brick-oven pizza food truck. Siler Chapman, the owner, is a four-time world pizza champion. | Photo via King of Fire
National Pizza Day is on Sunday, Feb. 9 and Charlotte’s pizza scene is bubbling with options. If you’re on the quest for the perfect slice, we’ve pie-oneered a list of 20+ places to grab pizza that are definitely worth the dough.
Local legends
Bird Pizzeria, 510 E. 15th St. Forbesrecognized this beloved pizza spot as one the best new restaurants in Charlotte. Savor delicious toppings and an airy crust. Husband and wife duo Kerrel and Nkem Thompson opened Bird in 2021 — the biz is expanding to Optimist Park in May 2024.
Zepeddie’s Pizzeria, 4516 Nations Crossing Rd.
After nearly three decades, the Zepsa family reopened the Charlotte staple to bring authentic New York-style pizza, salads, and sandwiches to hungry diners.
Italian origins
King of Fire, 435 S. Tryon St., Ste. 140
Known for its food truck and wood-fired pies, this lunch and dinner hub serves a mean made-to-order pizza with the recipe from a world pizza champ.
A four-pack of bamboo + glass jars — these 10-ounce containers are perfect for overnight oats, chia seed puddings, dressings, snacks, or anything else you want to prep and store.
If you’re visiting Gravity Pizza at any point this week, be sure to order the Tommy Boy and Cosmic Fries, like we did. Your stomach will thank you. Pro tip: Save room for dessert.
